SAT subject tests required at most schools?

<p>List members,</p>

<p>I am wondering if anyone can tell me whether or not most of the schools on the "big list" of MT schools require SAT II tests for admissions into their MT BFA programs.</p>

<p>I went to the College Board site and noticed that while some of the schools (CMU, for instance) designates clearly that SAT subject tests are not required of candidates for admission into drama and fine arts, etc., other schools (such as University of Michigan) don't list that information. </p>

<p>I am guessing I will have to go to each school's Web site and sort through the information myself, but before doing that, I thought I would take the lazy way out and see what you guys know. :)</p>

<p>Lisa</p>

<p>Hi Lisa, </p>

<p>While I cannot speak for all 30 schools at the top of this forum and would have to look up the requirements, I can tell you about the 8 schools my D applied to. Unlike her sister's list for selective liberal arts colleges/universities which all required SAT2 tests, hardly any of the BFA programs or colleges did. </p>

<p>She applied to:
NYU/Tisch
UMich
CMU
Ithaca
BOCO
Syracuse
Emerson
Penn State</p>

<p>While none of those schools REQUIRED the SAT2 tests, NYU recommended them. I think if a college recommends them, one should take them. She took three SAT2 exams but at the time, the regular SAT reasoning test did not have the Writing Portion as it does now (she took all her SATs and SAT2 exams in tenth grade because she applied to college in 11th grade). She took the SAT2 Subject Tests in Writing, MathIC, and Literature. When the SAT score reports get sent to colleges, all scores will be sent, so all colleges saw her scores though only NYU was asking for the SAT2s. In her case, I think the SAT2 scores were an asset. </p>

<p>Anyway, as I am familiar with a bunch of other MT schools that I research and recommend to clients, many of these other schools also do NOT require SAT2 tests. On my D's list the two schools that were the most selective academically were NYU and UMich. In my experience, less selective colleges are the ones who DO NOT require the SAT2's. Thus a great many of the MT programs I know of do not require SAT2's either. Of course, you want to check the requirements for all schools to be sure. If your child is thinking of applying to NYU, I would recommend she take TWO SAT2 exams (as now the SATs have the Writing section). While it may be possible to get in without those exams, I would always follow any "recommendations" that a college has in their admissions information. </p>

<p>I checked the latest application requirements for NYU and the language for the TWO SAT2 tests states: "We encourage all applicants to submit the results of two SAT Subject Tests."</p>

<p>Again, none of the other BFA programs my D applied to, nor many others that my clients apply to (which she didn't) have required the SAT2s. I recommend them for those applying to NYU, however.</p>

<p>Hope that helps.
Susan</p>

<p>I have researched about 20 of the MT BFA programs and none of them require SAT II tests. My D is NOT a great standardized test taker, although she is a very good student taking honors and AP classes, top 10% of her class, straight A, etc. She refuses to even look at anything that requires an SAT II test, and when I started really looking, fortunately none of the schools I checked on require them for MT majors. NYU is the only one that even says "recommended" and actually on their website now, the latest information I could find said that applicants for fall semester of 2007 MUST take two SAT II tests, EXCEPT applicants to Tisch, who are NOT required to. So although my D may apply to NYU, she is NOT going to take any SAT II tests. We figure if they were that specific about exempting Tisch applicants, it couldn't really be much of a deciding factor. We also know several kids currently students at Tisch who did not take SAT II tests when they applied, so although it might give you an edge if you do WELL on them, I would not say they are necessary.</p>

<p>We found no schools that required SAT2. That was about the only good thing about this process. My daughter did not take any.</p>

<p>NyDanceMom, that is exactly correct. Most BFA in MT programs do not require these. NYU is encouraging and recommending applicants to submit 2 SAT2 tests but they are not requiring an applicant to do so. I know someone who got into Tisch who did not take them. It is up to an applicant to decide what to do for that school. In general, I still would tend to do whatever a school is recommending or encouraging unless there is a compelling reason not to. As you say, if your child doesn't do well with testing, you might have a reason to weigh that factor to decide what to do for that college. The SAT2 tests should not hurt the application as they are not required.</p>

<p>nydancemom, you're right in that NYU is changing their policy re: SAT IIs for the entering class of 2007. These kids will be required to submit the scores of two SATIIs, including all applicants to the university who are not going through the artistic review process. However, the school's current policy of recommending applicants to Tisch and Steinhardt take SATIIs is not changing. Submitting scores, as has always been the case, can only help but not hurt an applicant's chances. It's an individual decision which each applicant must make. While some kids at Tisch did not take them, when my D applied, a majority in her year did. Whether they were a deciding factor for those kids isn't known. :)</p>

<p>As usual, you all are a trove of valuable information! Thanks much! :) </p>

<p>Lisa</p>

<p>Since SAT IIs are no longer "score optional" as they were a few years ago when students could opt not to send scores they weren't thrilled with, taking them means all schools receiving any college board scores will also get these. For students who are already stressed with the SAT I, I would recommend NOT taking the SAT IIs because if the scores are poor, they are not only not going to help, but they could potentially harm applicants. I think BU is going to require SATIIs of all applicants this year. When I read that it made me think that that school would not be a good fit for my kid. We were looking for a program that emphasized artistic talent over academic talent. If a child has both, yes it will absolutely strenghten an application and also be a factor in merit scholarships. But neither of my children wanted to look at programs which required SATIIs!</p>

<p>We didn't have to take any SATIIs, but it doesn't hurt to check the current year requirements at each school.</p>

<p>Being in California and having UCLA on his college list, my S had to take the SAT II's last weekend. Lots of prep and practice for one school.....</p>

<p>Ericsmom wrote: "We didn't have to take any SATIIs.."
Thankfully "we" didn't take them, only my two daughters did, because I don't think I could take these today if I had to! LOL!! :eek:</p>