D is a hs senior with excellent grades and high test scores. She is considering colleges that are likely to give her merit aid; some offer large merit scholarships. National Merit finalist, ACT score is 35 and SAT 780V/760M/690W in single sittings. Question is whether SAT subject tests are worth taking. She is a good test-taker and likely to do well. My feeling is that good scores would tend to confirm that the other scores aren’t flukes, that her transcript reflects her actual abilities, etc. She wonders whether more test scores, even good ones, will add enough to be worth the expense, study time, and giving up another Saturday morning. She got 5s on AP tests in 2 of the subjects she’d probably take. Deadline is looming so I’m looking for advice on this. Called one school she will apply to and they said, “We are test optional.” But when I asked whether SAT Subject test scores would help in scholarship evaluation, the receptionist (?) said it would “definitely” be good to submit them.
I think with the ACT and SAT scores she has (and NMF status) the colleges won’t think both are flukes. As to whether SAT IIs will help with merit aid, I really don’t know. I would imagine a top score can’t hurt but as to whether it will actually help… [shrug]
SAT2s really are just needed when the student is applying for top colleges that require them. I doubt ,if her scores are high enough, which they are, that they tip the balance at other colleges for merit aid.
The receptionist (not on the AdComm, btw) will always encourage you submit all your scores. IMO your daughter is correct: she has all the scores she needs. You might need to pull back a little and breath 
(said kindly; I know how anxious this process can be!)
i doubt strong Subject tests would move the needle given her already strong SAT and ACT. One thing I am curous about though - i think that demonstrated interest does make a difference when you are talking about full-ride or extremely generous merit aid scholarships. What might be important is for your daughter to interact with colleges enough that they understand she is genuinely interested and might actually come given generous enough merit aid
I also don’t think that strong subject tests will move the needle for the competitive merit scholarships and would agree with your D. However, is she absolutely positive that she doesn’t want to apply to any schools that require or “suggest” them? That would be my concern. She may change her mind about those around December.
For merit scholarships, it is much more competitive than admission. Whatever that can set you apart from other candidates may help. We regret that my D did not submit subject test scores (all 800s) to a school that does not require it for admission. She did get a decent scholarship from that school but it is not the larger one she wants. Anyway, she attends another school with better ranking and lower cost.
If a school doesn’t ask for SAT IIs, then there’s no reason to provide them. Those schools probably don’t even have fields to list them. And since SAT IIs don’t affect things like middle quartiles or other things that schools’ report to improve its profile, I doubt add’t ones would matter.
nearly all Test Optional schools use SAT or ACT scores for merit.
Are you saying that your DD isn’t applying to ANY schools that require SAT II’s??? If so, then no need to take any
Many merit scholarships are not just looking at SAT/ACT test scores and GPA. Not all students with the same GPA and test scores receive the same scholarship. There are many additional factors added onto it. There are also cases someone with a little lower test scores and GPA beats someone else with higher scores and GPA. There are schools like UMich that does not require SAT2 but “will be evaluated it for the good of the students if submitted”.
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Not all students with the same GPA and test scores receive the same scholarship.
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Absolutely. Sometimes the down-selection involves:
ethnic diversity
regional diversity
talent
major
etc
Thanks for these thoughtful comments. I will suggest D review her list of schools (which isn’t necessarily final) and make sure she is comfortable that subject tests won’t be required by any. I guess I think of good subject test scores as probably low-hanging fruit for her: if we register her and she puts in a bit of effort, she is probably capable of adding this to her resumé. But I appreciate the comments that in light of her other test scores and grades it may not add much, and that time might be better spent working on application essays or making visits that will demonstrate her interest. I think subject tests could only help her, but maybe they wouldn’t help enough to make that a priority.
I don’t think I am excessively anxious (thanks, collegemom3717 )–we’ve been through this before. What we have learned from experience is that although she likely could be admitted to some highly selective schools, we are not likely to get much or any need-based aid at those schools, especially as her siblings have graduated. However, some very fine colleges might give her merit aid and we are not in a position not to care about the cost savings that would represent.
I am not convinced she is a candidate for some of the biggest, interview-based merit awards that some institutions give to only 1 or 2 students a year–she is a bright, inquisitive, solid, and authentic kid, but doesn’t have a mile-long list of leadership initiatives. But her siblings, with less strong grades and test scores, did end up with some real choices because of merit offers that brought private college costs much closer to the cost of our excellent public university. I just want to make sure we have done what we can do to see that she has a good range of options in April. A few of her schools of interest (Chicago, Macalester) are not known for good merit packages, so she needs to make sure she likes and applies to some that seem more likely. At least, that is our thinking.
I guess a number of her schools do require subject tests if you submit SAT scores–but they also accept ACT with writing. Since she has strong SAT scores, I wonder whether it would be odd to submit them without the SAT II numbers.