Selective admission without taking subject tests

Parents Forum
1

Anecdote: I know a student who was admitted to a highly selective college that REQUIRES (not recommends) subject tests as part of its admission requirements. This student did not take subject tests, let alone submit scores. The student is highly qualified, with great grades, scores any extracurriculars. Not perfect, but a great candidate. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

2

What college?

Some accept ACT in lieu of SAT subject test scores. Some really only recommend them, perhaps giving more slack to first generation, low SES, etc. applicants if they do not have them.

3

My kid was accepted to uchicago, tufts, BU, among others, without subject tests. She was, however, rejected from uPenn and is waitlisted at Georgetown.

honestly, i think schools are moving away from making it mandatory – Harvard took that step this year – and the ones that still have it on the books would be willing to overlook it should a strong candidate come their way…

4

Did your kid take ACT?

5

This is interesting. I have heard of something similar.

6

No, this was absolutely mandatory: SAT or ACT, plus two SAT Subject Tests. It was an Ivy.

7

I think Cornell requires 2 SAT IIs even with ACT, but other Ivies allow ACT instead of SAT subject tests.

8

Dartmouth, some divisions of Cornell, and Princeton would be the Ivy League schools that require SAT subject tests and do not accept the ACT in lieu. Brown, Columbia, Penn, and Yale allow the ACT in lieu of otherwise-required SAT subject tests. Harvard hints that SAT subject tests are normally expected, but they may be lenient in cases of financial hardship.

9

Here’s what Harvard says:
While we normally require two SAT Subject Tests, you may apply without them if the cost of the tests represents a financial hardship or if you prefer to have your application considered without them. Standardized testing is only one component of our holistic admissions process.

10

I know anecdotally of at least one student who was able to waive a subject test requirement by sending in AP scores at Carnegie Mellon. I wouldn’t count on being able to do it again.