D is taking first SAT in March. Not a great test taker with writing her weakest skill. Planning on applying to a mix of SAT optional and SAT needed schools appropriate for a 3.1GPA student with good EC’s. Should she simply concentrate on studying the other portions of the test with her tutor or is the Essay section important to most schools? I haven’t seen mention of it in admissions information at the colleges she is targeting.
What colleges is she considering? I looked in the “admissions requirements” section where my daughter goes and it says:
“TCNJ does not use the Writing sections of the SAT or ACT. SAT II Subject Tests are NOT required.”
My alma mater says: “Case Western Reserve University requires first-year applicants to submit either the SAT or ACT, though the writing section of the ACT and the essay section of the SAT are each optional.”
If she does need to take it, she should research what the SAT essay scorers are looking for.
In school, they may look for real evidence. But in the SAT essay, they are looking for only that which looks like evidence. SAT wants you to pick a point of view and defend it…no matter if that is really a good point of view.
There are a handful of schools that require the writing test, usually for SAT. Off hand, I know Rice, Georgetown, and Princeton all do. A quick look up of some of the schools your child has in mind should answer your question.
Rice used to require the writing section, but now says it is “optional.” https://admission.rice.edu/policies/standardized-testing
Then you know incorrectly, because none of those require it.
To the OP, as a blanket statement, I would say no, she should not take. The number of colleges that require that SAT (or ACT) essay is dwindling by the minute. My guess is that none of her target colleges require it. But certainly check.
If they don’t mention it, they don’t require it. If they required it, they will absolutely say so.
I wouldn’t bother.
Her guidance counselor suggested she should take it once just in case my D develops interest in a school that wants it…she also said the essay section is graded separately from the rest of the verbal section…does that mean that it doesn’t effect the total verbal scoring?
Yes. The essay is a separate score.
Thanks all…I contacted the schools on her preliminary list and as you suggested, none were concerned about the essay section…50 minutes and a few dollars saved…