I checked the schools that I am applying to see if they require the essay and none of them do. Most of them, in the College Boards words “neither require nor recommend” the essay, except for one school, which recommends it, and its one of my safety schools. I am a really good writer, but I’m nervous that taking the essay will take away from the main part of the test that I’m trying to focus on and it will add to my stress of studying for the exam. I did really bad on the SAT the last time I took it and was shooting for a higher score in reading and math, so I’m nervous that having to study for everything plus the essay will take away from the composite score. I took AP Language and Comp my junior year and did really well with the rhetorical analysis, and I know that the essay is a little like that. But, I once had a prep teacher say that I should take the essay at least once so I have it under my belt and im sure that I could write a good essay, im just nervous about the preperation for it.
I have to register for the SAT by tomorrow, so any advice would be great!
If you are a rising senior and your list of schools is pretty well set, then don’t bother with the essay. Also, it’s possible to register for the essay but then change your mind. My daughter did that and got a refund, although TBH not sure whether there was a deadline for that. Alternatively, you can add it later per College Board:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/college-essay-policies
My son took his first SAT w/o essay and did so well that we recommended he not re-take. He was worried about lack of essay but in the following months pretty much all his schools of interest dropped the requirement so problem solved!
You state that all but one of your chosen colleges neither require nor recommend the writing section, and the only exception that recommends it is a safety. I think that answers the questioon that the essay is not needed unless you intend to add a college that requires the writing. Colleges that neither require nor recommend the essay generally do not use it at all even if submitted, and unless the college that recommends it is a high ranked college (which by definition would not be a safety), it really is not necessary.