Should I Take the SAT Subject Tests?

Test Preparation
1

Hi everyone (:
I will be applying for colleges this fall and I have only taken the ACT without writing. I scored a 32, but I plan to take the SAT this October - the last date that some of my college choices will accept. I’m taking the SAT so late because I live in Louisiana and here many schools focus on ACT only; most of the high schoolers here have not heard of or don’t know much about the SAT. Sadly, I am one of those students and just learned of the importance of the SAT to out of state schools in time to register for the October testing date. Since I can’t take the SAT and subject tests on the same day, I would have to wait until November 5th to take the additional subject tests. This is past the deadline for a few of the colleges I plan to apply to early action.

Are SAT subject tests that important? I plan to go into the Geology field (if that helps any). My school has only ever discussed the ACT with us and my councilor has told me that she doesn’t know much about SAT information (not many people from my HS attend out side of Louisiana and Mississippi colleges).

I am applying to:
USC (top choice, Fight On)
Stanford
Vanderbilt?
Washington University at St. Louis
Brown
Northeastern
Tulane (guaranteed partial scholarship with TOPS)
LA Tech
LSU

Will taking the SAT subject tests help my chances of admission or scholarships to any of these schools despite that it is too late to submit some under early action? My GPA is already the highest it can be and I’m in all the clubs and sports that interest me. Is it really that big of a factor?

Thanks! (:

2

USC - Recommended but not required
Stanford - Recommended but not required, Applicants will be at a disadvantage if they don’t submit
Vanderbilt - Considered, not required
WU at St. Louis - Considered, only if they strengthen you app
Brown - Required only if submitting SAT, not required if submitting ACT
Northeastern - Recommended, only required for some specific programs
Tulane - Considered, not required
LA Tech - Will not Consider
LSU - Will not Consider

Check each for your specific program but none of your colleges require subject tests but they will definitely strengthen your applications. It’s not a deal-breaker if you don’t submit but it’ll increase your chances at the more selective schools.

am familiar with all your out of states (they are mostly private so it doesn’t really make a difference). I can 100% say that none of them have any preference over the SAT or ACT.

Since you did good on your ACT you really don’t need to take the SAT. Take the subject tests instead of the reg SAT since at selective schools (Brown, Stanford etc.) most applicants will be submitting them.