Hello,
I’m currently a Junior, hoping to become a swimming recruit. My question is should recruited athletes take the SAT subject tests when it says recommended on their website? I understand that taking the subject tests as a normal applicant is important when it is recommended, but would it make a difference if you are a recruited athlete with the coach’s support?
I have gotten in touch with some coaches but most of those schools are subject test recommended. So I’m not sure if I should take it or not.
Thanks for the help!
Ask the coaches
I think it depends what your backup plan is if you don’t end up as a supported recruit. If you’re planning to apply to these schools anyway, I’d probably plan to take the tests later this spring or in the summer if you’re ready. That way if you find out very late that a coach isn’t supporting you, you’ll have scores in hand and won’t have to scramble. But if you’re pretty confident of support, or don’t have any other reason to take them, ask the coaches.
Thank you for the replies!
I’ll take them just to be sure.
Considering the current environment, I doubt you will have a chance of taking the subject tests. MIT has completely dropped their subject SAT requirements starting your application cycle, and I think we will be seeing a surge of schools dropping standardized tests/becoming test optional next year. So I would focus on maintaining/improving your GPA and forget about taking the subject tests (you couldn’t anyway).
Good luck.
@swimjj - take all the tests the school suggest, being a recruiter athlete if they are recruiting you is a good thing but you should think of it this way, maybe JJ the student would not get into school A but JJ the swimmer will.
Don’t assume you will be recruited. If you look around a bit there are stories of people who assumed they’d be recruited and never even took the SAT. They were wrong and obviously didn’t get into any colleges.
Yes. I’ll do my best with all the testing and stuff, but given the current situation it may be a little difficult to take the subject tests.
Yes, I would just do your best to do what a non recruit would do. Hard to believe how much has changed since your original post, but the changes are real and colleges will adapt. They aren’t going to expect you to take tests that no one else can take, so don’t stress about this too much.
Yup, definitely. Going to do the best I can!
Is the rule still implemented where all D1 athletes are required to take the SAT?
Yes. The standardized test requirement was only waived for class of 2020. As a class of 2022 potential athletic recruit, I encourage you to take a test relatively early, by winter of Junior year (so this Dec or Feb).