I’m hoping someone wouldn’t mind helping with a question. I’m about to begin my junior year at a small rural high school, and want to make sure I’ve covered all the bases by the time I apply to Vassar. I’m still not sure what I plan to study, but it likely won’t be a math or history related. To be honest, I want to take some classes in everything. Visual and performing arts are my biggest current interest. I’ve visited Vassar and know the campus, and now have friends attending. I have a 4.0, wide-ranging ECs, my sophomore PSAT was 710/710, and I improved them 30 points on a recent Khan Academy full SAT. I think by next spring I’ll be solid 750+. My question is in regard to the need for taking the subject tests for Vassar. I haven’t spoken with my guidance counselor - who might not even have the best answer. The College Board website lists Vassar as “Colleges that Use the Tests”. Do I take them, and, if so, which test/tests? Thank you in advance.
Vassar really, really wants to see you taking challenging courses- they explicitly look at ‘rigor’, including in your senior year. SAT subject tests are not required, but they do suggest them if you come from a non-traditional school background. If you test well and think that they can help demonstrate the strength of your academic background you might want to take some. Vassar will have an idea as to how strong your school is academically- if it isn’t especially strong it would show that you are the big fish in a small pond.
Thank you very much for responding, collegemom3717. I don’t think my school would be considered non-traditional, but it’s definitely not competitive. I have a mix of honors and AP classes, but our SAT scores are seriously below average, and only one student in the history of our school has ever gone to an Ivy League school. It seems to be within your advise to sign up for the English and Math subject tests. They would potentially be useful information to Vassar, and not considered redundant - even if I can get my SATs up over 750/750. My guidance counselor never mentioned SAT subject tests, so they are a little new to me. Vassar is my dream school, and I’ll do whatever it takes. The people there are so wonderful and accepting, that it scares me to think about being rejected.
Signing up for 2-3 subject tests in subjects where you confident of scoring really well is (imo anyway!) I good way to show that your super GPA is not just a reflection of your not-so-competitive school. They will also be helpful for the other schools you apply to (or at least have apps ready for if ED doesn’t work out!)
Good luck with Vassar 
Ukegirl, collegemom has given you excellent advice. Something else to consider is that many students do better on the ACT than the SAT. I would consider taking the ACT as well. If you score well on the ACT, SAT subject tests are less important.
The subjective opinion I gathered as a student was that Vassar actually cares quite a bit about the subject tests. If you can get 750+ (or preferably 780+) that will help a lot! Choose any 2-3, preferably 3, subjects that you can excel in, doesn’t matter which. My SAT Is were honestly pretty mediocre as I couldn’t afford much preparation assistance, but I had 770/780/790/800 on my SAT IIs, and I think that helped a lot to show them I was really understanding my high school coursework.