Parents of the HS Class of 2013

[RobD]

We'll visit the SAT II situation after our Spring Break trips. D2 has a few schools that require 2 SAT II's but a couple of others will take ACT's instead. If the SAT II schools are still on her list then she'll take them in May to coincide with the AP US History exam studying.

[mncollegemom]

So far none of the schools the kids are looking at require SAT II's, some do use them for class placement so DS is planning on taking the Spanish one next year. DD doesn't have any schools on her list that even need the SAT so she is planning on just taking the ACT with writing for now. If need be, she can take the SAT in the fall if something changes with that but I don't see that happening.

[RobD]

^^^I don't think there's any school that "requires" the SAT vs. the ACT anymore, but some kids do way better on one test vs. the other, so the common CC wisdom is try each one once and see which one you test better on.

[mncollegemom]

Rob--put it this way, some schools "prefer" the SAT over the ACT and if you "just" take the ACT and not the SAT, you won't be considered as strongly as someone that took both. That is wisdom imparted to me buy admissions counselors at a few "favored schools" on this board. Our kids are not looking at those schools . If DD should happen to do poorly on the ACT, we will have her try the SAT but from the practice tests they have taken, her ACT score should be plenty high to get into the schools she is considering.

[thumper1]

some schools "prefer" the SAT over the ACT and if you "just" take the ACT and not the SAT, you won't be considered as strongly as someone that took both.

NOT TRUE. If a school accepts EITHER the ACT OR the SAT...they will accept only the ONE if you take it. If you get a perfect 36 on the ACT, there is no reason for you to take the SAT. If you get a very high score on the SAT, there is no reason for you to take the ACT.

Agree with Rob...some kids just do better on one vs. the other. But there is no reason you MUST take both...none.

[jym626]

Thumper is correct. Maybe 5+ years ago that may, MAY have been true, but NO MORE. The last holdout of schools that didnt accept the ACT, Harvey Mudd, changed their policy about 4 or so years ago (IIRC).

[mncollegemom]

Thumper I questioned that very same thing because it specifically says on their website that they "take" either, however I was told flat out that if one student took the ACT and another took the SAT and all else was "the same" the school looks more kindly on those that take the SAT...

We are in an area where hardly any kids take the SAT so they were very specific that our kids should take both if they were planning on applying there.

[jym626]

Well they need to get out of the stone age, and they are the exception, not the rule. One should not generalize from this one situation, asn it is not true elsewhere.

[oldfort]

I will throw this one out there. Cornell will accept ACT or SAT I, but there are certain schools (A&S, CoE) within Cornell which still require SAT IIs. Cornell also want all scores to be reported. If your kid got good ACT scores, and that's the one he/she wants to use, then don't take SAT I, but take SAT IIs. I don't know how many schools are like that out there.

[MomofNEA]

Is there a list anywhere of schools that require the SAT II? We are going at things backwards since S does not yet have a 'list.'. And brilliant suggestion, RobD, to coincide APUSH with SAT II. We had already signed up for a second SAT for that day (long story), but I wonder if we can switch and take the reg SAT in June. Thank you!

[DrGoogle]

For some schools within UCs, such as engineering for UCLA, SAT subject tests are required.
Undergraduate Admissions — UCLA Engineering Office of Academic and Student Affairs

Because admission to HSSEAS is competitive, merely meeting the minimum eligibility requirements of the University is rarely sufficient for admission to an engineering major. Applicants should possess excellent academic records, and must submit official test results for the SAT I, or ACT, and two SAT II subject tests. Tests should be taken no later than December.

Applicants to the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science are strongly encouraged to take the SAT Math Level 2 subject test and are also encouraged to take an SAT subject test in a science (Physics, Chemistry, or Biology) that is closely related to the student's intended major.

[Longhaul]

oldfort - So, what you're saying is that by encouraging my son to take the ACT today after he already took the SAT, I may actually be hurting him or at the very least, I could be spending more money sending scores to a select group of schools. UGGH - this stuff is far too much to navigate.

Son did find the ACT easier. We'll see if it really was easier after the scores are released.

My son is trying out for a band tonight. He doesn't share much, but I know the band has a decent amount of paid gigs. Fingers crossed.

YDS - Uggh - I am putting off the taxes this year. My FIL passed away last year and it is adding more complications for taxes. We get FA from the kids private school & I always dread completing the aid forms.

[nellieh]

What a day! D's SAT tutor did not show up today= putting a wrench into our afternoon, and into the next couple weeks. Ever feel like you cannot get a break?

Great idea on APUSH and SAT IIs. D is also planning on the spanish sat II. Not sure if we will need them, but I don't want to fall short if she wants to apply to schools that require them.

[DrGoogle]

D2 received lots of mail from LACs like Middleburry, Boudoin. She is not interested in any LAC based on her sister's experience.
Caltech sent her one. I wonder what criteria did it use to send to D2 because D1 didn't receive anything from Caltech.

[oldfort]

Longhaul - not really. If he is happy with his SAT I scores, then he doesn't need to send in his ACT scores. But if his ACT scores are better, then he will send in his ACT scores as well as his SAT I and SAT II.