I’m an international student and my problem is that the curriculum for the SAT II really doesn’t match up at all with what we’re learning in school. My workload is absolutely insane (so many all nighters) and I don’t think I’ll manage to prepare for the ACT plus the SAT II tests.
Will it have a BIG impact on my application if I don’t take the SAT IIs? I just really want to concentrate on getting an amazing ACT score and schools like Yale only “recommend” SAT IIs and don’t require them so…
If a university doesn’t require them then (esp as an international student) you won’t be disadvantaged by not taking them.
Btw, imo prepping for the ACT should not be a huge issue for a Yale-level student, even if you haven’t done much/any standardized testing. The big challenge on the ACT is speed not content.
Many schools are moving away from the SAT II’s. Several of the schools D16 is applying to required the SAT II’s last year, but not this year. Some downgraded from required to recommended. And those that still recommend say that the application will not be disadvantaged from not submitting SAT II’s. The schools and programs that still require SAT II’s tend to be those that are in the STEM fields, especially engineering.
Concentrate on doing well on the act :-). MANY colleges consider that it gives sufficient information about your skills in subjects and as an international if you follow a national curriculum (A levels, baccalaureat, maturita, abitur…) this will be a strong indication of content mastery.