I go back to my earlier statement that I’m at a loss as to why anyone applying to a college with single digit admissions rates would submit an application that was not as strong as possible, and that includes Subject Tests. Keep in mind that international acceptance rates is about half of the overall rate at some of these schools. Additionally, if taking the corresponding class the same year, the amount of prep for a Subject Test should be minimal for a student keeping up with the work, particularly if the class has a final exam. And it’s not like US students don’t have competing priorities as well.
They are spouting the official line, which is that Subject Tests are not required. Feel free to believe that statement.