So many seniors right now are applying to colleges and looking over all their awards and achievements. As they are applying to colleges, some stumble upon the “Test Optional” part of their application. As they read their application, the text simply says, “Upload your SAT/ACT scores here.” Some students would see this and say, “Oh, perfect! I got a really good score on my SAT. I will put it in.” However, others may say, “Oh…I took it, but I am not proud of my score at all,” and a good amount will look at it and say, “But I did not take the SAT!”
Deciding whether or not to take the SAT, especially for the class of 2025 and 2026, has been a difficult one, to say the least. Does it matter or does it not matter? Is it worth it to take even if your score is not that great? Is it beneficial to even take the SAT at all? Many juniors and seniors around this time are deciding whether or not they should take their SAT and are scrambling to study for it. I, however, think it is worth it to take the SAT, even if your score is not in the high 1400s.
Taking the SAT is by no means an easy test, and it takes a lot of work to study for. A lot of people say that it does not matter to take the SAT at all. However, I think that if you take the SAT, it shows colleges that you put in effort to at least try to score well. While UCs and Cal States do not take SAT scores into consideration, I still think it would be beneficial to take them. Obviously, if you are a student who only plans on applying to UCs and Cal States and not any private schools or out-of-state schools, then there really is no need to take the SAT. However, if you plan on applying to even one state or private school, taking the SAT would be a good idea.
Some students may ask the question, “But what if I take the SAT and do not score in the 1400s? Is it even worth it to submit my score?” Firstly, I would check the average SAT score of the schools you are applying to. If your score falls way below the average, it may not be a good idea to upload your score. However, even if your score falls at the average or just a little bit below, I believe it would still be beneficial for you to submit your score.
Ms. Byers, a YLHS teacher, believes that every student should take the SAT, no matter what. She says, “The SAT is great practice when it comes to understanding and mastering standardized testing which is often times inevitable in the adult world. Many licensing exams, diagnostics, certification examinations, and proficiency exams all rely on standardized testing to make decisions that could determine or dictate your future (i.e. passing your driving permit test or taking the LSAT to become a lawyer). Although it’s tedious and difficult, having good test taking skills is always beneficial and never detrimental.”
So, if you are a junior or senior who does not know whether or not they should take the SAT, look at what schools you are applying to. If you are applying to schools other than just UCs and/or Cal States, taking the SAT would be more beneficial than harmful.
