Should I Take the SAT for College Admissions and Beyond?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the necessity of taking the SAT for college admissions, particularly for students who have already taken the ACT. Participants explore concerns about future implications for graduate school applications and transferring between universities, as well as regional preferences for standardized tests.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether taking the SAT is necessary given their acceptance to Michigan State University with an ACT score, expressing uncertainty about future transfer requirements and graduate school applications.
  • Another participant asserts that the SAT will not be needed for graduate school applications, but suggests checking specific transfer requirements for undergraduate schools.
  • A participant shares their experience of being advised by a Caltech representative to take the SAT, despite feeling that their ACT score was sufficient, highlighting concerns about potential biases in admissions processes.
  • Some participants discuss regional differences in the acceptance of the ACT versus the SAT, suggesting that preferences may vary depending on the location of the colleges.
  • One participant mentions that in Southern California, the ACT is not commonly considered, raising questions about how this might affect college admissions.
  • Another participant notes that most colleges do not show a preference between the ACT and SAT, citing MIT's acceptance of both without preference.
  • There is a suggestion that the ACT may be more common in the East Coast and Midwest regions, indicating a geographical divide in standardized test preferences.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity and implications of taking the SAT versus the ACT, with no consensus reached on whether the SAT is essential for all students or specific to certain colleges.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the implications of standardized test choices on future academic opportunities, and there are references to varying regional preferences that may influence admissions decisions.

SticksandStones
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Hello,

I've already taken the ACT (32 composite) and have been accepted to Michigan State University for Physics. Looking at other colleges though, I see that they want the SAT (especially schools like Princeton and MIT). Should I take the SAT then, even if my college doesn't require it if you take the ACT? Will I run into trouble later on like when applying to graduate school? If I decide to transfer to another university later on during my undergraduate degree and they require the SAT will I be able to take it at that time if need be?

I don't know anybody who has taken the SAT so I know nothing about it, and it isn't pressed here like the ACT so I'm not sure what I should do.
 
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You absolutely will not need the SAT for applications to graduate school.

You might need the SAT if you intend to transfer from one undergraduate school to another, but I strongly doubt it. Check the schools' websites for their transfer application requirements.

- Warren
 
That troubles me too (of course it's too late for me). I only took the ACT (twice), and took the subject tests (Physics and Math 2). But I did not take the SAT I. I was talking to a Caltech representative at a college fair who said that I should really take the SAT if I plan on applying there. I don't know why, he wouldn't elaborate, and it was too late to take the SAT (plus I just hate the SAT test in general, and didn't have time to study for it. I was happy with my ACT score.) Hopefully that doesn't count me out. A $60 lottery ticket is too expensive to be rejected on a technicality like "you didn't take the SAT."

Offically, almost all except both tests, however. I just wonder if in reality they have a preference for the SAT.
 
I've heard that the further west you go the greater the acceptance of the ACT. So it really depends on where you are applying.

Also when you look at the website you may see something like "SAT is required (ACT accepted)" take a guess at which one they prefer.

however if the school accepts both and your ACT score is a lot higher, then I would definatly send that one instead.
 
the further west? I live in Southern California and i don't think anyone here even considers taking the ACT. i haven't gotten to college yet so maybe taking the ACT makes you stand out or something
 
No, taking the ACT doesn't make you stand out.

- Warren
 
Most colleges don't care if you take the ACT or SAT. I took both just in case I happened to do better on one than the other. MIT accepts either ACT or SAT scores without preference over either.
 
i think ACT is more common along the east coast and in the mid-west
 

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