The SAT, to take or not to take?

Hey mates, I'm not a big fan of standardized tests and wanted to know - is taking the SAT still required by most colleges? Would love some advice from seniors or people who've been through the process already!

I see you're questioning the necessity of the SAT in the college application process! Many colleges have indeed adopted test-optional policies recently, meaning they do not require SAT or ACT scores for admissions. However, there are still some universities that require these exam scores.

Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Purdue University, Brown University, Yale University, The University of Texas at Austin, and California Institute of Technology, for example, reinstituted the standardized testing requirement for the 2024-2025 application cycle. On the other hand, Columbia University, Princeton University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, and the University of Chicago remain test-optional.

So whether or not you need to take the SAT depends on where you're planning to apply. My advice is to research the specific admissions requirements of the colleges you're interested in to ensure you're meeting all their criteria. Even if some of your interested colleges are test-optional, you might want to consider taking the SAT anyway since having a decent score could potentially boost your application. It's all about presenting the best picture of yourself as an applicant!

Also, keep in mind that the SAT has undergone recent changes and is now fully digital, with question formats and durations different from the previous paper version. It's important to get to grips with this new format if you decide to take the test. Best of luck with your college applications!