Is the SAT Worth It? Understanding Its Importance for College Applications

How important is the SAT in the college admission process? 

If you’re wondering how much the SAT matters in college admissions, the answer depends on the colleges your student is applying to, their GPA, extracurricular activities, and other factors. 

Over the years, the SAT’s importance has shifted due to test-optional policies and universities’ ever-evolving admissions practices.

Here’s a comprehensive look at where the SAT stands in today’s college admissions process and how it can still play a crucial role in your student’s application.

1. How the SAT factors into holistic admissions

Most colleges use a holistic admissions approach, meaning they evaluate multiple aspects of a student’s application. These factors include:

• GPA and coursework

• Extracurricular activities

• Essays 

• Recommendation letters

• Test scores

For schools that consider the SAT, it can act as a tie-breaker for students with similar qualifications. For instance, if two applicants have similar GPAs and activities, the one with a stronger SAT score may have an edge.

2. Test-optional doesn’t mean test-irrelevant

Many colleges have adopted test-optional policies, allowing students to choose whether to submit SAT scores. This has led some to believe the SAT no longer matters—but that’s not entirely true.

Advantages of submitting SAT scores

• A strong score can boost your application - Even at test-optional schools, submitting a high SAT score can set your application apart, especially if your GPA or extracurriculars aren’t as competitive.

• Scholarship opportunities - Many schools and external organizations use SAT scores to determine eligibility for merit-based scholarships.

• The standout factor - SAT scores provide a standardized measure of academic ability for students applying from non-traditional academic backgrounds or schools with inconsistent grading.

When to skip the SAT

If your student excels in other areas and has a high GPA and their SAT score doesn’t reflect their potential, it might make sense to withhold it when applying to test-optional schools.

3. Many colleges still require the SAT

While some schools went test-optional during the Covid years, many of those schools have begun to recognize the value of standardized tests as part of their admissions process and have now reinstated their pre-Covid testing policies.

4. Beyond admissions: the SAT’s long-term benefits

Even beyond college admissions, the SAT can have lasting value:

• College placement: Some schools use SAT scores to help determine course placement or entrance into certain colleges within the university.

• Career opportunities: High SAT scores can enhance resumes for internships and early job applications in competitive fields.

The college admissions pendulum has begun to swing back toward a test-required environment. These standardized tests have once again been recognized as valuable tools to predict student success. 

The SAT’s importance ultimately depends on the colleges your student is targeting and how their score complements the rest of their application.

Whether your student decides to submit SAT scores or not, the key to a strong application is crafting a well-rounded body of work throughout high school that will showcase their strengths. 

Have questions about whether the SAT is right for your student? Click the Contact Me button to discuss!