Admissions Tests and College Admissions

Hey everyone, I'm a bit confused with all these standardized tests. Which test is most relied on by colleges during the admissions process? Is it the SAT, ACT or something else? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

When it comes to admissions tests, both the SAT and the ACT are widely accepted by almost all colleges and universities in the United States. Traditionally, there wasn't a clear preference for one over the other; colleges equated the two based on their concordance tables and considered them equally in their admissions decisions. Both test scores were typically presented in the academic profiles of admitted students in many universities.

However, one thing to note is that the testing landscape has changed significantly recently. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools temporarily adopted test-optional or test-blind policies. This means that for those schools, you wouldn't be at a disadvantage if you don't submit standardized test scores.

Fast forward to the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, several schools have decided to return to requiring standardized test scores. Notable among these are Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Purdue University, Brown University, Yale University, The University of Texas at Austin, and California Institute of Technology. But keep in mind that other selective colleges like Princeton University, Columbia University, New York University, Cornell University, and University of Pennsylvania are still test-optional.

So, to answer your question specifically, if you're applying to a school that requires or considers standardized tests, either the SAT or ACT will suffice, unless a particular school indicates a preference.

In terms of preparing for these tests, you should choose based on which one you feel more comfortable with or which one you think you could get a higher score on. Many students take practice tests for both before deciding which test to focus on. Remember, your score is just one part of your application—the rest of your application (GPA, coursework, essays, extracurricular activities) is equally, if not more, important.