May 28 (edited) • 🎓 Strategy Posts
📚 The SAT & ACT: What Role Do They Actually Play in 2025?
If you’re feeling confused about the SAT and ACT right now, you’re not alone. Here is a breakdown of standardized testing & what it means for you.
1️⃣ Why Do Tests Exist at All?
Colleges need to:
- Compare GPAs across schools: A 4.0 at one school ≠ 4.0 at another—tests help level the playing field.
- Measure college readiness: Can you handle the pace & rigor of college classes?
- Add context to your transcript: They clarify whether your GPA reflects strong performance, easy grading, or untapped potential.
👉 Your GPA tells one story. Your test score tells another. Together, they give admissions officers a fuller picture of your academic profile.
❗ Testing is very rarely the deciding factor—especially if the rest of your application is strong (or weak). A low score isn't the end of the world!
2️⃣ Understanding Test Policies
When Covid hit, most schools went "test optional" due to lockdowns. Some kept them, some have returned to requiring tests. Here are the 3 policies:
Test-Required
- You must submit an SAT or ACT score to apply. No score = incomplete application
- ✅ Example schools: Harvard, MIT, Dartmouth, Caltech, UT Austin
Test-Optional
- You can submit a score—but don’t have to
- If submitted, it will be reviewed like normal. If not, your application will be evaluated without it
- ✅ Example schools: Princeton, Duke, UChicago, BU, NYU
Test-Blind
- Scores are not considered—even if you send them
- ✅ Example schools: UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Cal State system
3️⃣ So...How Much Do Tests Actually Matter in 2025?
It depends on where you're applying.
Top 10 Schools (Ivies, MIT, Stanford, etc.)
- Most now require the SAT or ACT again
- A strong score is expected, not optional
Top 20–50 Schools
- Still mostly test-optional, but strong scores can significantly strengthen your file
- Especially useful if your GPA is lower or your school is under-resourced
Regional / Less Selective Schools
- Often remain test-optional or lightly consider scores
- Scores may be more useful for merit scholarships than for admission
Test-Blind Schools (UCs, Cal States)
- Test scores are not considered at all
- You’re evaluated purely on GPA, coursework, and context
📝 What Does This Mean for You?
- Don’t assume testing is over — for many schools, it’s back
- Don’t stress unnecessarily — one score doesn’t define your chances
- Do start preparing — having a strong score gives you more control and more options
📌 Coming next: How to decide whether to submit your score at test-optional schools — and what to do if it’s borderline or low 🤍
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📚 The SAT & ACT: What Role Do They Actually Play in 2025?
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