Colleges That Require SAT Essay | We Compiled the Comprehensive List
Increasingly, colleges across the United States are showing preference to applicants that have sat and passed the non-compulsory SAT with essay test. Given that the SAT with essay is technically an optional extra, its importance can be underestimated or overlooked entirely. Nevertheless, students that take the SAT essay at high school (or later) are statistically more likely to get into their preferred colleges than those who take the basic SAT without the essay alone.
But which colleges require the SAT essay as a fundamental prerequisite for successful college admissions and does the SAT essay matter ? How many other colleges recommend the SAT essay as a preferable educational achievement, though will still consider applications from those that did not take the SAT essay?
An Overview of the Optional SAT Essay
The SAT essay was added to the test in March 2016 as non-compulsory, which has since been taken by millions of high school students and adult learners across the US. The SAT essay is an non-compulsory additional section to the standard test, which gives students 50 minutes to read and to critically analyze a passage of text and scrutinize the author’s argument.
Put simply, you write a brief passage of text of your own, analyzing how well or otherwise the author got their point across, and your justifications for your arguments. Test scores are then assigned, in accordance with the quality of your responses.
Taking the SAT with the essay costs slightly more, though it’s a small price to pay - given how many colleges and universities recommend the SAT essay. Of course, in each scenarios you need to be familiar with ways to study for the SAT and know when to take the SAT .
Note: don’t fall into the trap of assuming the school you take the SAT at will automatically sign you up for the essay portion of the test. If you want to take the SAT with essay, you’ll need to indicate this at the time of your application.
Prep Tips for SAT Test and SAT Essay Takers
Whether you plan on taking the base SAT alone or the SAT with essay, we strongly recommend checking out these top-rated SAT prep books and look at the different states SAT scores to get your started. In addition, we also reviewed a series of popular SAT prep courses that provide a detailed overview of what to expect on the day.
There’s no such thing as being too prepared - getting started on your test prep 3-6 months ahead of time comes highly recommended.
How Much Does SAT Essay Score Matter?
It's generally recommended to aim for an SAT essay score of at least a 6 out of 8 on Reading, Analysis, and Writing.
Combined with a good overall SAT score in the 75th percentile, this should be more than enough to be considered eligible by colleges that require the SAT essay.
Which Schools Require or Recommend the Optional SAT Essay?
The list of universities and colleges that require the SAT essay is changing all the time. While some universities consider SAT and SAT essay scores alongside other criteria, some have made the SAT essay a fundamental requirement for all applicants.
What’s interesting to note is that while more schools than ever before expect students to take the non-compulsory writing portion, the vast majority of Ivy League schools are excluded from the list. Harvard University, MIT, Princeton and so on - none of these elite colleges require the essay as standard.
It’s therefore a case of considering the schools and colleges you want to apply for, before deciding whether or not to take the test with the optional essay section.
Should You Take the SAT with the Optional Essay Portion?
Some academics argue that if you’re going to take the test at all, you may as well take the essay while you’re at it. The additional cost is negligible and it’s not as if a huge amount of additional test prep is necessary. Plus, it’s true to say that any additional accolades on your educational profile could come in useful at a later date.
If you’re still undecided as to whether to take the SAT essay or skip it, consider the following before making your final decision:
1. Do any of the schools you’re interested in or colleges require or recommend the essay? If not, is there a chance they may require the non-compulsory SAT with essay at some point in the future?
2. If you are planning to apply to a college or university under a scholarship program, have you checked whether a specific SAT score and essay score is required?
3. Even if the college you want to apply to doesn’t formerly require the SAT essay, could a good essay SAT score give you an advantage over your rival applicants?
4. Could taking the non-compulsory SAT essay also give you an advantage over rival candidates in the future where job opportunities and promotion prospects are concerned?
What’s important to remember is that even if the non-compulsory SAT essay isn’t a formal requirement, this doesn’t mean it couldn’t prove helpful in other ways.
By taking the non-compulsory SAT essay, you demonstrate to college boards and employers alike that you’re committed to both your education and your personal development. Something that could prove instrumental in giving you the edge over rival applicants - both when looking to get into college and job seeking.
SAT Essay FAQs:
1. how do you start an sat essay.
- Check out the following when creating your SAT essay.
- Distinguish the SAT essay scoring system.
- Study sample passages and SAT Essay prompts.
- Choose professional writing and editorial Outlets.
- Prep with Practice Essays to improve your writing skills.
- Read your test day SAT Essay passage thoroughly.
- Commence with an Outline.
2. Can you skip the SAT essay?
Students aren't required to take the SAT Essay. This is non- compulsory, but many colleges, recommend or require the sat essay. If you don't register for the SAT with Essay at first, you can add it later. You can use an SAT fee waiver to take the SAT or the SAT with Essay.
3. Can the SAT essay hurt your score?
The SAT writing score is produced by the multiple-choice section of the exam, while your SAT essay score hails from a brand new part of the exam. This can be the SAT Essay section, which stands untreated and does not affect your SAT score in multiple-choice sections.
4. What to expect when taking SAT essay?
SAT Essay comprises of one passage between 650 and 750 words that you read and respond to. To create or write your essay, you need to be very focus on how the author uses evidence, reasoning, and other rhetorical techniques to build an argument and make it convincing.
5. Do colleges look at SAT essay scores?
In line with the College Board's SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report, 68% of test-takers opted to make an essay. Some schools don't require the essay. They may recommend taking it. Other schools may not just study your essay score with the admissions process.
Leonard Haggin
I created this site to help students like you learn from the experiences my team had learned during our extensive academic careers. I am now studying Law at Stanford, but I also make time to write articles here in order to help all you fellow students advance in your academic careers and beyond. I hope our efforts on Study Prep Lounge will arm you with the knowledge you need to overcome whatever trial or test you find in front of you.
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Which Colleges Require the SAT Essay?
Tests can be intimidating. And for some students, adding a timed essay is downright terrifying. So as you sign up for the SAT, it’s easy to look at that optional essay and say “fuh-getta-bout-it.”
I mean, who in their right mind would willingly sit for a fifty-minute essay?—Well, maybe you.
Before you immediately say no—or yes—to the optional essay portion, you need to consider which colleges require the SAT essay. Your decision will depend upon where you plan to continue your education.
Table of Contents
Why Some Colleges Have Dropped Essay
Several colleges have dropped the SAT essay as a requirement. One of the main factors behind this decision is concern about creating financial hardship or extra stress for students. Many school districts are providing in-school testing for high school students free of charge. But it does not always include the essay section. This means students who want to take the essay may need to sign up and pay for it on their own.
If your high school does not offer the essay portion as part of testing, you can visit the College Board registration page to find a testing center. Registering for the SAT essay portion is an additional $17. The SAT costs $47.50 with an allotted time of 3 hours. If you choose to add the essay, you will pay $64.50 and be given an additional fifty- minute session to end the day. There are fee waivers available for students who qualify due to financial hardship.
Should You Take the SAT Essay?
There are some schools that will not consider the SAT essay with your application. California Institute of Technology and Georgetown University are two well-known schools that have recently announced your essay will not be considered with your application—they won’t even look at it. However, as grandma always said—don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In other words, you may want to leave your options open by writing that essay.
If you decide not to take the SAT essay you are limiting the schools that you can apply to. Yes, many schools have dropped the requirement. But if you decide not to take the essay, you limit your college options. Even if the schools on your current college list don’t require it, things can change. Finding the right college is a process. You may discover your ideal school does require the essay.
Several schools that no longer require the SAT either recommend it or make it optional and will consider it with your application. If a school recommends the essay, they are politely telling you that it will be a factor in your application. Schools that consider the essay optional or even those that say it is not required still look for evidence of your academic abilities.
Most colleges, even those that have dropped the essay requirement, have stressed that evaluating writing skills continues to be an important part of their selection process. They will seek a writing sample in some form. The SAT essay is a good opportunity to display your writing skills. And, because the prompt and format is always the same, you have opportunities to practice so you go into it well-prepared .
Top College SAT Essay Requirements
In the chart below, I have compiled a list of the top-ranked U.S. colleges and their SAT essay requirements. If you don’t see your school here, check the College Board SAT Policies page. Remember that colleges and universities often re-evaluate and make changes to their policies. Use this as a guide, but always check your prospective school’s admissions page for the most updated requirements.
As you look at which colleges require the SAT essay, it is clear that many of the top schools have dropped the requirement. But essays continue to be considered if you submit them with your application. My best advice—and your least limiting option—is to sign up, prepare for, and take the essay portion. It is a well-spent $17 and fifty minutes of your time when compared to your future.
- https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-09-10/colleges-drop-sat-act-essay-what-students-should-know
- https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list/#tab:rank
- https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/application-requirements
- https://admissions.yale.edu/standardized-testing
- https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/freshman/testing.html
- https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/tests-scores/
- https://admission.princeton.edu/updated-application-requirements
- http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/apply/first-yearfreshman-applicants/standardized-tests
- https://admissions.upenn.edu/admissions-and-financial-aid/what-penn-looks-for/testing
- https://www.brown.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/first-year-applicants/standardized-tests
- https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/glossary-term/sat
- https://today.duke.edu/2018/07/duke-makes-sat-essay-act-writing-test-optional-applicants
- https://admission.williams.edu/apply/
- https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/firstyear/preparation
- https://admissions.cornell.edu/standardized-testing-requirements
- http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/examination-requirement/index.html
- https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/first-year/testing
- https://www.amherst.edu/admission/apply/firstyear
- https://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/our-process/test-optional-policy/index.html
- https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/contact/faq
- https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/application-overview
- https://admissions.northwestern.edu/faqs/high-school-courses/
- https://admissions.nd.edu/apply/evaluation-criteria/
- https://record.umich.edu/articles/admissions-office-drops-requirement-act-sat-writing-components
- https://www.hmc.edu/admission/apply/first-year-students/application-materials/
- https://www.swarthmore.edu/admissions-aid/standardized-testing-policy
- https://apply.jhu.edu/standardized-test-information/
- https://www.cmc.edu/admission/first-year-application-instructions
- https://westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission
- https://admission.rice.edu/policies/standardized-testing
- https://www.bates.edu/admission/optional-testing/
- https://admission.usc.edu/apply/first-year-students/#/checklist
- https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php#fndtn-panel1-Steps-for
- https://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/quickguide/
- https://admissions.tufts.edu/apply/first-year-students/sat-and-act-tests/
- https://admission.virginia.edu/admission/testing
- https://admissions.wustl.edu/apply_site/Pages/Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx
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