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With Rachel Korn, former admissions officer at several top universities.
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Take the SAT
HEAD Start
The most universal test required for college admission is still the SAT. In addition to grades, colleges look at the SAT for a measure of your achievement. They know that several things can affect the scores: high school strength, income levels, disabilities, etc. ... but they will still usually ask for this test.

Why do the colleges torture you like this? Well, there are over 27,000 high schools in the U.S.(!), and they all vary. An "A" in one school is not an "A" in another, so colleges need to see these test scores to know how much you have really learned and if you will be able to survive the curriculum demands. There simply has to be one universal, non-subjective measure to be taken in hand with grades and writing to assess your candidacy.

HEAD Lines
Prepare for test day:

At this point, you've read the study guide books and maybe taken a course to cover any material your high school classes may not have. You're as ready as you'll ever be! In these days before the test, remember to:
  • RELAX! The more stressed you are, the more you could psych yourself out - it's just a test, not the end of the world (and worst case, you can always take it again to score even higher).

  • Don't study too hard. At this point, a few sessions with flashcards for vocabulary should be all the prep you do. Focus on sleeping well and eating healthy.

  • Know that this is only one test, and that after the college admissions process, you will never be asked about it or be judged by it again.
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From Other HEADS
DON'T STRESS. The night before my test, I relaxed and watched movies, and I did much better than the time before.

-- JANET
UNIVERSITYOF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES


I LEARNED THAT THE SAT means nothing. A few years after taking it, I do not even recall my scores, nor are they important, nor did they predict my success thus far in college. Try to do well, of course, but you aren't labeled by your SAT score.

-- NICOLE SPENCE
EMORY UNIVERSITY


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HoH Tip
Put it in perspective: GPA is the first thing schools look at. The second, the strength of your schedule: how rigorous were the courses you took; how hard you were pushing yourself. Tests are usually the third thing schools look at. In the view of the admissions office, grades and performance in high school are the best indicators of success for your first year of college because they demonstrate what kind of student you are.


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