Which colleges still require the SAT essay in 2024?
I’m a current junior and starting to plan for my college applications. I’ve noticed that a lot of schools have gone test-optional, and I also heard the SAT essay is being phased out, but I can’t figure out which schools (if any) still require or even recommend the SAT essay.
I’m scheduled to take the SAT soon, and I’m trying to decide whether to register for the essay portion or not. If there are still colleges that actually require or look for the SAT essay, I don’t want to risk being ineligible just because I didn’t take it. I’m mostly looking at some Ivies, a couple of UCs (if it matters), and maybe some out-of-state public universities.
If anyone has a current list or knows if any major colleges still require the SAT essay, I would really appreciate the info! It’s hard to find up-to-date info online since most places seem to say it’s not needed anymore, but I just want to be sure.
I’m scheduled to take the SAT soon, and I’m trying to decide whether to register for the essay portion or not. If there are still colleges that actually require or look for the SAT essay, I don’t want to risk being ineligible just because I didn’t take it. I’m mostly looking at some Ivies, a couple of UCs (if it matters), and maybe some out-of-state public universities.
If anyone has a current list or knows if any major colleges still require the SAT essay, I would really appreciate the info! It’s hard to find up-to-date info online since most places seem to say it’s not needed anymore, but I just want to be sure.
7 months ago
•
160 views
Dr. Craig Aimar
• 7 months ago
Advisor
You're right that the SAT essay has been largely phased out in recent years. As of 2024, no major colleges or universities in the United States require or even recommend the SAT essay for admissions.
The College Board discontinued the SAT essay for most students after the June 2021 SAT administration. Currently, the SAT essay is only available in a few states as part of SAT School Day administrations that fulfill state graduation or district testing requirements—not for general college admissions purposes. Even schools that previously required the essay, like Ivy League institutions and the University of California system, have removed this as a requirement from their applications.
The Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Penn, Dartmouth, Cornell), the University of California schools, and virtually all other top public universities in the country no longer require or consider the SAT essay score. In fact, the University of California system dropped its ACT/SAT requirement entirely, including the essay, while adopting a test-blind policy. Other prominent universities have been test-optional for the main SAT, so the essay portion is not part of the review.
If you're hoping for an up-to-date example: Harvard clearly states on its admissions site that the SAT essay is not required and will not be considered. The same is true for schools like MIT, Stanford, and most state flagships—none require or consider the SAT essay anymore.
Unless your high school or state requires the SAT essay for graduation (which is rare), there should be no need to register for the essay portion if you’re taking the SAT for college admissions. If you want to be absolutely sure, it's helpful to check directly with each college's admissions page or use their contact info, but as of the latest cycle, major and even smaller colleges have dropped the essay requirement.
So you can safely skip the SAT essay and focus your energy on prepping for the main sections of the SAT, as well as the other parts of your applications that colleges care about most—like your grades, activities, and essays.
The College Board discontinued the SAT essay for most students after the June 2021 SAT administration. Currently, the SAT essay is only available in a few states as part of SAT School Day administrations that fulfill state graduation or district testing requirements—not for general college admissions purposes. Even schools that previously required the essay, like Ivy League institutions and the University of California system, have removed this as a requirement from their applications.
The Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Penn, Dartmouth, Cornell), the University of California schools, and virtually all other top public universities in the country no longer require or consider the SAT essay score. In fact, the University of California system dropped its ACT/SAT requirement entirely, including the essay, while adopting a test-blind policy. Other prominent universities have been test-optional for the main SAT, so the essay portion is not part of the review.
If you're hoping for an up-to-date example: Harvard clearly states on its admissions site that the SAT essay is not required and will not be considered. The same is true for schools like MIT, Stanford, and most state flagships—none require or consider the SAT essay anymore.
Unless your high school or state requires the SAT essay for graduation (which is rare), there should be no need to register for the essay portion if you’re taking the SAT for college admissions. If you want to be absolutely sure, it's helpful to check directly with each college's admissions page or use their contact info, but as of the latest cycle, major and even smaller colleges have dropped the essay requirement.
So you can safely skip the SAT essay and focus your energy on prepping for the main sections of the SAT, as well as the other parts of your applications that colleges care about most—like your grades, activities, and essays.
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Dr. Craig Aimar
Freeland, Michigan
Ph.D. Educational Leadership, Ed.S. Educational Administration, M.Ed., B.A. Secondary Education
Experience
23 years
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