Which colleges are still requiring the SAT essay in 2023?
I've been looking at colleges for my applications, and I'm confused about the SAT essay part. I heard that a lot of schools dropped the SAT essay, but I can't find a clear list for 2023. My school doesn't really talk about it anymore, so I'm not sure if it's something I should prep for or not.
If anyone knows specific colleges (especially in California or on the east coast) that still require the SAT essay, could you share them? I'm starting to make my testing plan and definitely don't want to take the essay if I don't need to. But I also don't want to miss out on applying anywhere because I didn't take it.
If anyone knows specific colleges (especially in California or on the east coast) that still require the SAT essay, could you share them? I'm starting to make my testing plan and definitely don't want to take the essay if I don't need to. But I also don't want to miss out on applying anywhere because I didn't take it.
2 weeks ago
•
6 views
Lydia Schooler
• 2 weeks ago
Advisor
You're right—it's gotten a bit confusing since the landscape has changed a lot in the past few years! As of 2023, almost every college and university in the United States has stopped requiring the SAT Essay, including well-known schools on both the West Coast (like the entire University of California system) and the East Coast. Many colleges even stopped considering the SAT Essay at all, even if you submitted a score.
Currently, there are no major colleges or universities that require the SAT Essay as part of the application process. The College Board has actually discontinued the SAT Essay for nearly all test dates as of June 2021, and most test centers no longer even offer it. Some schools may have accepted SAT Essay scores from prior years, but they do not require it for current or future applicants.
For example, schools that previously required the SAT Essay—like Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and the entire UC system—have all dropped the requirement. If you’re looking at smaller or specialized programs (like service academies or very specific honors programs), it's always smart to double check individual admissions pages just in case.
If your school doesn’t talk about the SAT Essay anymore and you’re not seeing it when you sign up for the SAT, that’s because it’s no longer a standard part of the test. You can confidently focus your energy on preparing for the main SAT sections (Reading, Writing & Language, Math) and the rest of the application.
If you want to be absolutely sure, pick a shortlist of your top colleges and check their admissions requirements directly on their undergraduate admissions websites. Some students like to send a quick email to admissions reps for peace of mind—this is totally normal and they usually respond quickly.
Bottom line: unless you’re applying to a highly specialized program that happens to ask for it (which is very rare now), you do NOT need to take the SAT Essay in 2023. You can focus your prep elsewhere without worrying about missing out on any major school.
Currently, there are no major colleges or universities that require the SAT Essay as part of the application process. The College Board has actually discontinued the SAT Essay for nearly all test dates as of June 2021, and most test centers no longer even offer it. Some schools may have accepted SAT Essay scores from prior years, but they do not require it for current or future applicants.
For example, schools that previously required the SAT Essay—like Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and the entire UC system—have all dropped the requirement. If you’re looking at smaller or specialized programs (like service academies or very specific honors programs), it's always smart to double check individual admissions pages just in case.
If your school doesn’t talk about the SAT Essay anymore and you’re not seeing it when you sign up for the SAT, that’s because it’s no longer a standard part of the test. You can confidently focus your energy on preparing for the main SAT sections (Reading, Writing & Language, Math) and the rest of the application.
If you want to be absolutely sure, pick a shortlist of your top colleges and check their admissions requirements directly on their undergraduate admissions websites. Some students like to send a quick email to admissions reps for peace of mind—this is totally normal and they usually respond quickly.
Bottom line: unless you’re applying to a highly specialized program that happens to ask for it (which is very rare now), you do NOT need to take the SAT Essay in 2023. You can focus your prep elsewhere without worrying about missing out on any major school.