How Important Is the SAT?

If you want to go to college and you’re thinking about applying, you should understand what the SAT is about. This is primarily because it will impact your application process and play a role in whether or not you’re accepted. The information below provides helpful information about the importance of the SAT. In the meantime, if you need help studying for the SAT, contact one of our New York City tutors today.

Why the SAT is a Big Deal

Once you get to high school, you’ll probably start to hear about the SAT. Many students hear about it but don’t really understand why it’s such a big deal. The SAT is a standardized test that’s of critical importance to your education because it has the potential to affect the rest of your life. Your SAT score has the potential to determine whether or not you get into college. It can also determine the type of school you’re able to enter.

The reason why the SAT can impact your life is because the education you receive can play a role in the amount of money you’re able to earn and other opportunities that are available to you. This certainly doesn’t mean you can’t succeed in life if you don’t score well on the SAT. However, depending on your career goals, your SAT score can be of critical importance.

As a standardized admissions test, the SAT has been used since 1926 and was originally designed based on an IQ test used by the Army. It didn’t gain popularity until around 1933, which was because Harvard started to use it for the purpose of choosing scholarship recipients. To date, millions of students have taken the SAT to submit their score as part of a college application.

How the SAT Impacts College Applicants

When you apply to a college or university, submitting your SAT score is often a mandatory requirement. This is partially because schools receive an overwhelming number of applications and they must narrow them down. Each school has a certain capacity and number of students they can accommodate. If you have a lower score than many other applicants, there’s a good chance that you will not be accepted. At the very least, it will limit your opportunities. While there are other considerations, a high SAT score increases your chances of a getting accepted into the school of your choice.

Qualifying for Scholarship Opportunities

If you want to attend college but you don’t have the money to do so, there are many scholarships for which you can apply. A lot of scholarships are based on merit, which means your grades and other academic achievements will be considered. Generally speaking, your SAT score will also play a role in the decision that’s made. This means you can get the money you need to attend college when you might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Even in schools where your SAT score is only a small part of the decision-making process, it’s still a factor. It’s important to understand that there are other students applying that might have academic achievements that outweigh your accomplishments. On a related note, prior academic achievement alone will not necessarily dictate whether someone will be a good college student.

Schools often consider letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and other forms of engagement while students are in high school. They want to ascertain whether a student is prepared to succeed in college. When all of the factors are considered and it’s concluded that a student is academically competitive, SAT scores were part of that decision-making process. It’s why having a high score still makes a difference.