How important are SAT subject tests in college admissions decisions?

Colleges will weigh your GPA, the difficulty of courses that you took, SAT/ACT scores, subject tests, extracurriculars, and your personal statement. GPA carries the most weight on your application. If you took challenging courses and did well in them, that's a really great start. However, if your classes weren't advanced or maybe you didn't have a 4.0+ GPA - thats' where good scores on subject tests can really help your application.

You can retake subject tests if you feel like some additional studying might help. I recommend taking subject tests in the areas that you might pursue as a major. Some colleges (most UC's) require 2 subject tests for you to be considered - so they're pretty important to some schools.

When I was in High School I was very busy with my extracurriculars, there was no way that I could keep up with the workload that would come along with AP classes. I knew that what I wanted to do in college was what I was spending my time on (competitive dance). So instead of struggling to keep good grades, I just took regular classes to get the best grade possible and my dance career was what I kept building up. There are plenty of academic advisors out there that can help you.

Time is a factor! Depending on what grade you're in, there are deadlines for you to submit test scores in order to meet application deadlines. I recommend consulting with an Academic Advisor - many will do a free consultation. I used to work for a company called Revolution Prep, and that's exactly what we did. They also offer live online private tutoring - that's why the consultations would be free. They help you draw a road map and a timeline. At this point, some families realize they need some help - and that's when you might pay for a private tutor. There are also Academic Advisors who will charge you right out of the gate but they will offer other services (like help with writing your Personal Statement/organizing your timeline for application submissions).

I'm so happy you asked this question! That would be my last piece of advice - don't be afraid to ask people for help. Often times if people don't know the answer, the might be able to direct you to someone who does. Good Luck with all of your tests and applications!!!