Based on the recent data from Common App, till Feb. 2021, among all the applicants applying via Common App, only 44% submitted SAT or ACT scores, which represents a huge decrease from last year, 77% in 2020. 
It's not that surprising since more and more universities have opt-in flexible application requirements on tests, plus the test cancellation due to the pandemic. 
Does this mean that when applying to those more selective schools, we'd really go for "test optional"? We are not so sure to jump to conclusions.  
Let's take a look of the numbers. For those applicants to more selective universities, the dropping rates of submitting ACT or SAT are actually lower than that of the less selective ones.

As students and colleges adapt to new realities and changes to the college admissions process, College Board is making sure our programs adapt with them. We’re making some changes to reduce demands on students.
We are no longer offering SAT Subject Tests™ in the U.S. Because SAT Subject Tests are used internationally for a wider variety of purposes, we’ll provide two more administrations, in May and June of 2021, for international students.  

• Students currently registered for an upcoming Subject Test in the U.S. will automatically have their registration canceled and fees refunded.
• Students who are currently registered for, or plan to register for, an upcoming Subject Test outside the U.S. can still test through the June 2021 administration. Students who no longer want to take Subject Tests can contact Customer Service to cancel and receive a refund.

We’ve reached out to our member colleges and they’ll decide whether and how to consider students’ Subject Test scores. Students should check colleges’ websites for the most up-to-date information on their application policies.
We will also discontinue the optional SAT Essay after the June 2021 administration.

• Students who are currently registered, or plan to register, for an upcoming SAT with Essay will still be able to test through the June 2021 administration. Students who prefer to cancel the optional Essay portion of their SAT can do so in their online account, with no change fees, until the registration deadline.
• After June 2021, the Essay will only be available in states where it’s required as part of SAT School Day administrations. Students scheduled to take the SAT on a school day should check with their school about whether the Essay will be included.

Writing remains essential to college readiness and the SAT will continue to measure writing and editing skills, but there are other ways for students to demonstrate their mastery of essay writing, and the SAT will continue to measure writing throughout the test. The tasks on the SAT Reading and Writing and Language sections are among the most effective and predictive parts of the SAT.
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According to 11th Fleet's recent article, currently there are 22 international schools in Taiwan. A “true” international school as defined by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education requires that the student holds a foreign passport. Note this definition is different from a school that offers an international curriculum and does not require a foreign passport. There are a few schools in Taiwan that fall into this category, which we will cover in Part II of this article. 

There are a variety of International schools in Taiwan, American vs Japanese, religious vs secular, and a European school in between. ​

Juniors--Why you should continue preparing SAT/ACT.
Although many universities have already announced that for Fall 2021, they will go with “test optional” or waive the requirement of SAT/ACT results, if you do have a decent result to share, it could bring you some advantages  in the decision process. Without a standardized test result, we can imagine how difficult it will be for the Admission Committee to make the decisions. Therefore, if you have a decent result, it will make it easier for them to decide if you are academically qualified for the school and reach a conclusion.
 
Also, no standardized test result means they need to rely heavily on your official transcript. If you happen to be someone who didn’t pick up upper school works in time, then this might be at your disadvantage. A good SAT/ACT result can be a good support for your low or not that ideal GPA.
 
Younger Students
We know that the influences of COVID-19 will not just disappear but linger for a couple of months or even years. Therefore, prepare yourself early on after entering high school will be a better idea. Moreover, if you can have a satisfied score in junior or even sophomore year, then you don’t need to worry what would happen to later tests no matter it’s test format change or sudden cancellation. You can also plan your extracurricular life better to give yourself enough time and space to demonstrate your unique characters to the colleges to get a better shot. 

Applying ‘Early Decision’ – and to a lesser extent ‘Early Action’ – is an indication to a college that it is your No. 1 choice. That is, if you were accepted to every one of the schools to which you applied, you would attend that one. In applying Early Decision, you are also signing an agreement that binds you to that college should you be admitted. While there can be an advantage in applying early at some institutions, you should consider how much you really want to go to that college before making the big leap.

SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:

• Does the school match the criteria I have set for myself? Does it offer the major I want?
• Is it in a place I can envision myself living for four years?
• Is financial aid going to play a big role in where I go to college? (If so, please discuss this decision thoroughly with your college counselor )
• What do my parents think?
• Have I taken all the standardized tests required for admission? (Many schools require the SATII subject tests; make sure you take those by the November test date and rush the scores )
• Are my grades and standardized-test scores compatible with those of students usually accepted at the school? (If you are a postgraduate, you should talk to your college counselor before applying anywhere early.)
• Have I looked around enough to know what else is out there?
• Am I making an informed decision, considering all my options? 

For certain students, the option of sending some kind of early application is advisable; however, you should know what the differences are before getting started.

Early Decision (E.D.) is a binding agreement between you and the college, by which you agree that you will attend the college should you be accepted. At many schools, E.D. applications are due by November 1st or 15th, but the dates and E.D. plans do vary, so read the applications closely. Normally, decisions are mailed before the Christmas holiday. If accepted under an Early Decision plan, you must withdraw your applications at all other colleges. 

Early Action (E.A) roughly follows the same timetable as Early Decision, but it is not a binding agreement. If accepted to a college under an Early Action policy, you may still attend another college if you choose to. You have until May 1st to make your decision.  

Rolling Admission is a process used mainly by large state universities, although not exclusively. Under a Rolling Admissions policy, applications are read on a continuing basis rather than all at once after a certain deadline. If you apply to a school with a rolling admission policy, we recommend getting that application in as early in the fall as you can.

"Should I use the common application?" ,one of the questions we hear often.
Our answer is “Yes,” but with a few caveats. The Common Application was created in order to eliminate a lot of the ‘busy work’ involved in applying to college; take advantage of it.  Colleges pay a fee to be a member of the Common Application. If they didn’t believe in it, they wouldn’t pay to be a member. That said, cavalier use of this application is not in anyone’s interest. Do not use it to over-apply, but do use it as a timesaving tool, noting that each application can and should be personalized for each college. Use the Common Application in conjunction with a thorough investigation of the school, which may include a visit, a letter indicating interest, and an interview, among other things. When applying E.D. or E.A., use the school’s own application. The Common Application should never be the first point of contact between you and that school. Make sure that you tailor each application as much as possible to each individual school through the essay or personal statement.  Also, double- or triple-check your applications to make sure that the right school is getting the right application. Finally, most colleges require a supplement to the common application, and these can be downloaded from the college’s page or the Common Application website. While some colleges say their supplement is optional, the reality is that your application looks better when you complete “optional” material.

​After the Application is Mailed
This is usually a very trying time for students and families. You’ve done all the work, you’ve written a great essay, and you’ve gotten it all off in the mail well before the deadline, (We hope!!) Now what? Other than E.D./E.A. applications, which usually take 4-6 weeks to process, most regular decision college applications take anywhere from 8-12 weeks, depending on the volume of mail, data processing and reading procedures, and number of personnel on the college side. This time, when things are “up in the air,” can be daunting for seniors. Here are some tips for making it through these months and weeks:

• Concentrate on your studies! Colleges do ask to see winter term grades; you can help yourself a great deal by putting in a little extra effort.
• Follow up with all of your schools to make sure they received your application. Most colleges will send out a letter to you indicating that it has been received and is being processed. If you do not receive such a letter within 3-4 weeks of the deadline, give the admissions office a call to check on the status. Also, parents should check with their banks to make sure the application fee was deposited. Finally, the college counselors can always give a call to our contacts in admissions in cases where the application still is in limbo. With the amount of mail colleges have to deal with, the problem is usually that an application has been misfiled rather than lost or missing. 
• Keep colleges up to date on your progress since your application. Did you win an award at Founders Day? Cum Laude? Do a special community service activity? Make sure your schools know about these updates.
• Use the time you would have spent on college searches and writing essays to re-connect with your friends. Senior year really moves quickly--even though it may not seem like it in October--so enjoy every moment!
• Send thank you notes to teachers who were kind enough to write recommendations for you.

Decisions
And finally the time comes for the news to arrive. 
Thousands of students race to the mailbox, log-on to websites, call a dedicated phone line and the next few moments can feel like an eternity. When you get good news--and you will--celebrate! But also, be considerate of those around you who may not have heard the good news you have. Still, be joyful. It’s a wonderful accomplishment to earn a place in college. 

The key to how you will handle disappointing news is, of course, linked to the advice early in the process. Don’t apply to a college you don’t want to go to. If you follow this advice then whatever comes down the pike will simply be a decision. The bad news may sting and disappoint, but it won’t devastate. And it shouldn’t. So, focus on what your choices are rather than what they are not.

But can one always ‘move on?’ Not always. You may be angry, sad, confused, jealous—maybe all of the above. Yet, after some time passes you will put these decisions in their proper context, and hopefully you will understand them as part of a process, and not just the college process, but the process of growing up, finding a path to follow and looking for opportunity. In the face of college disappointment there are lots of people who will be in your corner: parents, college counselors, teachers, advisor, and friends.

Wait Lists
Because students are making more applications each year, and because colleges are much more conscious of their yield rate, students are finding themselves on wait lists more than ever. If this happens to you, take heart. Each year, we see many students accepted from waitlists, and we encourage you to take the following steps to enhance your chances:

• Send the response card back immediately. Sometimes colleges gauge your interest in them by how quickly you reply.
• Write a note to the admissions representative for that school underscoring how much you would like to attend the school, why you think the college is a good match for you, and any news about you that has taken place since you applied. 
• Let your college counselor know as soon as possible, what your plans are. Colleges rarely know whether or not they will use the wait list before May 1st, so it is often fruitless for us to make calls much before then. However, we will lobby on your behalf in late April and on into early May, when wait list action starts to heat up. 
• You might consider an additional letter of recommendation, most likely from a current teacher, indicating your excellence and growth during the year.​

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.  
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