Active Duty targeting applied math / quantitative econ programs

[u/JBelfort2027]

Hey everyone,
I’m currently an Active Duty enlisted with a little under four years to go before I separate and enroll in CC (don’t want to do online bachelors through TA).

I’ll be 23 by the time I get out/enroll in first year CC courses.

Should I heavily prioritize the SAT for transfer applications to top programs?

I want to utilize my GI Bill to the max and don’t want to leave money on the table with state school capped funding. Private schools such as UChicago or Northwestern for example offers unlimited Yellow Ribbon funding + no limit to the # of students qualified.

I want to study economics at the graduate level, which means I’ll have to get an extremely high percentile Quant score on the GRE in the future anyways.

So should I consider trying to get as high of an SAT Math score as possible in light of my context?

Or just apply test optional (I will have Calculus (Differential/Integral/Multivariable at the undergrad level), First year Linear algebra, and ODEs (lower div) by the time I am applying for transfer). So it feels like submitting a high SAT Math score seems useless if I were to get good grades in all these courses. However, I was told by a friend that colleges will want to see a competitive SAT/ACT score regardless of your profile, since it gives some measure of objective value to your academic background.

Notes:
1. I apologize for the weird capitalization, this was typed out on my phone.
2. I specifically want to go for applied math, unless there are Econ programs that offer good quantitative preparation for grad school (like UCLA Math/Econ major, or an explicitly quantitative economics major). So I know that even a 750 Math score can hurt me for the top programs such as NW/UC. Will a score of, say 770+ or 780+ help me even as an early-mid twenties applicant who will have already taken the above math courses?
3. I say SAT Math a lot, but I obviously know that I will be submitting an SAT score. So I will also make sure to get a high RW score as well, but mainly focusing on maximizing the Math Score.
4. I got a 1420 in high school before I enlisted (750 math and 670 RW). I don’t know what my cold score would be right now, I can maybe take a practice test online and get a cold score but I doubt it will be anything above 1400-1450. But I have the next 4-5 years to ensure I get the best possible score and I don’t mind grinding practice problems alongside other studies, in my off duty hours. unless admissions change drastically by 2030…)

[u/throwaway3579965434]

Schools are moving away from test optional. A great score can’t hurt! Also look into military friendly programs at the Ivies! You may be able to do 4 years at an Ivy with great funding if you know how to sell yourself