There are SAT and ACT test centers in California, right?

[Anonymous]

While many Bay Area test centers are full for upcoming dates, there is at least one available for March, May, and June (Pleasant Hill)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This will only matter when some schools move from test optional to test preferred. Kids having to drive 3+ hours is a burden. But why not make that the standard for all 50 states instead of just CA?

If a San Diego or L.A. kid *opts* to apply OOS to a school that is test preferred, why shouldn’t they go to a test center that’s close by like the rest of the kids in the US (doesn’t matter of their private doesn’t offer it—plenty of test centers in L.A., San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, etc.) or be subject to the same negative inference as kids in other states?

I dunno, just seems kinda goofy.

You’re misinterpreting it. If a school is “test preferred” and students from CA don’t submit SATs they will be penalized like anyone else.

The fact is, unless you live in a rural area, there are abundant places to take the SATs in CA. There isn’t the scarcity of testing locations that existed during Covid.

Not sure about this, I attended an info session at Vandy last cycle where they specifically said they know it’s hard for California students to get a test date.

That was true during Covid but not an issue anymore. However I am in Southern California.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While many Bay Area test centers are full for upcoming dates, there is at least one available for March, May, and June (Pleasant Hill)

Seriously, what's your point? You seem to be missing the forest for the trees. No amount of anecdotal data is going to change the fact that the number of test centers and students taking the test have both decreased substantially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This will only matter when some schools move from test optional to test preferred. Kids having to drive 3+ hours is a burden. But why not make that the standard for all 50 states instead of just CA?

If a San Diego or L.A. kid *opts* to apply OOS to a school that is test preferred, why shouldn’t they go to a test center that’s close by like the rest of the kids in the US (doesn’t matter of their private doesn’t offer it—plenty of test centers in L.A., San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, etc.) or be subject to the same negative inference as kids in other states?

I dunno, just seems kinda goofy.

You’re misinterpreting it. If a school is “test preferred” and students from CA don’t submit SATs they will be penalized like anyone else.

The fact is, unless you live in a rural area, there are abundant places to take the SATs in CA. There isn’t the scarcity of testing locations that existed during Covid.

Not sure about this, I attended an info session at Vandy last cycle where they specifically said they know it’s hard for California students to get a test date.

That was true during Covid but not an issue anymore. However I am in Southern California.

This was just last cycle so post-covid. Regardless of what your experience might be, the schools are saying they view California students' ability to access standardized tests differently from other states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This will only matter when some schools move from test optional to test preferred. Kids having to drive 3+ hours is a burden. But why not make that the standard for all 50 states instead of just CA?

If a San Diego or L.A. kid *opts* to apply OOS to a school that is test preferred, why shouldn’t they go to a test center that’s close by like the rest of the kids in the US (doesn’t matter of their private doesn’t offer it—plenty of test centers in L.A., San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, etc.) or be subject to the same negative inference as kids in other states?

I dunno, just seems kinda goofy.

You’re misinterpreting it. If a school is “test preferred” and students from CA don’t submit SATs they will be penalized like anyone else.

The fact is, unless you live in a rural area, there are abundant places to take the SATs in CA. There isn’t the scarcity of testing locations that existed during Covid.

Not sure about this, I attended an info session at Vandy last cycle where they specifically said they know it’s hard for California students to get a test date.

That was true during Covid but not an issue anymore. However I am in Southern California.

This was just last cycle so post-covid. Regardless of what your experience might be, the schools are saying they view California students' ability to access standardized tests differently from other states.

There is a difference between last cycle and this cycle. I was just speaking with a So Cal test prep professional who said they are not seeing any issues this year like they have in the past. Of course you do have to sign up in advance. If you’re a procrastinator, yes, you may be out of luck. And of course rural locations are challenging. I’m sure AO are understandably flexible in those circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This will only matter when some schools move from test optional to test preferred. Kids having to drive 3+ hours is a burden. But why not make that the standard for all 50 states instead of just CA?

If a San Diego or L.A. kid *opts* to apply OOS to a school that is test preferred, why shouldn’t they go to a test center that’s close by like the rest of the kids in the US (doesn’t matter of their private doesn’t offer it—plenty of test centers in L.A., San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, etc.) or be subject to the same negative inference as kids in other states?

I dunno, just seems kinda goofy.

You’re misinterpreting it. If a school is “test preferred” and students from CA don’t submit SATs they will be penalized like anyone else.

The fact is, unless you live in a rural area, there are abundant places to take the SATs in CA. There isn’t the scarcity of testing locations that existed during Covid.

Not sure about this, I attended an info session at Vandy last cycle where they specifically said they know it’s hard for California students to get a test date.

We heard the same thing at Vandy about how hard it is for California kids to take the test. What about those kids in Alaska driving even further to test sites in snowy conditions? An exaggerated example, but you get the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This will only matter when some schools move from test optional to test preferred. Kids having to drive 3+ hours is a burden. But why not make that the standard for all 50 states instead of just CA?

If a San Diego or L.A. kid *opts* to apply OOS to a school that is test preferred, why shouldn’t they go to a test center that’s close by like the rest of the kids in the US (doesn’t matter of their private doesn’t offer it—plenty of test centers in L.A., San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, etc.) or be subject to the same negative inference as kids in other states?

I dunno, just seems kinda goofy.

You’re misinterpreting it. If a school is “test preferred” and students from CA don’t submit SATs they will be penalized like anyone else.

The fact is, unless you live in a rural area, there are abundant places to take the SATs in CA. There isn’t the scarcity of testing locations that existed during Covid.

Not sure about this, I attended an info session at Vandy last cycle where they specifically said they know it’s hard for California students to get a test date.

We heard the same thing at Vandy about how hard it is for California kids to take the test. What about those kids in Alaska driving even further to test sites in snowy conditions? An exaggerated example, but you get the point.

Well it’s not hard so… it seems like Vandy doesn’t really have current info

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This will only matter when some schools move from test optional to test preferred. Kids having to drive 3+ hours is a burden. But why not make that the standard for all 50 states instead of just CA?

If a San Diego or L.A. kid *opts* to apply OOS to a school that is test preferred, why shouldn’t they go to a test center that’s close by like the rest of the kids in the US (doesn’t matter of their private doesn’t offer it—plenty of test centers in L.A., San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, etc.) or be subject to the same negative inference as kids in other states?

I dunno, just seems kinda goofy.

You’re misinterpreting it. If a school is “test preferred” and students from CA don’t submit SATs they will be penalized like anyone else.

The fact is, unless you live in a rural area, there are abundant places to take the SATs in CA. There isn’t the scarcity of testing locations that existed during Covid.

Not sure about this, I attended an info session at Vandy last cycle where they specifically said they know it’s hard for California students to get a test date.

We heard the same thing at Vandy about how hard it is for California kids to take the test. What about those kids in Alaska driving even further to test sites in snowy conditions? An exaggerated example, but you get the point.

It's the combination of low/middle income kids having much less incentive to take standardized tests when their excellent state system is entirely test blind and the decrease in testing centers/dates. And how much of a burden it actually is doesn't matter, admission's offices have decided to treat kids from California differently and are explicitly saying so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This will only matter when some schools move from test optional to test preferred. Kids having to drive 3+ hours is a burden. But why not make that the standard for all 50 states instead of just CA?

If a San Diego or L.A. kid *opts* to apply OOS to a school that is test preferred, why shouldn’t they go to a test center that’s close by like the rest of the kids in the US (doesn’t matter of their private doesn’t offer it—plenty of test centers in L.A., San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, etc.) or be subject to the same negative inference as kids in other states?

I dunno, just seems kinda goofy.

You’re misinterpreting it. If a school is “test preferred” and students from CA don’t submit SATs they will be penalized like anyone else.

The fact is, unless you live in a rural area, there are abundant places to take the SATs in CA. There isn’t the scarcity of testing locations that existed during Covid.

Not sure about this, I attended an info session at Vandy last cycle where they specifically said they know it’s hard for California students to get a test date.

We heard the same thing at Vandy about how hard it is for California kids to take the test. What about those kids in Alaska driving even further to test sites in snowy conditions? An exaggerated example, but you get the point.

It's the combination of low/middle income kids having much less incentive to take standardized tests when their excellent state system is entirely test blind and the decrease in testing centers/dates. And how much of a burden it actually is doesn't matter, admission's offices have decided to treat kids from California differently and are explicitly saying so.

If a kid doesn’t take a test because they’re only applying to the excellent test blind state system then you’re right that they don’t need to take the test. This post is raising the question as to why some OOS colleges are treating California kids differently than kids from other other states when they apply test optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This will only matter when some schools move from test optional to test preferred. Kids having to drive 3+ hours is a burden. But why not make that the standard for all 50 states instead of just CA?

If a San Diego or L.A. kid *opts* to apply OOS to a school that is test preferred, why shouldn’t they go to a test center that’s close by like the rest of the kids in the US (doesn’t matter of their private doesn’t offer it—plenty of test centers in L.A., San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, etc.) or be subject to the same negative inference as kids in other states?

I dunno, just seems kinda goofy.

You’re misinterpreting it. If a school is “test preferred” and students from CA don’t submit SATs they will be penalized like anyone else.

The fact is, unless you live in a rural area, there are abundant places to take the SATs in CA. There isn’t the scarcity of testing locations that existed during Covid.

Not sure about this, I attended an info session at Vandy last cycle where they specifically said they know it’s hard for California students to get a test date.

We heard the same thing at Vandy about how hard it is for California kids to take the test. What about those kids in Alaska driving even further to test sites in snowy conditions? An exaggerated example, but you get the point.

It's the combination of low/middle income kids having much less incentive to take standardized tests when their excellent state system is entirely test blind and the decrease in testing centers/dates. And how much of a burden it actually is doesn't matter, admission's offices have decided to treat kids from California differently and are explicitly saying so.

If a kid doesn’t take a test because they’re only applying to the excellent test blind state system then you’re right that they don’t need to take the test. This post is raising the question as to why some OOS colleges are treating California kids differently than kids from other other states when they apply test optional.

I think there is also the implication that these kids aren’t going to go crazy with test prep and multiple takes for superscoring when 1/2 the schools these kids are applying to are test blind anyway. It is a reasonable assumption to make.

[Anonymous]

Most CA kids are slacking. The ones that have it together take the test and decide to do TO only after getting the results. If Vandy is getting TO apps then it’s because kids didn’t have competitive scores. It’s not because there weren’t testing sites available! Lol!

[Anonymous]

Let’s look at privates. Occidental and USC: most first time enrolled students have not submitted test scores (this is all students; California residents would be way higher). Lots of Californians go to Reed — test blind. Santa Clara: 51% have submitted something, but that’s also under 50% because some submit both ACT/SAT.

A California kid might only be applying to 2 schools “back East.” That kid would be silly to devote the same time and energy to the SAT as a kid in New England, where it would matter for all schools. It would therefore be unfair to the California kid for a New England school to treat their TO application with the same inference as the kid from Massachusetts. It’s that simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We should all do this and put the college board money making monopoly out of business.

Yeah.. and spend 20 times that money on tutors to shore your GPA and another 40x to college admissions consultants to fakeify your ECs and write pithy essays for you. win-win.

Hahaha this exactly what I was thinking about the DMV area. So true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s look at privates. Occidental and USC: most first time enrolled students have not submitted test scores (this is all students; California residents would be way higher). Lots of Californians go to Reed — test blind. Santa Clara: 51% have submitted something, but that’s also under 50% because some submit both ACT/SAT.

A California kid might only be applying to 2 schools “back East.” That kid would be silly to devote the same time and energy to the SAT as a kid in New England, where it would matter for all schools. It would therefore be unfair to the California kid for a New England school to treat their TO application with the same inference as the kid from Massachusetts. It’s that simple.

Nothing about the college application process is fair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s look at privates. Occidental and USC: most first time enrolled students have not submitted test scores (this is all students; California residents would be way higher). Lots of Californians go to Reed — test blind. Santa Clara: 51% have submitted something, but that’s also under 50% because some submit both ACT/SAT.

A California kid might only be applying to 2 schools “back East.” That kid would be silly to devote the same time and energy to the SAT as a kid in New England, where it would matter for all schools. It would therefore be unfair to the California kid for a New England school to treat their TO application with the same inference as the kid from Massachusetts. It’s that simple.

Nothing about the college application process is fair

Except when admissions officers have so decided — and they have.