University System of Maryland moves toward removing SAT/ACT requirement

[Anonymous]

Not sure how to read this. Does it mean UMD will no longer look at SAT/ACT scores of candidates? Can anybody explain please?

https://thedailyrecord.com/2022/06/17/the-university-system-of-maryland-drops-sat-act-requirement/
https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/university-system-of-maryland-no-longer-requires-sat-act-scores-for-admissions

[Anonymous]

Test optional (where tests can be taken or not) is different than test blind (where tests are not considered). These articles say test optional.

[Anonymous]

in 5 years every school will be like this as well as a full online option.

[Anonymous]

Isn't UMD already test optional?

[Anonymous]

So, when applying to UMD a candidate can send the SAT score (if that's good enough) or not. The acceptance criteria don't take into consideration that score at all, right? If that's the case, how do they decide who's academically fit? High School grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, when applying to UMD a candidate can send the SAT score (if that's good enough) or not. The acceptance criteria don't take into consideration that score at all, right? If that's the case, how do they decide who's academically fit? High School grades?

Maybe middle school.

They know what they need to see and have realized that kids who prep for a 4 hour test and do well are not the kids who do well over the course of 4 years. Add in a good essay and extra curriculars and suddenly the standardized tests don't mean much.

Look up information about Wake Forest and why they don't use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when applying to UMD a candidate can send the SAT score (if that's good enough) or not. The acceptance criteria don't take into consideration that score at all, right? If that's the case, how do they decide who's academically fit? High School grades?

Maybe middle school.

They know what they need to see and have realized that kids who prep for a 4 hour test and do well are not the kids who do well over the course of 4 years. Add in a good essay and extra curriculars and suddenly the standardized tests don't mean much.

Look up information about Wake Forest and why they don't use it.

Yup, useless skill. No relevance to GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, bar exam, medical boards, CPA exams, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when applying to UMD a candidate can send the SAT score (if that's good enough) or not. The acceptance criteria don't take into consideration that score at all, right? If that's the case, how do they decide who's academically fit? High School grades?

Maybe middle school.

They know what they need to see and have realized that kids who prep for a 4 hour test and do well are not the kids who do well over the course of 4 years. Add in a good essay and extra curriculars and suddenly the standardized tests don't mean much.

Look up information about Wake Forest and why they don't use it.

maybe all the way to kindergarten

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, when applying to UMD a candidate can send the SAT score (if that's good enough) or not. The acceptance criteria don't take into consideration that score at all, right? If that's the case, how do they decide who's academically fit? High School grades?

Test optional schools do consider SAT/ACT if sent in, but if not, they have lots of other factors to consider. For 2021-2022, this was the info from UMD's common data set.

Very Important:
Rigor of secondary school record
Academic GPA
Standardized test scores

Important:
Class rank
Application essay
Recommendation(s0
Talent/ability
First generation
State residency

Considered:
Extracurricular activities
Character/personal qualities
Alumni/ae relation
Geographical residence
Racial/ethnic status
Volunteer work
Work experience

Not Considered:
Interview
Religious affiliation/commitment
Level of applicant's interest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when applying to UMD a candidate can send the SAT score (if that's good enough) or not. The acceptance criteria don't take into consideration that score at all, right? If that's the case, how do they decide who's academically fit? High School grades?

Maybe middle school.

They know what they need to see and have realized that kids who prep for a 4 hour test and do well are not the kids who do well over the course of 4 years. Add in a good essay and extra curriculars and suddenly the standardized tests don't mean much.

Look up information about Wake Forest and why they don't use it.

Yup, useless skill. No relevance to GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, bar exam, medical boards, CPA exams, etc.

Those will go away too. Maybe not a bar exam or other licensing tests but lsat, gmat etc are already not required at some schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, when applying to UMD a candidate can send the SAT score (if that's good enough) or not. The acceptance criteria don't take into consideration that score at all, right? If that's the case, how do they decide who's academically fit? High School grades?

How do you think so MCPS students get into UMD - inflated grading system. The SAT/ACT actually set apart the kids getting legit A's to the kid's working the system. It is so annoying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when applying to UMD a candidate can send the SAT score (if that's good enough) or not. The acceptance criteria don't take into consideration that score at all, right? If that's the case, how do they decide who's academically fit? High School grades?

Maybe middle school.

They know what they need to see and have realized that kids who prep for a 4 hour test and do well are not the kids who do well over the course of 4 years. Add in a good essay and extra curriculars and suddenly the standardized tests don't mean much.

Look up information about Wake Forest and why they don't use it.

Wake Forest mainly accepts private and parochial school students. Those students are actually taught to the standards they want. Most previous test optional schools were taking wealthy private school kids who pay money, don't drop out, and usually end up being donors in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Can we go back to removing most AP courses so kids can have less stressful high school years and take courses that interest them - instead of what looks good on a transcript.

And instead of getting rid of ACT and SAT scores - get rid of super scores and unlimited retakes that wealthy and upper middle class can afford to do.

Make Fall junior year the SAT test day and Spring Junior year the ACT test day Everyone gets one shot at both. Taken in your school on the same day. No retakes. You can submit either one to colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we go back to removing most AP courses so kids can have less stressful high school years and take courses that interest them - instead of what looks good on a transcript.

And instead of getting rid of ACT and SAT scores - get rid of super scores and unlimited retakes that wealthy and upper middle class can afford to do.

Make Fall junior year the SAT test day and Spring Junior year the ACT test day Everyone gets one shot at both. Taken in your school on the same day. No retakes. You can submit either one to colleges.

I like 🥰

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we go back to removing most AP courses so kids can have less stressful high school years and take courses that interest them - instead of what looks good on a transcript.

And instead of getting rid of ACT and SAT scores - get rid of super scores and unlimited retakes that wealthy and upper middle class can afford to do.

Make Fall junior year the SAT test day and Spring Junior year the ACT test day Everyone gets one shot at both. Taken in your school on the same day. No retakes. You can submit either one to colleges.

I like 🥰

My kid was sick the day of the PSAT and missed NMSF by one point. She thought she would be sick to her stomach the whole time. Well who really cares about NMSF its just one more thing. If it were your only shot at the SATs, it would be a real issue.