BTDT Test Optional...

[Anonymous]

What did you do if your DC's SAT/ACT score was in the middle 50% range, but under the average? Did they submit? Do they regret it? DC is concerned that not submitting suggest that they're under the 25%, which isn't the case, but it's not at the 75% either. So is the impression of a low score worse than the actuality of a slightly less than average score?

[Anonymous]

I'm not even sure that input from last year is fully relevant for this year, since the test optional landscape is still developing. But here's some recent speculation from DCUM:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1081332.page

[Anonymous]

So much more to this than where the scores are in the range.

How much importance does the school put on test scores? How strong is the application w/out test scores? Do the scores add anything to the app?

[Anonymous]

What we have been told by our private admissions counselor is that not submitting scores puts more emphasis on every other aspect of the application, I.e., more is expected.

Most top schools admit test optional applicants at a lower rate so not necessarily the bucket you want your child to be in.

[Anonymous]

It would be helpful for parents from last cycle to report back on how their test optional kids did with relevant stats. For all the discussion on this board, I’ve never once seen that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not even sure that input from last year is fully relevant for this year, since the test optional landscape is still developing. But here's some recent speculation from DCUM:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1081332.page

Thanks for sharing, but it still feels clear as mud.

[Anonymous]

It definitely varies by school. Look at the information they posted about the newly admitted class. It is on their website for sure. I found that the school newspaper articles from last May have the most statistical information (number of accepted that were TO, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much more to this than where the scores are in the range.

How much importance does the school put on test scores? How strong is the application w/out test scores? Do the scores add anything to the app?

Is looking at their % admitted with scores rate a pretty good indicator of this factor?

I read on some thread that a parent said an AO told them to put their app in the biggest bucket - whether that be % of kids admitted TO or % of kids with test scores that match yours. I'm interpreting that to mean if 60% of a school's freshman class got in TO and 40% of that same class had a test score that matched your DC, DC should go in the TO bucket. But does that make sense?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be helpful for parents from last cycle to report back on how their test optional kids did with relevant stats. For all the discussion on this board, I’ve never once seen that.

You can find that info on College Confidential on the specific schools' forums. Kids report on their stats and TO or not and whether were admitted or not. Usually a thread per school for all rounds - ED, RD, EA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much more to this than where the scores are in the range.

How much importance does the school put on test scores? How strong is the application w/out test scores? Do the scores add anything to the app?

Is looking at their % admitted with scores rate a pretty good indicator of this factor?

I read on some thread that a parent said an AO told them to put their app in the biggest bucket - whether that be % of kids admitted TO or % of kids with test scores that match yours. I'm interpreting that to mean if 60% of a school's freshman class got in TO and 40% of that same class had a test score that matched your DC, DC should go in the TO bucket. But does that make sense?

No, you would use the CDS for this info.

[Anonymous]

If you're white, at least reasonably well off, and from an area like the DMV, no, do not submit scores below a school's median to anywhere that does not somehow "strongly encourage" their submission. If you don't meet one or more of those criteria, submitting above the 25th percentile is fine. That's the clearest and best advice you're going to get; if you don't follow it, that's on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It definitely varies by school. Look at the information they posted about the newly admitted class. It is on their website for sure. I found that the school newspaper articles from last May have the most statistical information (number of accepted that were TO, etc.).

Ooh, thanks for that suggestion. Student run or school produced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It definitely varies by school. Look at the information they posted about the newly admitted class. It is on their website for sure. I found that the school newspaper articles from last May have the most statistical information (number of accepted that were TO, etc.).

Ooh, thanks for that suggestion. Student run or school produced?

Student run

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most top schools admit test optional applicants at a lower rate so not necessarily the bucket you want your child to be in.

Not independent variables. Most kids with higher test scores also have stronger applications aside from test scores.

[Anonymous]

I have a college sophomore and a HS senior and no test scores were/are involved with their admission processes. My college student got in to their first choice ED and so far my senior has two EA acceptances in hand. The advice we got was that the schools that were either test optional or actively discouraging test scores for a few years pre-Covid were the best choices for kids applying test optional. So far that has served my kids well.