When to submit test scores?

[Anonymous]

What is the rule about when to submit a score if the university is test optional? I hate that I have to advise my kid to not submit what seems like an amazing SAT score (1480) but if he is applying to a top school, he should, right? But then don’t schools think he got much LOWER than that? Uuuggghhh. How do I figure this out? Thanks, DCUM. I hate this process so much.

[Anonymous]

What are the section scores?
What’s his intended major?
What’s the average SAT score at his high school?
Is he submitting any AP scores? What are they?

[Anonymous]

What do you mean section? He didn’t take any subject tests. He has all fives on various APs except one four in physics. How can I find out the average SAT score at his high school? He wants to major in anthropology or some kind of social science.

[Anonymous]

The general rule is submit if at or above the median. But there are circumstances where you might want to submit a lower score, for example if applying in engineering or another quantitative subject and the math score is strong. Or if applying from a weaker high school and his score is way above the high school average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean section? He didn’t take any subject tests. He has all fives on various APs except one four in physics. How can I find out the average SAT score at his high school? He wants to major in anthropology or some kind of social science.

You need to look at the middle 50 percentile for the colleges he applying to. Generally, the advice is to submit if you child falls within that range.

[Anonymous]

DS has the same score and he’s submitting everywhere, even Ivys. Among other reasons, my gut says this is the year schools will be afraid of Trump accusing them of something (all nonsense, IMO) so they’ll be weighing scores highly to justify the decision in case of an audit. It’s an excellent score, even if everyone on DCUM has 1500+.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Is the median the 50th percentile? And this info is on college’s websites? Submit if his number is higher than whatever number is listed as 50th? I know I sound like an idiot. I should have taken more math. He has math 730 and verbal 750

[Anonymous]

Depends on the college; depends on the major. Depends on how strong the rest of the application is.

And whether or not the score is in neutral or weakens the application.

[Anonymous]

NP. The 50th percentile was the rule of thumb maybe 3 years ago, an outdated approach. I would submit if close to the 25th percentile.

Basically, I would submit 1480 everywhere even though it might be just under the 25th percentile, and then let the chips fall where they may. It is a MUCH MUCH better position to submit 1480 than apply test optional, as it is very rational for a college to assume the score was much lower.

If your student is applying for majors where math is important, then I would adjust the college list so that the math section score is in range for almost all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS has the same score and he’s submitting everywhere, even Ivys. Among other reasons, my gut says this is the year schools will be afraid of Trump accusing them of something (all nonsense, IMO) so they’ll be weighing scores highly to justify the decision in case of an audit. It’s an excellent score, even if everyone on DCUM has 1500+.

There are still some schools that are truly test optional, especially for social sciences or humanities majors (who have evidence of calculus/AP scores also help). Make sure you are not unintentionally weakening your kid’s application. This should be a thoughtful exercise school-by-school. Do not be rash.

I am speaking from experience. My kid was admitted test optional last cycle to four T20 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean section? He didn’t take any subject tests. He has all fives on various APs except one four in physics. How can I find out the average SAT score at his high school? He wants to major in anthropology or some kind of social science.

Section just means the breakdown of math vs verbal, which you’ve now answered separately.

I agree with a pp that you should submit if the 1480 is at or even just under the 25th percentile, especially for test optional schools where the published scores are skewed higher because lower scores aren’t submitted. Likely he should submit that score everywhere.

I’ve only skimmed so I may have missed someone saying this, but you can find the 25th and 50th percentile score in each school’s Common Data Set, or CDS. Google “CDS [name of school]”. Scroll down to the section about scores (I think maybe section C? Or D? I’ve forgotten, sorry).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the rule about when to submit a score if the university is test optional? I hate that I have to advise my kid to not submit what seems like an amazing SAT score (1480) but if he is applying to a top school, he should, right? But then don’t schools think he got much LOWER than that? Uuuggghhh. How do I figure this out? Thanks, DCUM. I hate this process so much.

It fully depends what schools your DS is targeting. If it's Top 20 I'd only submit 1500+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean section? He didn’t take any subject tests. He has all fives on various APs except one four in physics. How can I find out the average SAT score at his high school? He wants to major in anthropology or some kind of social science.

Section just means the breakdown of math vs verbal, which you’ve now answered separately.

I agree with a pp that you should submit if the 1480 is at or even just under the 25th percentile, especially for test optional schools where the published scores are skewed higher because lower scores aren’t submitted. Likely he should submit that score everywhere.

I’ve only skimmed so I may have missed someone saying this, but you can find the 25th and 50th percentile score in each school’s Common Data Set, or CDS. Google “CDS [name of school]”. Scroll down to the section about scores (I think maybe section C? Or D? I’ve forgotten, sorry).

Thank you! I just looked at this for one of the high up schools he likes:

25%=1500
50%=1530
75%=1550

What does this mean? Only 25% of students scored lower than a 1500? And so he should do test optional at 1480? According to that view, right?

I see now other people said if he’s less than the 50% number don’t submit. Another person said don’t submit less than 1500 no matter what. And someone else said, just submit 1480 everywhere.

Again, I’m sorry for my lack of knowledge here- both in terms of math and college admissions!

[Anonymous]

Those scores are so high, I am sure most students go TO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean section? He didn’t take any subject tests. He has all fives on various APs except one four in physics. How can I find out the average SAT score at his high school? He wants to major in anthropology or some kind of social science.

Section just means the breakdown of math vs verbal, which you’ve now answered separately.

I agree with a pp that you should submit if the 1480 is at or even just under the 25th percentile, especially for test optional schools where the published scores are skewed higher because lower scores aren’t submitted. Likely he should submit that score everywhere.

I’ve only skimmed so I may have missed someone saying this, but you can find the 25th and 50th percentile score in each school’s Common Data Set, or CDS. Google “CDS [name of school]”. Scroll down to the section about scores (I think maybe section C? Or D? I’ve forgotten, sorry).

Thank you! I just looked at this for one of the high up schools he likes:

25%=1500
50%=1530
75%=1550

What does this mean? Only 25% of students scored lower than a 1500? And so he should do test optional at 1480? According to that view, right?

I see now other people said if he’s less than the 50% number don’t submit. Another person said don’t submit less than 1500 no matter what. And someone else said, just submit 1480 everywhere.

Again, I’m sorry for my lack of knowledge here- both in terms of math and college admissions!

In your example, no I would not submit a 1480. Your explanation is correct - 25% of the admitted applicants submitted scores less than 1500.

The advice above was to submit middle 50th, not 50th, and the info you shared is the middle 50th (25th to 75th percentile).