Richmond Test Optional experience

[Anonymous]

What is the real deal with test optional this year. Hearing rumblings that things are different this year. If a kid is test optional applying from private school to Richmond this fall are they truly at a real disadvantage??

[Anonymous]

Their application page pretty clearly states the school is test optional.

For the class entering in Fall 2026, applicants may apply with or without standardized test scores.

Applying Test Optional

If you do not want to have standardized test results included in the review of your application, please indicate so when prompted on the application. The University of Richmond superscores the SAT and ACT for students who submit test scores.

Not sure what “rumblings” you’re hearing, but Richmond’s CDS for last year indicates 19% of enrolled first year students submitted SAT and 14% ACT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their application page pretty clearly states the school is test optional.

For the class entering in Fall 2026, applicants may apply with or without standardized test scores.

Applying Test Optional

If you do not want to have standardized test results included in the review of your application, please indicate so when prompted on the application. The University of Richmond superscores the SAT and ACT for students who submit test scores.

Not sure what “rumblings” you’re hearing, but Richmond’s CDS for last year indicates 19% of enrolled first year students submitted SAT and 14% ACT.

Wow. That is not many submitting test scores at all. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Highly doubt that a school which just had such a small % of enrolled students submitting a test score will not pivot to test preferred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Highly doubt that a school which just had such a small % of enrolled students submitting a test score will not pivot to test preferred.

+1. Eventually, the low % becomes an issue for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Highly doubt that a school which just had such a small % of enrolled students submitting a test score will not pivot to test preferred.

Other than a few top lacs, that is a typical percentage for liberal arts colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Highly doubt that a school which just had such a small % of enrolled students submitting a test score will not pivot to test preferred.

Other than a few top lacs, that is a typical percentage for liberal arts colleges.

Yep. Even really high ranked ones. It was surprising once I started digging into the data as my student was putting together a list (she’s applying test optional).

[Anonymous]

Unless I'm slow at this, an SAT scorer above the 75% at these low-submitting schools will be a new type of hook.

[Anonymous]

According to our CCO, Richmond doesn't care about test scores - at all.

[Anonymous]

Richmond sucks and the kids are dumb. This they don’t submit scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to our CCO, Richmond doesn't care about test scores - at all.

Your CCO is quite wrong. A quick look at SCHEV shows UOR incoming freshman this past fall had a 1510 at the 75th percentile, a 3.96 GPA and a 34 ACT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to our CCO, Richmond doesn't care about test scores - at all.

Your CCO is quite wrong. A quick look at SCHEV shows UOR incoming freshman this past fall had a 1510 at the 75th percentile, a 3.96 GPA and a 34 ACT.

174 freshman submitted an SAT score out of a freshman class of 864. 87 freshman scored above 1430 in the entire freshman class.

You are fine going test optional to UOR. However, if you can get your SAT to 1450, you have an incredibly easier chance of gaining admission. A lack of an SAT doesn't hurt you, but having a good one helps you.

[Anonymous]

Have a question - for schools like this where only a 1/3 of students tests, can it be a positive to submit even its lower than the average but still decent? Like their average ACT is 33-35, but with a 31 they know they’re still getting a decent student and they have one more student submitting test scores.

[Anonymous]

My kid submitted a 1580 here last year and was waitlisted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to our CCO, Richmond doesn't care about test scores - at all.

Your CCO is quite wrong. A quick look at SCHEV shows UOR incoming freshman this past fall had a 1510 at the 75th percentile, a 3.96 GPA and a 34 ACT.

Right but only 19% of enrolled freshman submitted an SAT score and 14% ACT. The vast majority of U of R students go test optional so they obviously don’t put much weight into testing for admissions.