Isn’t Test Optional really for lower income areas?

[Anonymous]

When schools say they are TO, isn’t that just to leave the door open for students who haven’t had access to test prep and testing opportunities? I’ve always thought it wasn’t really meant for kids in wealthy school districts, even though there is much mention of TO here. I fear that if my lower/average scoring kid from a wealthy area does TO, they just won’t be considered at all. Any real information about this? Thanks

[Anonymous]

I think TO is for URM, athletes, legacy, development candidates, geographical diversity, etc. If you are white or Asian and from an affluent area, they know you have had access to the test. If your child's scores are not great, it is well worth the effort to get them some classes or tutoring to get the score up. I've seen amazing improvements (100+ increase in scores) from just a few hours with a tutor.

[Anonymous]

Who knows this year?

It's also school-specific (TO at Vanderbilt is absolutely NOT for low-income students at all - 66% of the admits to Vandy from our private last cycle didn't submit scores).

TO is also generally not for STEM kids.

My private TO kid was admitted to many T25 schools' last cycle. Not STEM though. Had a niche major. And niche awards.
Not sure it mattered, but check r/collegeresults for other TO case studies (that's what we did last cycle).

[Anonymous]

No, rich kids.

[Anonymous]

This is certainly what our HS college counseling staff says. Remember your kid isn't applying solo, other seniors from their HS are also applying.

[Anonymous]

Apply to schools that have been TO for years. Not the ones who only went TO due to COVID.

[Anonymous]

TO is not for an average UMC/UC kid with good to great GPA.

It's for a UMC/UC kid with something else/special. So, the lack of the test score doesn't become an impediment.

If your child has something else special, you'll know (typically some national accolade or award). If they don't, maybe Hail Mary ED1/2 to Vandy or WashU and leave the rest of the T20 alone.

[Anonymous]

Isn't testing even more important if you are from an "unknown" high school with a weaker set of peers and weaker curriculum? A good GPA from that school means far less than a good GPA from a school that is known for being rigorous and is a black box.

[Anonymous]

Nah, TO is mostly for rich cokehead douchebags applying ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TO is not for an average UMC/UC kid with good to great GPA.

It's for a UMC/UC kid with something else/special. So, the lack of the test score doesn't become an impediment.

If your child has something else special, you'll know (typically some national accolade or award). If they don't, maybe Hail Mary ED1/2 to Vandy or WashU and leave the rest of the T20 alone.

Agree. TO is for hooked UMC/UC kids who go to good high schools.

The more hooked the candidate, as long as the grades and school are solid enough to erase concerns, the better of a bet TO is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think TO is for URM, athletes, legacy, development candidates, geographical diversity, etc. If you are white or Asian and from an affluent area, they know you have had access to the test. If your child's scores are not great, it is well worth the effort to get them some classes or tutoring to get the score up. I've seen amazing improvements (100+ increase in scores) from just a few hours with a tutor.

Geographic diversity is a little trickier. If you go to a rural school with weaker peers and less rigor, you will ideally want some stronger test scores, especially if you do not have many AP test scores.

[Anonymous]

Test optional overwhelmingly used for low income, first gen, and recruited athletes, all of which qualify as institutional priorities.

[Anonymous]

Feeder school, rich privileged kids, school traditionally sent TO kids there, humanities major, one of the ED rounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Feeder school, rich privileged kids, school traditionally sent TO kids there, humanities major, one of the ED rounds.

All of these or one of them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Feeder school, rich privileged kids, school traditionally sent TO kids there, humanities major, one of the ED rounds.

All of these or one of them?

All of those.