is applying Test Optional to UVA arts and sciences disadvantageous

[Anonymous]

Dean J says very clearly in every venue possible (instagram, Reddit, College Confidential, her blog) that UVA is truly test optional and that not submitting scores has absolutely no negative impact.

People make all sorts of assumptions about what that “actually” means, but given how forthright she is about this, I’d be inclined to take it at face value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test optional is fine at UVA but everything else needs to be outstanding.

My kid is submitting a 33….
OOS though.

What’s the 50% in CDS?

Don't know about CDS but SCHEV has the median ACT as a 33 for last year's incoming class. 75th percentile was a 34; Bottom 25th percentile a 32.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test optional is fine at UVA but everything else needs to be outstanding.

My kid is submitting a 33….
OOS though.

What’s the 50% in CDS?

Don't know about CDS but SCHEV has the median ACT as a 33 for last year's incoming class. 75th percentile was a 34; Bottom 25th percentile a 32.

My kid also had 33 and we were advised to submit because of a couple of Bs in language classes. hope it was the right decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were an UMC white kid from NOVA I’d submit my scores.

This (but for Asian kids too).

I know what Dean J says, and maybe that's the case for 90% of the applicants so painting it with one brush is more efficient then slapping a bunch of asterisks next to a statement, but the CC from our local public was very clear - UVA, W&M, and Tech expect to see scores from applicants coming from their school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were an UMC white kid from NOVA I’d submit my scores.

This (but for Asian kids too).

I know what Dean J says, and maybe that's the case for 90% of the applicants so painting it with one brush is more efficient then slapping a bunch of asterisks next to a statement, but the CC from our local public was very clear - UVA, W&M, and Tech expect to see scores from applicants coming from their school.

So you’re taking the CC of your local public over the Dean from the actual University??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to imagine that the range of scores they're getting is small, so it makes sense that they don't find them significant anymore.

With close to 50% not submitting scores, high scores would be helpful.

I keep hearing that if you come from a good school district, are MC-UMV-Wealthy, no scores = low scores to universities nowadays. As our Counselor likes to say, nobody is NOT submitting a 35 or 1500 SAT.

I hear that here, but I am not hearing it from college counselors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to imagine that the range of scores they're getting is small, so it makes sense that they don't find them significant anymore.

With close to 50% not submitting scores, high scores would be helpful.

I keep hearing that if you come from a good school district, are MC-UMV-Wealthy, no scores = low scores to universities nowadays. As our Counselor likes to say, nobody is NOT submitting a 35 or 1500 SAT.

I hear that here, but I am not hearing it from college counselors.

Yup. This has become the accepted wisdom of DCUM, reinforced within DCUM. But when people cite actual information from actual admissions officers, people find reasons not to believe it. It’s like mass delusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to imagine that the range of scores they're getting is small, so it makes sense that they don't find them significant anymore.

With close to 50% not submitting scores, high scores would be helpful.

I keep hearing that if you come from a good school district, are MC-UMV-Wealthy, no scores = low scores to universities nowadays. As our Counselor likes to say, nobody is NOT submitting a 35 or 1500 SAT.

I hear that here, but I am not hearing it from college counselors.

+1 first, what is a low score? If a UMC kid from a wealthy suburb attends a high school with a mean SAT of 1350 and applies TO to a school where the 50 percentile is 1500, what is the assumption of the AO? The student could have scored 1480 or 1100. A kid with a competitive GPA and rigor is more likely to have scored >1400. Is that a low score that indicates the student isn't ready for college at a competitive school!? Prior to 2020, a score of 1480 would have been competitive and fell between the 25th and 50th percentile.

[Anonymous]

I believe the school over DCUM. Scores aren’t getting people into UVA and TO isn’t keeping people out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe the school over DCUM. Scores aren’t getting people into UVA and TO isn’t keeping people out.

SCORES + GRADES + ECS.

Why not send them if you did well? Makes zero sense to me. The clearer picture you can present of being a SOLID academic, the better you will do.

Throw in all 5s on AP subject exams while you are at it!

It's such a stupid argument. Anyone with good/high scores has no dog in the fight--they obviously will send them. Low scores- no. Medium scores-- less clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dean J says very clearly in every venue possible (instagram, Reddit, College Confidential, her blog) that UVA is truly test optional and that not submitting scores has absolutely no negative impact.

People make all sorts of assumptions about what that “actually” means, but given how forthright she is about this, I’d be inclined to take it at face value.

"No negative impact" doesn't mean that a TO applicant has the same chances as someone submitting a 1450+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dean J says very clearly in every venue possible (instagram, Reddit, College Confidential, her blog) that UVA is truly test optional and that not submitting scores has absolutely no negative impact.

People make all sorts of assumptions about what that “actually” means, but given how forthright she is about this, I’d be inclined to take it at face value.

"No negative impact" doesn't mean that a TO applicant has the same chances as someone submitting a 1450+.

And the 1450 won’t get them in. If they get in it will be because of other things in their application.

[Anonymous]

How does one stand out if scores aren't shared?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe the school over DCUM. Scores aren’t getting people into UVA and TO isn’t keeping people out.

💯

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dean J says very clearly in every venue possible (instagram, Reddit, College Confidential, her blog) that UVA is truly test optional and that not submitting scores has absolutely no negative impact.

People make all sorts of assumptions about what that “actually” means, but given how forthright she is about this, I’d be inclined to take it at face value.

"No negative impact" doesn't mean that a TO applicant has the same chances as someone submitting a 1450+.

And the 1450 won’t get them in. If they get in it will be because of other things in their application.

Of course not, but someone submitting a strong score will have better odds than someone not submitting a strong score.