Test optional schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the list I copied from here a while ago:

list of of test optional private schools where more than 50% of the admitted class last year was test optional (private schools with greatest # of admitted TO students):

UChicago  
Cornell (only select colleges)
Vanderbilt 
USC 
WashU
NYU 
BC
Tufts
BU 
Lehigh
UMiami 
Northeastern 
Villanova  
Wake 
Tulane

SLACs:
Bowdoin
Pomona
CMC
Wesleyan
Middlebury

I would be skeptical of this data, especially trying to apply data from past cycles to this year's cycle.

I don't think UChicago has ever had more than half its class test optional.

Someone may misunderstand the CDS data.

[Anonymous]

You can also submit AP scores to test flexible schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the list I copied from here a while ago:

list of of test optional private schools where more than 50% of the admitted class last year was test optional (private schools with greatest # of admitted TO students):

UChicago  
Cornell (only select colleges)
Vanderbilt 
USC 
WashU
NYU 
BC
Tufts
BU 
Lehigh
UMiami 
Northeastern 
Villanova  
Wake 
Tulane

SLACs:
Bowdoin
Pomona
CMC
Wesleyan
Middlebury

I would be skeptical of this data, especially trying to apply data from past cycles to this year's cycle.

I don't think UChicago has ever had more than half its class test optional.

Someone may misunderstand the CDS data.

I just checked the CDS for UChicago, Vanderbilt, WashU and BC. All of them had over 50% submitting test scores last cycle. Chicago does not belong on this list. The others do have a significant proportion of enrolled students that were TO....though almost none at more than 50%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the list I copied from here a while ago:

list of of test optional private schools where more than 50% of the admitted class last year was test optional (private schools with greatest # of admitted TO students):

UChicago  
Cornell (only select colleges)
Vanderbilt 
USC 
WashU
NYU 
BC
Tufts
BU 
Lehigh
UMiami 
Northeastern 
Villanova  
Wake 
Tulane

SLACs:
Bowdoin
Pomona
CMC
Wesleyan
Middlebury

I would be skeptical of this data, especially trying to apply data from past cycles to this year's cycle.

I don't think UChicago has ever had more than half its class test optional.

Someone may misunderstand the CDS data.

I just checked the CDS for UChicago, Vanderbilt, WashU and BC. All of them had over 50% submitting test scores last cycle. Chicago does not belong on this list. The others do have a significant proportion of enrolled students that were TO....though almost none at more than 50%.

Pre-Covid, Chicago, Vanderbilt, and WashU all had among the highest SAT/ACT averages in the country. And during the TO era, those averages went up! So the 1500s weren't even submitting their scores anymore. But they were using their AP scores to demonstrate their academic chops. The TO designation is deceptive. Those are still good students getting accepted to the selective TO schools. And this cycle, I think it's going to be very difficult for unhooked students to get by without submitting scores - particularly to Chicago, Vanderbilt, WashU and the other T30 TO schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the list I copied from here a while ago:

list of of test optional private schools where more than 50% of the admitted class last year was test optional (private schools with greatest # of admitted TO students):

UChicago  
Cornell (only select colleges)
Vanderbilt 
USC 
WashU
NYU 
BC
Tufts
BU 
Lehigh
UMiami 
Northeastern 
Villanova  
Wake 
Tulane

SLACs:
Bowdoin
Pomona
CMC
Wesleyan
Middlebury

I would be skeptical of this data, especially trying to apply data from past cycles to this year's cycle.

I don't think UChicago has ever had more than half its class test optional.

Someone may misunderstand the CDS data.

I just checked the CDS for UChicago, Vanderbilt, WashU and BC. All of them had over 50% submitting test scores last cycle. Chicago does not belong on this list. The others do have a significant proportion of enrolled students that were TO....though almost none at more than 50%.

Pre-Covid, Chicago, Vanderbilt, and WashU all had among the highest SAT/ACT averages in the country. And during the TO era, those averages went up! So the 1500s weren't even submitting their scores anymore. But they were using their AP scores to demonstrate their academic chops. The TO designation is deceptive. Those are still good students getting accepted to the selective TO schools. And this cycle, I think it's going to be very difficult for unhooked students to get by without submitting scores - particularly to Chicago, Vanderbilt, WashU and the other T30 TO schools.

I'm the PP and I'm not sure I understand what you mean by the bolded. I certainly don't assume that TO students are "not good students" or even that students with scores lower than 1500 are "not good students."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the list I copied from here a while ago:

list of of test optional private schools where more than 50% of the admitted class last year was test optional (private schools with greatest # of admitted TO students):

UChicago  
Cornell (only select colleges)
Vanderbilt 
USC 
WashU
NYU 
BC
Tufts
BU 
Lehigh
UMiami 
Northeastern 
Villanova  
Wake 
Tulane

SLACs:
Bowdoin
Pomona
CMC
Wesleyan
Middlebury

I would be skeptical of this data, especially trying to apply data from past cycles to this year's cycle.

I don't think UChicago has ever had more than half its class test optional.

Someone may misunderstand the CDS data.

I just checked the CDS for UChicago, Vanderbilt, WashU and BC. All of them had over 50% submitting test scores last cycle. Chicago does not belong on this list. The others do have a significant proportion of enrolled students that were TO....though almost none at more than 50%.

CDS data often double counts ACT/SAT (small % maybe 5-10% now, but still). Here's what our CCO recommended (she also said check the school newspaper or social media for the school's AO) bc CDS may not have this last class's data reflected (its often for class of 2027):

https://www.ivywise.com/blog/test-score-submit-rates/

CORNELL:
Applicants submitting test scores: 24%
Admits submitting test scores: 42%
Enrollees submitting test scores: 48%

USC:
Applicants submitting test scores: 38%
Admits submitting test scores: 52%
Enrollees submitting test scores: 44%

VANDERBILT:
Applicants submitting test scores: 53.70%
Admits submitting test scores: Similar to the percentage of applicants who submitted test scores

WASHU:
Applicants submitting test scores: 57%
Enrollees submitted test scores: 56%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the list I copied from here a while ago:

list of of test optional private schools where more than 50% of the admitted class last year was test optional (private schools with greatest # of admitted TO students):

UChicago  
Cornell (only select colleges)
Vanderbilt 
USC 
WashU
NYU 
BC
Tufts
BU 
Lehigh
UMiami 
Northeastern 
Villanova  
Wake 
Tulane

SLACs:
Bowdoin
Pomona
CMC
Wesleyan
Middlebury

I would be skeptical of this data, especially trying to apply data from past cycles to this year's cycle.

I don't think UChicago has ever had more than half its class test optional.

Someone may misunderstand the CDS data.

I just checked the CDS for UChicago, Vanderbilt, WashU and BC. All of them had over 50% submitting test scores last cycle. Chicago does not belong on this list. The others do have a significant proportion of enrolled students that were TO....though almost none at more than 50%.

Pre-Covid, Chicago, Vanderbilt, and WashU all had among the highest SAT/ACT averages in the country. And during the TO era, those averages went up! So the 1500s weren't even submitting their scores anymore. But they were using their AP scores to demonstrate their academic chops. The TO designation is deceptive. Those are still good students getting accepted to the selective TO schools. And this cycle, I think it's going to be very difficult for unhooked students to get by without submitting scores - particularly to Chicago, Vanderbilt, WashU and the other T30 TO schools.

That isn’t what the statistics mean at all. In any case, Vandy and WashU admissions have affirmatively said they are still test optional, not test preferred, for this cycle so I believe you are wrong there as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the list I copied from here a while ago:

list of of test optional private schools where more than 50% of the admitted class last year was test optional (private schools with greatest # of admitted TO students):

UChicago  
Cornell (only select colleges)
Vanderbilt 
USC 
WashU
NYU 
BC
Tufts
BU 
Lehigh
UMiami 
Northeastern 
Villanova  
Wake 
Tulane

SLACs:
Bowdoin
Pomona
CMC
Wesleyan
Middlebury

I would be skeptical of this data, especially trying to apply data from past cycles to this year's cycle.

I don't think UChicago has ever had more than half its class test optional.

Someone may misunderstand the CDS data.

I just checked the CDS for UChicago, Vanderbilt, WashU and BC. All of them had over 50% submitting test scores last cycle. Chicago does not belong on this list. The others do have a significant proportion of enrolled students that were TO....though almost none at more than 50%.

Barely over 50 percent means nearly half the class was test optional.

[Anonymous]

From 23-24 CDS, submitters:

UChicago 46% SAT, 30% ACT
Vandy 25% SAT, 26% ACT
WashU 29% SAT, 28% ACT
BC 28% SAT, 16% ACT
USC 32% SAT/14% ACT

UChicago has never had a class where over 50% of enrolled students were TO. Ever.

Of the others, depends on overlap, which may be a much smaller % than pre-TO.

Policies are in flux. Be aware that BC is now test-recommended ("encouraged"). Vandy is a weird one, as pre-TO they loved strong scores and had a smitch higher reported ranges vs similarly-ranked schools. USC is in CA, which may explain the large % TO.

[Anonymous]

College Kicktstart just created a new column for "% submitted tests":

Vanderbilt: 26-51%
Cornell: 42-56%
USC: 41%
WashU: 55%

I have no idea where the ranges come from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From 23-24 CDS, submitters:

UChicago 46% SAT, 30% ACT
Vandy 25% SAT, 26% ACT
WashU 29% SAT, 28% ACT
BC 28% SAT, 16% ACT
USC 32% SAT/14% ACT

UChicago has never had a class where over 50% of enrolled students were TO. Ever.

Of the others, depends on overlap, which may be a much smaller % than pre-TO.

Policies are in flux. Be aware that BC is now test-recommended ("encouraged"). Vandy is a weird one, as pre-TO they loved strong scores and had a smitch higher reported ranges vs similarly-ranked schools. USC is in CA, which may explain the large % TO.

My DD asked the AO for Vandy, WashU and USC about test scores this summer and fall.

Vandy said do not submit below 50% unless it is a "high score" for your HS.
WashU and USC directly said don't submit below 50% at all. They said your application would not be hurt and they don't "assume" a low score.

Other schools may be different.

[Anonymous]

What is Vandy’s 50% range? Would you submit a 1530 superscore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College Kicktstart just created a new column for "% submitted tests":

Vanderbilt: 26-51%
Cornell: 42-56%
USC: 41%
WashU: 55%

I have no idea where the ranges come from.

The ranges are the higher of ACT or SAT and the sum of SAT + ACT. The true range is likely somewhere just below the sum, assuming some overlap in applicants who submit both tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is Vandy’s 50% range? Would you submit a 1530 superscore?

Submit that everywhere.

Vandy's range is 1500-1560.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Vandy’s 50% range? Would you submit a 1530 superscore?

Submit that everywhere.

Vandy's range is 1500-1560.

He’s applying RD no way he gets in- especially when a few kids are applying early. He loved the school but has an EA favorite. Hopefully it works out.