Selective Colleges Going Test Optional

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably not, you can take the test online now.

Not just yet. The online option only happens if high schools are not open for in-person testing.

It'll be interesting to note the timing of test-optional announcements. There have been a bunch, Case Western was the first to do so for coronavirus, though they apparently had been contemplating that for some time. I figure the more "needy" the college is feeling for app numbers, the sooner they'll go test optional.

Which means regardless of the circumstance testing will be available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:will be interesting to see how this plays out. kids with top scores will always submit them, and kids without, wont. not sure that not submitting scores will ultimately help anyone gain admission unless they are part of a desired admission target group.

Possibly. I think this was definitely true before, but the disruption this year has thrown off test-prep, limited how many times kids can take the test, and the whole on-line process sounds pretty sketchy. What if the internet goes out while you’re taking the test (this happened to DC with a HS test the other day)? So a brilliant one and dones won’t be affected, but there might be lots of kids who would normally work their way into a decent test score in other years who may not this year. It gives the admissions folks room to believe that a really good kid may not want to submit a test score for valid reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Online testing will be a disaster. Great! The next cheating scandal and the colleges know it.

+1 I think test optional is a much better choice than online because of the potential cheating, which will happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:will be interesting to see how this plays out. kids with top scores will always submit them, and kids without, wont. not sure that not submitting scores will ultimately help anyone gain admission unless they are part of a desired admission target group.

Possibly. I think this was definitely true before, but the disruption this year has thrown off test-prep, limited how many times kids can take the test, and the whole on-line process sounds pretty sketchy. What if the internet goes out while you’re taking the test (this happened to DC with a HS test the other day)? So a brilliant one and dones won’t be affected, but there might be lots of kids who would normally work their way into a decent test score in other years who may not this year. It gives the admissions folks room to believe that a really good kid may not want to submit a test score for valid reasons.

This is why selective colleges would have no choice but to be test-optional if the fall in-person test dates are impacted. (I don't think they will be, because I think high schools will be open, but obviously that's just my personal guess.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Online testing will be a disaster. Great! The next cheating scandal and the colleges know it.

+1 I think test optional is a much better choice than online because of the potential cheating, which will happen.

In light of the recent testing scandal, it is pretty incredible the College Board would raise online SAT testing as an option. And, there are students who may not have the capability, due to lack of Internet connectivity, to take a complex online test. They can’t go to a library to take the test. The College Board is losing money and credibility. The pandemic has shed a light on the lucrative testing market, expensive tutors and test prep centers included, which will eventually go by the wayside. This is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

If testing were online, would that dilute the value of scores? (College Board cutting off its nose to spite its face)

Would admission officers note test date/method?

[Anonymous]

For athletes who need to go through the pre read process it’s a relief that many are going test optional. My daughter has a few coaches starting this in May and she was worried about having no testing to share.

[Anonymous]

How much longer to wait for other big name (non- Ivy) to say they are going test optional for at least one year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much longer to wait for other big name (non- Ivy) to say they are going test optional for at least one year?

At the latest, when high schools know whether they are opening for in-person classes. At the earliest, any day now, as the June cancellation only just happened. Maybe they'll split the difference, decide in June or July.

One only needs to know in time to prep for August (I'd shoot for starting prep around July 4). But, I'd encourage all students to try to test if they can, and then evaluate whether to submit based on the scores compared to the college's score ranges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course. That's been in the news for about 3 weeks. Check the list at fairtest.org.

Colleges are marketing to panicking juniors. They are afraid of getting fewer apps and test optional is an easy way to boost those numbers.

Haven't looked in a few days but the list I saw originally included no competitive schools.

I mean, if you want to go to the University of Virginia at Wise, go for it.

Nothing wrong with these universities at all, but I just don't see the "selective" schools jumping on this bandwagon just yet.

?? They already have. University of Chicago went that route 2-3 years ago. Bowdoin and I believe Colby are. More and more are doing it or were in the process of doing it even before all this happened

[Anonymous]

If it is a way to send less money to the money-grab scam that is The College Board, I am all for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For athletes who need to go through the pre read process it’s a relief that many are going test optional. My daughter has a few coaches starting this in May and she was worried about having no testing to share.

This.

I'm only familiar with D3, having just gone through it with DS.
Recruiting will be a mess at schools that still require SAT scores. How can a school give a student assurance of getting in without scores, when scores are required.

[Anonymous]

Our daughter continues to prep after the March, May & June tests were cancelled. Let’s be done w/this. There is far more meaningful learning to be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is looking at SLACs. She has gotten emails mentioning that the following will be test optional for this year:

Williams
Middlebury
Bowdoin
Swarthmore

Bowdoin has been test optional since 1969. Its not new and its not just for this year. Bates went test optional in 1984 and Colby was the last of the Maine 3 to do it in 2018.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For athletes who need to go through the pre read process it’s a relief that many are going test optional. My daughter has a few coaches starting this in May and she was worried about having no testing to share.

This.

I'm only familiar with D3, having just gone through it with DS.
Recruiting will be a mess at schools that still require SAT scores. How can a school give a student assurance of getting in without scores, when scores are required.

The NCAA announced that there is essentially going to be a waiver on test scores for next year. Eligibility will be dependent on completion of core courses and a minimum GPA (I think 2.3?)