I hate test optional!

[Anonymous]

Listen, op: the fact that your daughter is sharp and a great test taker is quirk of fate not a moral accomplishment. She will benefit from it, perhaps slightly less than previously but guess what-the traits that helped her get a good score are still there and will continue to help her in college, a privilege not all kids have. Some kids could study and study and never get that score despite being capable and hardworking.

[Anonymous]

Fact of the matter is that with a parent like OP, this kid is gonna be running out of the house as soon as possible to whatever college will accept her, and she will not look back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wow. well my kid who got a 1380 without benefit of a tutor, just a regular middle class kid who had to prep solely on Khan Academy must be a complete idiot to you, certainly "less talented and less capable". Well I wager his GPA is higher than your kid and he can write a better essay than yours too... but ok sure, he's "less than" because his family is not rich enough to spend thousands on test prep and couldn't retake it because of cancellations anyway.

There are words for people like you... and oh I wish I could share some of them here but I'm trying to be polite.

GPA is meaningless when compared across different schools, let alone different districts or states. But my daughter is ranked in the top 3% of her class at a competitive public in a highly educated, UMC district. As for the essay part, if your son inherited his writing skills from you, I doubt it.

hahahahah ok I am guessing this has to be Friday afternoon troll because you are just a miserable human being. My son is in the top 1.4% of his class in a "competitive public in a highly educated, UMC district", so dang your kid must be an idiot LOL how dare she take a spot from some other more deserving human. I wish you nothing but (lack of) success in your college search!

Sorry your kid got turned down for prom by someone like my daughter.

hahaha hi troll!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GPA is meaningless when compared across different schools, let alone different districts or states.

Oh no, it is not. Not even close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take a deep breath, or it's going to be a very long year for you. No particular spot was destined for your daughter, and it sounds like she'll be able to find success wherever she ends up.

--Class of '21 parent

Sound advice. Breath and make sure you don’t let your anxiety affect your daughter. Encourage her to continue the hard work and stay organized through the next year. That will save her and you a lot of headache. When she hits a rough patch, just step aside and go for a walk, a movie, anything to refocus. Let the chips fall where they may. It will all be fine.

Every admission cycle is uniquely frustrating no matter what. Don’t manufacture any more stress than there already is.

- another class of ‘21 parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The field is NOT being leveled. Get that out of your heads. College admissions officers HATE test optional. They have an even harder time trying to separate the wheat from the chaff.
After this year is over, they're going to try to backpedal hard, but it will take a while.

They have to figure a better way to evaluate kids. SO many people of wealth pay for tutors and other ways to give their kids a leg up - who can blame them? But it's really not fair to the lower socioeconomic kids who don't have the financial advantage.

Plus, based on how ACT and the College Board handled the pandemic last year - cancelled tests, screwed up AP exams - for shame. They are rolling in cash and couldn't figure shit out.

By having kids sign a binding attestation of no paid prep/tutors (LDs aside), for a start.

[Anonymous]

I get it that the test preppers (usually UMC types) hate test optional because, well, that's one less thing they can control (i.e., buy for their children).

I get that your anxiety is through the roof because you think your little darling won't get ahead on the upwardly mobile treadmill, but do try to relax.

They may not get into a T20 school, but they'll be fine, in spite of your anxiety.

[Anonymous]

There are tons and tons of students who scored much higher than your kid without any tutoring or prep, OP. That would include my kid who got a 1590 the first time around. But I haven't been running around crying that boohoohoo, she might get displaced by a heavily tutored kid who's less smart.

Get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The field is NOT being leveled. Get that out of your heads. College admissions officers HATE test optional. They have an even harder time trying to separate the wheat from the chaff.
After this year is over, they're going to try to backpedal hard, but it will take a while.

They have to figure a better way to evaluate kids. SO many people of wealth pay for tutors and other ways to give their kids a leg up - who can blame them? But it's really not fair to the lower socioeconomic kids who don't have the financial advantage.

Plus, based on how ACT and the College Board handled the pandemic last year - cancelled tests, screwed up AP exams - for shame. They are rolling in cash and couldn't figure shit out.

By having kids sign a binding attestation of no paid prep/tutors (LDs aside), for a start.

Ding ding ding! tho of course the cheaters will always cheat so not enforceable.

[Anonymous]

35 ACT did not appear to help my kid
Currently on six waitlists
Only acceptances are at 2 safeties
Kid will be fine and is well prepared for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:35 ACT did not appear to help my kid
Currently on six waitlists
Only acceptances are at 2 safeties
Kid will be fine and is well prepared for college.

Wonder how many David Hoggs got into those schools where your kid is waitlisted.

[Anonymous]

This comes across terribly. You’re the parent I dread being around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:35 ACT did not appear to help my kid
Currently on six waitlists
Only acceptances are at 2 safeties
Kid will be fine and is well prepared for college.

Wonder how many David Hoggs got into those schools where your kid is waitlisted.

you can start by adding up all the recruited athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, op. That stinks.

But - test optional provides more opportunities to families who cannot afford tutors.

Check your entitlement at the door. The field is being leveled.

+1 Someone who can afford to pay for a tutor is complaining that their child might not get the full benefit of the tutor amped score

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:35 ACT did not appear to help my kid
Currently on six waitlists
Only acceptances are at 2 safeties
Kid will be fine and is well prepared for college.

I think test-optional can suck both ways.

If colleges have two buckets and only compare your kid against others who turned in a test score? The likelihood that the test-score group had perfect scores is high.