To submit or not submit? That is the question….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has taken the SAT three times. Final score is 1460 (710v, 750m). This score is between the 25th and 50th percentiles for their “reach” schools, most of which appear to have about 30-40% apply test optional.

DC has great grades (3.95+ us) from an area public with high rigor; decent but not outstanding extracurricular activities. No hooks. LOCs will be fine but public school is big and doesn’t have a particularly close relationship with any teacher so we don’t expect those to be anything special.

Submit scores?

I would definitely submit. Those scores are too high for TO. TO means lots of waitlists. The people here are totally overvaluing tests and lowballing you. Just apply to many schools. I think TO hurt my DD at Michigan. Going to UCLA. 32 ACT TO. Lots of waitlists and ten acceptances. ED is your friend. Go for it!

Congrats on UCLA...Michigan with better weather!

[Anonymous]

Guidance here:

https://ivywise.podbean.com/e/semester-8-episode-6-data-and-test-optional-policies/

[Anonymous]

The truth is that there is just a lot of uncertainty and you will never be able to do anything about it. I say, that's a really really good score, so submit it. If the kid gets rejected from the reaches - as most do, then at least you don't have to second guess whether they would have gotten accepted if that really good score was included. It's better than the alternative, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the advice...DC is not taking the test again. Mental health > 40 points.

"Reach" schools are in the T20-T40 range (ranging from Michigan to Emory to BC). We are full pay and they will ED somewhere.

more like T25 and 25-50.
A 1460 won't do it for Emory ED or not. Maybe Umich however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the advice...DC is not taking the test again. Mental health > 40 points.

"Reach" schools are in the T20-T40 range (ranging from Michigan to Emory to BC). We are full pay and they will ED somewhere.

more like T25 and 25-50.
A 1460 won't do it for Emory ED or not. Maybe Umich however.

SAT range at Emory was 1470-1540 in the latest Common Data Set with only 42% of first years submitting SATs (and 19% submitted ACTs). Assuming that the 39% that didn't submit had scores below 1470 (or the ACT equivalent), almost 2/3rds of first year students (64%) had scores under 1470. It might be worth submitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the advice...DC is not taking the test again. Mental health > 40 points.

"Reach" schools are in the T20-T40 range (ranging from Michigan to Emory to BC). We are full pay and they will ED somewhere.

more like T25 and 25-50.
A 1460 won't do it for Emory ED or not. Maybe Umich however.

Granted it was a couple of years ago, but my 2021 HS grad got into Emory RD with a 4.1 WGPA and 1440 (submitted) SAT. I admit we were very surprised, but it can happen.

[Anonymous]

I like to look at number of admitted students went TO. If it’s over 40%, the school is really fine w TO. Don’t submit if it doesn’t help you.

If admitted students TO number is under 25%, they want the tests.

ED and full pay will take you very far at these schools. BC bump for full pay is real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to look at number of admitted students went TO. If it’s over 40%, the school is really fine w TO. Don’t submit if it doesn’t help you.

If admitted students TO number is under 25%, they want the tests.

ED and full pay will take you very far at these schools. BC bump for full pay is real.

💯
This is the advice we got as well from school and private college counselor.

It won’t help if unless it’s closer to middle 50%. Remember those lower numbers are often hooked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its a case by case decision for each school.....

Not really

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like to look at number of admitted students went TO. If it’s over 40%, the school is really fine w TO. Don’t submit if it doesn’t help you.

If admitted students TO number is under 25%, they want the tests.

ED and full pay will take you very far at these schools. BC bump for full pay is real.

💯
This is the advice we got as well from school and private college counselor.

It won’t help if unless it’s closer to middle 50%. Remember those lower numbers are often hooked.

It's the ones in the 0-25 range that are hooked. Above 25% submit, below 25% don't bother applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its a case by case decision for each school.....

Not really

I mean I wouldn't submit a 33 to most T20 schools, would you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has taken the SAT three times. Final score is 1460 (710v, 750m). This score is between the 25th and 50th percentiles for their “reach” schools, most of which appear to have about 30-40% apply test optional.

DC has great grades (3.95+ us) from an area public with high rigor; decent but not outstanding extracurricular activities. No hooks. LOCs will be fine but public school is big and doesn’t have a particularly close relationship with any teacher so we don’t expect those to be anything special.

Submit scores?

I would definitely submit. Those scores are too high for TO. TO means lots of waitlists. The people here are totally overvaluing tests and lowballing you. Just apply to many schools. I think TO hurt my DD at Michigan. Going to UCLA. 32 ACT TO. Lots of waitlists and ten acceptances. ED is your friend. Go for it!

PP, UCLA is test blind and completely irrelevant to the TO discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has taken the SAT three times. Final score is 1460 (710v, 750m). This score is between the 25th and 50th percentiles for their “reach” schools, most of which appear to have about 30-40% apply test optional.

DC has great grades (3.95+ us) from an area public with high rigor; decent but not outstanding extracurricular activities. No hooks. LOCs will be fine but public school is big and doesn’t have a particularly close relationship with any teacher so we don’t expect those to be anything special.

Submit scores?

I would definitely submit. Those scores are too high for TO. TO means lots of waitlists. The people here are totally overvaluing tests and lowballing you. Just apply to many schools. I think TO hurt my DD at Michigan. Going to UCLA. 32 ACT TO. Lots of waitlists and ten acceptances. ED is your friend. Go for it!

PP, UCLA is test blind and completely irrelevant to the TO discussion.

True.
This is also why high GPA but low test score kids tend to go to UC schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to look at number of admitted students went TO. If it’s over 40%, the school is really fine w TO. Don’t submit if it doesn’t help you.

If admitted students TO number is under 25%, they want the tests.

ED and full pay will take you very far at these schools. BC bump for full pay is real.

Someone is having a really hard time understanding that things have changed since last cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has taken the SAT three times. Final score is 1460 (710v, 750m). This score is between the 25th and 50th percentiles for their “reach” schools, most of which appear to have about 30-40% apply test optional.

DC has great grades (3.95+ us) from an area public with high rigor; decent but not outstanding extracurricular activities. No hooks. LOCs will be fine but public school is big and doesn’t have a particularly close relationship with any teacher so we don’t expect those to be anything special.

Submit scores?

Our DS is similar. Taken the test twice, has cleared 1450 (>700 on each section) but not 1500, and is done. Great grades at a well regarded private school. Solid ECs. No hooks. He's planning to submit everywhere. Unlikely to hurt him most places, might help him in some, and, regardless, he has a bunch of schools he'd be excited to attend and he'd rather be dinged from some of them than feel like he snuck into wherever he ends up.

How sad that your kid attaches so much of his self-worth to a test score and can’t imagine he could be valued as an applicant without it.