I agree that the PP probably received advice not to submit; I'm just saying I think that was bad advice. And I agree completely that URMs and low SES get hurt by test optional for the same reason - bad advice not to take tests and submit the scores. While most TO colleges may say they do not assume scores were worse if not submitted, it is a logical assumption. It's hard to see how they don't make such an assumption here in 2024. |
+100 That’s every parent but they won’t admit it. |
Yep, the article said applicants who didn’t submit scores were on average similar to applicants with scores around the 25th percentile as far as college academic performance. So won’t necessarily assume a bottom of the barrel score, but won’t assume any higher than 25th centile. |
^ that was from my eye-balling of the graph in the NYT article. No score applicants fell around 1300 SAT applicants, as far as college GPA for the schools in the study, which I believe were about 15-20 elite colleges. |
Most of them are making up the deficit, should one exist, via international full pay. You can count on your hands the number of schools that are need blind for international students. |
+100 |
Oh actually, it’s a lot lower than 25th percentile. 1300 is 1/4 of the way from 1200 to 1600 (the range), but I wasn’t paying attention to the density of the datapoints. Probably closer to 90% of scores were higher than 1300 for those schools during that time period. But that’s where the no-test applicants landed as far as their success in college. |
I have some sympathy for the confusing situation applicants find themselves dealing with, but a student who gets a high SAT and doesn’t submit it (because they think admissions will assume it was even higher??) … they deserve whatever consequences that decision brings upon them. |
Another reason to take the DCUM chatter with a grain of salt. Everyone ( mostly parents) is only speaking from a vantage point of what's advantageous to their kid. |
In a sane world, GPA, standardized test scores, and taking the most rigorous classes at your school, and major relevant ECs would be the major factors in getting into college vs. ethnicity, skin color, legacy status, contrived essays or athletic ability. |
Because they’re run by the same type of people? |
+1 |
The point is that there is free help out there. You don't need a tutor to get over a 1500. There's enough help online between books, reddit, and youtube. That's why the colleges say it helps them find intelligent kids. |
HS students should get one bite at the apple. ACT, SAT, their choice. But one at bat. That’s it. This super scoring horseshit is the one of the most bizarre developments since I was applying to college hundreds of years ago. |
Not sure I followed the NY Times article. Why is TO hurting URM students with the potential for a strong score? They can always submit a strong score (if they have one) and shine. |