To SAT/ACT or not to SAT/ACT

[Anonymous]

I think most schools are saying they will waive the need to submit standardized test scores for this fall's admission cycle yet many parents and students still seem to be going to GREAT lengths to take those tests. I've heard of people driving as far away as North Carolina to take the test because they think if it comes down to a choice between their kid who has scores and another kid exactly the same but with no scores...the schools will go for the kid with scores. Of course there is also the chance that the schools will look at a kid who went to enormous lengths to take the test as a rich jerk just trying to get a leg up.

What does the DCUM hive mind think about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most schools are saying they will waive the need to submit standardized test scores for this fall's admission cycle yet many parents and students still seem to be going to GREAT lengths to take those tests. I've heard of people driving as far away as North Carolina to take the test because they think if it comes down to a choice between their kid who has scores and another kid exactly the same but with no scores...the schools will go for the kid with scores. Of course there is also the chance that the schools will look at a kid who went to enormous lengths to take the test as a rich jerk just trying to get a leg up.

What does the DCUM hive mind think about this?

Your premise is wrong. Colleges don't know where you took your test -- so they won't know (and won't care) whether you went to great lengths to take it,

[Anonymous]

Do you care about merit aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most schools are saying they will waive the need to submit standardized test scores for this fall's admission cycle yet many parents and students still seem to be going to GREAT lengths to take those tests. I've heard of people driving as far away as North Carolina to take the test because they think if it comes down to a choice between their kid who has scores and another kid exactly the same but with no scores...the schools will go for the kid with scores. Of course there is also the chance that the schools will look at a kid who went to enormous lengths to take the test as a rich jerk just trying to get a leg up.

What does the DCUM hive mind think about this?

Your premise is wrong. Colleges don't know where you took your test -- so they won't know (and won't care) whether you went to great lengths to take it,

I’m pretty sure the score report says where you took it.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the rest of the kid's app, particularly grades. Kids whose grades are far from perfect may benefit from having a score, moreso than kids with a 4.0.

[Anonymous]

I have a 2022 kid. Her sophomore grades are erratic, with a B- in English because she never got to turn in the term paper that dominated the year. And she’s a humanities kid. Minute 5 And and B in Honors Chem, which is fine for a non-STEM student.

She sat for a practice ACT cold and got a 36 on English and 34 on Reading, plus 33s in STEM. For a solid 34. She got confused taking the science section cold and could easily get another math question or two right after review of spotty distance distance learning math in the spring. So a 35 is very possible.

All of which is a long way of saying if she can get a 35 on the ACT without a lot of prepping, I’m moving heaven and Earth this year to get that score.

Form 2022s, it is very possible that sophomore and junior grades just aren’t reliable indicators with distance learning, learning disruptions, COVID, quarantines. It feels like junior year is a crapshoot. And colleges are going to know this. So, I’m helping her get as many objective metrics as possible. A 5 on the AP World. She’ll take her AP tests seriously this year. SAT subject tests in literature, Latin and history if we can get a seating. And yes, the ACT. These objective scores help put any wonky grades in context.

She also trying to pivot on ECs and find other meaningful things to do during COVID.

She’s looking at ED for a tier 1 SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most schools are saying they will waive the need to submit standardized test scores for this fall's admission cycle yet many parents and students still seem to be going to GREAT lengths to take those tests. I've heard of people driving as far away as North Carolina to take the test because they think if it comes down to a choice between their kid who has scores and another kid exactly the same but with no scores...the schools will go for the kid with scores. Of course there is also the chance that the schools will look at a kid who went to enormous lengths to take the test as a rich jerk just trying to get a leg up.

What does the DCUM hive mind think about this?

Your premise is wrong. Colleges don't know where you took your test -- so they won't know (and won't care) whether you went to great lengths to take it,

I’m pretty sure the score report says where you took it.

NP. I don't think colleges care where the test was taken even if they receive that info, which I highly doubt.

Besides, plenty of top colleges accept self-reported scores and the app definitely doesn't include test center.

[Anonymous]

My rising senior had erratic grades due to some medical issues. The SAT would give potential colleges a better picture of her abilities. She also lost the chance to do an internship over the summer that would have given her a competitive edge, as well as a leadership role in her extracurricular activities that have been canceled.

Colleges may waive the SAT and be understanding of the situation, but there are still only so many slots and it can be more difficult for kids to set themselves apart from others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2022 kid. Her sophomore grades are erratic, with a B- in English because she never got to turn in the term paper that dominated the year. And she’s a humanities kid. Minute 5 And and B in Honors Chem, which is fine for a non-STEM student.

She sat for a practice ACT cold and got a 36 on English and 34 on Reading, plus 33s in STEM. For a solid 34. She got confused taking the science section cold and could easily get another math question or two right after review of spotty distance distance learning math in the spring. So a 35 is very possible.

All of which is a long way of saying if she can get a 35 on the ACT without a lot of prepping, I’m moving heaven and Earth this year to get that score.

Form 2022s, it is very possible that sophomore and junior grades just aren’t reliable indicators with distance learning, learning disruptions, COVID, quarantines. It feels like junior year is a crapshoot. And colleges are going to know this. So, I’m helping her get as many objective metrics as possible. A 5 on the AP World. She’ll take her AP tests seriously this year. SAT subject tests in literature, Latin and history if we can get a seating. And yes, the ACT. These objective scores help put any wonky grades in context.

She also trying to pivot on ECs and find other meaningful things to do during COVID.

She’s looking at ED for a tier 1 SLAC.

Interesting. I have a 2022 kid also. Excellent grades (4.7 W, 3.95 UW) in a magnet program, a 5 on the one AP test she's taken so far, and good ECs. But she's not a great test taker (that one AP score notwithstanding). Her PSATs were awful and we've figured out that the ACT will suit her better than the SAT, but I'd be surprised if she can get above a 31-2 on an ACT after much prepping. So I am wondering if we are better off with her focusing on grades and ECs and not doing the tests. But for a rising junior, tests may no longer be optional by the time she's applying to college-- they may be expected, if not required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2022 kid. Her sophomore grades are erratic, with a B- in English because she never got to turn in the term paper that dominated the year. And she’s a humanities kid. Minute 5 And and B in Honors Chem, which is fine for a non-STEM student.

She sat for a practice ACT cold and got a 36 on English and 34 on Reading, plus 33s in STEM. For a solid 34. She got confused taking the science section cold and could easily get another math question or two right after review of spotty distance distance learning math in the spring. So a 35 is very possible.

All of which is a long way of saying if she can get a 35 on the ACT without a lot of prepping, I’m moving heaven and Earth this year to get that score.

Form 2022s, it is very possible that sophomore and junior grades just aren’t reliable indicators with distance learning, learning disruptions, COVID, quarantines. It feels like junior year is a crapshoot. And colleges are going to know this. So, I’m helping her get as many objective metrics as possible. A 5 on the AP World. She’ll take her AP tests seriously this year. SAT subject tests in literature, Latin and history if we can get a seating. And yes, the ACT. These objective scores help put any wonky grades in context.

She also trying to pivot on ECs and find other meaningful things to do during COVID.

She’s looking at ED for a tier 1 SLAC.

Interesting. I have a 2022 kid also. Excellent grades (4.7 W, 3.95 UW) in a magnet program, a 5 on the one AP test she's taken so far, and good ECs. But she's not a great test taker (that one AP score notwithstanding). Her PSATs were awful and we've figured out that the ACT will suit her better than the SAT, but I'd be surprised if she can get above a 31-2 on an ACT after much prepping. So I am wondering if we are better off with her focusing on grades and ECs and not doing the tests. But for a rising junior, tests may no longer be optional by the time she's applying to college-- they may be expected, if not required.

My kid went up 300 points from sophomore fall psat to Junior spring sat. No $$$$ tutoring

[Anonymous]

Not requiring SAT/ACT doesn't mean those kids who did not take the exam will be evaluated equally as the ones who took the exam. Particularly when it comes to merit aids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not requiring SAT/ACT doesn't mean those kids who did not take the exam will be evaluated equally as the ones who took the exam. Particularly when it comes to merit aids.

In normal times yes. But it seems so unfair under these circumstances. I mean, all of these rising seniors were registered to take that SAT on March 13. That was literally the first day schools were closed. It isn’t like anyone saw that coming months in advance or that they did anything wrong. Nothing like this has ever happened before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not requiring SAT/ACT doesn't mean those kids who did not take the exam will be evaluated equally as the ones who took the exam. Particularly when it comes to merit aids.

In normal times yes. But it seems so unfair under these circumstances. I mean, all of these rising seniors were registered to take that SAT on March 13. That was literally the first day schools were closed. It isn’t like anyone saw that coming months in advance or that they did anything wrong. Nothing like this has ever happened before.

I agree. I think this year schools will no longer use SAT scores for merit aid, etc. There will be too many kids who simply couldn't take the test to really use it as a criterion for anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not requiring SAT/ACT doesn't mean those kids who did not take the exam will be evaluated equally as the ones who took the exam. Particularly when it comes to merit aids.

In normal times yes. But it seems so unfair under these circumstances. I mean, all of these rising seniors were registered to take that SAT on March 13. That was literally the first day schools were closed. It isn’t like anyone saw that coming months in advance or that they did anything wrong. Nothing like this has ever happened before.

I agree. I think this year schools will no longer use SAT scores for merit aid, etc. There will be too many kids who simply couldn't take the test to really use it as a criterion for anything.

It means something. A high score is still a plus. It’s just that not having a score isn’t necessarily a negative.

I would think admissions would also look at where your kid is applying from. Kids in the DMV have been locked out. Not their fault. Kids in the public health disaster states have had testing available. If the choose not to take it or not to submit it, I would think a college would take note.

[Anonymous]

I would assume you should try to get a score if the college says not required, and submit unless it hurts your kid.

If the scores made no difference, the school would do what the UCs are doing and say they won’t consider them even if submitted.

There is a big difference between we won’t require and we won’t consider.