Reply to Columbia University becomes first Ivy League institution to go permanently test-optional

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My personal view is that test optional will make testing more important than ever. Instead of having the schools’ test score data muddied by URMs and other special cases, people will just focus on the 50-75 pct of the student body that submits.  Schools will continue to strive to have a high average or range. Does Williams really want to have a lower average SAT than Amherst? Will Colby let itself slip below Bates? Of course not. So there is a two tier system shaping up. URMs and first Gen and other special cases apply into one pool and then the “privileged” students compete against each other in another pool. People will compare schools based on the relative quality of the privileged pool.  Admissions offices will continue to manage towards a high average SAT because they know they can’t afford to slip behind peer schools as they will be seen as less selective and then students and parents will have less interest in applying and it will be a downward spiral. [/quote]

But that's not exactly how it's playing out now.  Averages are going up but the number of kids submitting is going down.  My white kid did not submit and has gotten into better schools than she would have a few years ago because she has great grades but learning disabilities so her test scores are low.  She can handle class work (it takes her twice as long but she can do it).  There are things on the applications that they like with the holistic review so they want her, but her test scores would have eliminated her in the past.  It seems the colleges get the exerts of both worlds with TO.  Their test score average  go up with the students that submit, yet they can still take the ones they want that don't submit.  This is why they tell you not to submit if your score is below their average.[/quote]

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