My DD applied test optional this year. She has a good GPA and has taken APs etc but has ADHD and some anxiety. and performs poorly on standardized tests. She did test prep for ACT and took the exam twice and never scored as well in person as she did on practice tests at home. She also had to postpone one exam for illness, and another one was cancelled so she had to take the test in another city. In the end her best scores were below 25th % for all the schools she applied to but one - and that one was “test blind” and wouldn’t have considered them anyway. In the end she applied test optional to all schools and has gotten into 6/7 including her 3 favorites.

For her this was the right call - the rest of her application was strong and didn’t want to give them a reason to stay no. We knew it was a bit of a gamble, especially at her top three, but knew she’d probably get into at least 1-2 safeties (got into 3) and maybe could get into at least 1 of her favorites (got into all 3). Still waiting on decision from one school which will be an interesting test. It’s the most selective academically but not a favorite.

We are so happy it’s worked out for her but we also put a lot of time and effort into researching schools and programs that would be a good fit for her and where she accepted. Didn’t want to waste time or get hopes for anything unrealistic. Her “reach” isn’t even a crazy reach because we looked at acceptance rates by major and realized she actually has a chance. I think if your child is looking at the right schools for their profile they will have a decent shot, test scores or not.

It's just like only putting down the AP scores that the colleges gives credit for. No need to report something that doesn't help your case.

TO is all about, as a PP alluded to your child’s demographic. The expectations are different. Period. Id you a white kid in upper NW - and don’t submit a score - inference is it was terrible. Other than a white kid and do not give a score - free pass.

It is what it is.

One college advisor told me (after a talk she was giving, we did not have our own),was that you submit any score above the 25% percentile for that school. Otherwise, the school will imagine that it is super low.

This was pre-COVID...so now they may be much less important.

My kid did not submit her score (in the 1200's) to any test optional schools...and still got into most of them (but they were not T20).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If every applicant below the current median doesn't submit, won't the median just shoot way up, thereby making the statistic meaningless?

What do you think is happening? Look at the Median scores at various schools...they are off the charts now.

The number of applications at colleges/universities has spiked too because you have kids that wouldn't bother applying if they actually had to show their scores. That has really created a volume problem, but makes the schools look more selective so only helps them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If every applicant below the current median doesn't submit, won't the median just shoot way up, thereby making the statistic meaningless?

What do you think is happening? Look at the Median scores at various schools...they are off the charts now.

You also have to look at the percentage of students admitting those scores. It is never 100% of applicants reported.

At our DCs' school, most students are told that universities will expect them to submit scores based on the school profile and their HHI. Both our DCs submitted scores over the last two years. Definitely helped one who did not have as strong as GPA as their test score. But we know three kids who did not submit scores and got into their ED, one with an admit rate under 15%. Will be interesting to see what happens over time. Think some schools will still hold out for a bit, but that others will join the TO set.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If every applicant below the current median doesn't submit, won't the median just shoot way up, thereby making the statistic meaningless?

What do you think is happening? Look at the Median scores at various schools...they are off the charts now.

You compare median scores with percentage reporting and kind of get a sense of the lay of the land. If it's a school where 10% are reporting scores and you're slightly below the recent median but way above the historical median, I'd report. If it's a school where 80% are reporting scores and you're slightly below the median, I'd go test optional (and consider the school a reach).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If every applicant below the current median doesn't submit, won't the median just shoot way up, thereby making the statistic meaningless?

What do you think is happening? Look at the Median scores at various schools...they are off the charts now.

Okay, but the point is there are only so many students with a 1500+ and most of them are not going to go to University of Richmond.

Anonymous wrote:If every applicant below the current median doesn't submit, won't the median just shoot way up, thereby making the statistic meaningless?

What do you think is happening? Look at the Median scores at various schools...they are off the charts now.

Anonymous wrote:If every applicant below the current median doesn't submit, won't the median just shoot way up, thereby making the statistic meaningless?

Yes, this is the longterm consequence.

If every applicant below the current median doesn't submit, won't the median just shoot way up, thereby making the statistic meaningless?

Anonymous wrote:If it’s above the median for that school you submit, if not you don’t?

Correct. It will say a lot to the school on how a kid did--whether they submit the scores and such. For very competitive schools, you best achieve the scores and submit them.

Anonymous wrote:If it’s above the median for that school you submit, if not you don’t?

That's the general consensus, but certainly depends on the situation.

If it’s above the median for that school you submit, if not you don’t?