There is a 10 page discussion that fully describes all these opinions going on right now. Why on earth would someone start another discussion about the prudence of submitting test scores? Despite the slightly different prompt it has already devolved into the exact same conversation.

Neo wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might want to submit if your score is slightly below the 25th percentile mark and you’re an institutional priority. Say you’re a first gen kid from a Title I high school. Average SAT at your high school is 1060. Your score is 1450. 25th percentile mark is 1480. In those circumstances you should probably submit.

This is good advice.

What if you are from a very well regarded high school and not URM or hooked? Does it still make sense to submit at or above 25th percentile? Does it make any sense to submit if NEAR 25th percentile?

For test “preferred” schools I would submit. Look at the wording on the college’s website. If more than 40% of enrolled students were admitted TO, I wouldn’t submit for a kid with your child’s profile.

How to identify one?

Many schools have tweaked their website language regarding test optional this year.

Example, Yale:

“Applicants who have successfully completed one or more ACT or SAT exams should consider including scores, even if those scores are below the ranges listed below. Yale’s internal research has consistently shown that standardized test scores are a significant predictor of a student’s undergraduate academic performance.”

Yale is test preferred.

Also, look at the CDS for schools your child is interested in. If 80% of enrolled students submitted scores, the school is test preferred. The 20% of students enrolled TO are primarily institutional priorities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Non-URM: submit if you are at 50 or above. Will slightly benefit at 75 and above.

URM, FGLI: Submit at 25 and above. Will help at 50 and above.

See, this doesn't make sense to me. Let's say a non-URM kid is just above 25th percentile. Why would it hurt the applicant to tell the school this as opposed to letting the school believe the applicant's scores are potentially well below their 25th percentile?

+1. There’s more nuanced advice provided by others on this thread that I believe are on target. It’s really about how you perform against your peers.

Anonymous wrote:Non-URM: submit if you are at 50 or above. Will slightly benefit at 75 and above.

URM, FGLI: Submit at 25 and above. Will help at 50 and above.

This is just wrong, elite college admissions officers are now saying they prefer scores.

The only schools where I would be stingy in submitting are Tulane and NE, because they openly say they want only high scores and admit a ton of kids test optional.

Anonymous wrote:Non-URM: submit if you are at 50 or above. Will slightly benefit at 75 and above.

URM, FGLI: Submit at 25 and above. Will help at 50 and above.

See, this doesn't make sense to me. Let's say a non-URM kid is just above 25th percentile. Why would it hurt the applicant to tell the school this as opposed to letting the school believe the applicant's scores are potentially well below their 25th percentile?

No hooks: apply if you're at 25% or above.

Hooks (esp FGLI or rural): submit if you're well above (250 points min) school average. Confirm school average is on the profile that's submitted. So if your HS average is 950 and you have a 1200, submit.

Non-URM: submit if you are at 50 or above. Will slightly benefit at 75 and above.

URM, FGLI: Submit at 25 and above. Will help at 50 and above.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might want to submit if your score is slightly below the 25th percentile mark and you’re an institutional priority. Say you’re a first gen kid from a Title I high school. Average SAT at your high school is 1060. Your score is 1450. 25th percentile mark is 1480. In those circumstances you should probably submit.

This is good advice.

What if you are from a very well regarded high school and not URM or hooked? Does it still make sense to submit at or above 25th percentile? Does it make any sense to submit if NEAR 25th percentile?

For test “preferred” schools I would submit. Look at the wording on the college’s website. If more than 40% of enrolled students were admitted TO, I wouldn’t submit for a kid with your child’s profile.

How to identify one?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might want to submit if your score is slightly below the 25th percentile mark and you’re an institutional priority. Say you’re a first gen kid from a Title I high school. Average SAT at your high school is 1060. Your score is 1450. 25th percentile mark is 1480. In those circumstances you should probably submit.

This is good advice.

What if you are from a very well regarded high school and not URM or hooked? Does it still make sense to submit at or above 25th percentile? Does it make any sense to submit if NEAR 25th percentile?

For test “preferred” schools I would submit. Look at the wording on the college’s website. If more than 40% of enrolled students were admitted TO, I wouldn’t submit for a kid with your child’s profile.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might want to submit if your score is slightly below the 25th percentile mark and you’re an institutional priority. Say you’re a first gen kid from a Title I high school. Average SAT at your high school is 1060. Your score is 1450. 25th percentile mark is 1480. In those circumstances you should probably submit.

This is good advice.

What if you are from a very well regarded high school and not URM or hooked? Does it still make sense to submit at or above 25th percentile? Does it make any sense to submit if NEAR 25th percentile?

Anonymous wrote:You might want to submit if your score is slightly below the 25th percentile mark and you’re an institutional priority. Say you’re a first gen kid from a Title I high school. Average SAT at your high school is 1060. Your score is 1450. 25th percentile mark is 1480. In those circumstances you should probably submit.

This is good advice.

You might want to submit if your score is slightly below the 25th percentile mark and you’re an institutional priority. Say you’re a first gen kid from a Title I high school. Average SAT at your high school is 1060. Your score is 1450. 25th percentile mark is 1480. In those circumstances you should probably submit.

Neo wrote:It doesn't matter, SAT scores are just optics

The SAT obviously matters. Above 75% it can make up for a deficiency elsewhere. Between 25-75 it shows that they are capable of keeping up with the workload, but not make or break either way. Below 25th is still worth reporting if it's close because one in four kids got in with similar scores the prior year, that is a lot, but they better have good grades, recommendations, ECs, etc.

It doesn't matter, SAT scores are just optics

The theory is that it at least helps the school drag up the bottom end of the range.

Are there any circumstances where one would advise otherwise?