Anonymous wrote:A high test score will help at these TO schools:

WashU
Emory
Duke
Northwestern
Rice
Notre Dame
Michigan

Rice is test recommended. It's not really a TO school. An unhooked MC UMC has no choice but submit scores there.

Anonymous wrote:A high test score will help at these TO schools:

WashU
Emory
Duke
Northwestern
Rice
Notre Dame
Michigan

Eh, I think a high test score doesn't help that much at these schools. Like the T20, many many applicants have very high scores. They are TO for athletes, donors, kids, and other institutional priorities. Other kids must submit scores to have a reasonable chance to be admitted. A 1540 will put the kid in the 50% or the 75%, but lots of applicants with such scores will be rejected from every one of these schools.

A high test score will help at these TO schools:

WashU
Emory
Duke
Northwestern
Rice
Notre Dame
Michigan

Search for scoring rubric on here

Schools that value it will make test scores their own score and a higher percentage of pie

Check CDS for what they say about test scores: if “very important” then you know.

I think most schools should be called 'test preferred'. Unless you have strong hook or are FGLI, T10-20 will want to see scores at least as high as your DC's range.

For lower than T20, a 1540 will be more noticeable and may serve as a 'hook' for your kid.

Anonymous wrote:How would we know what is "really" in the minds of admissions

Was that a necessary post? You can’t figure this out? (And, clearly you didn’t, so best to stay silent).

What OP is seeking is info we may have heard from a school counselor, info session/tour, or to even piggy back on some online research.

For example, Auburn is test optional but admissions will tell you that an applicant has less than a 2% chance of being admitted without a test score. They also have a merit scholarship program where cutoffs are test scores and grades (info found on their website). You can extrapolate that a high test score helps a kid at Auburn but I wouldn’t have known that without talking to them.

That sort of info.

Anonymous wrote:I know there are schools that are truly test optional.

But I wonder if there's a list of schools that are TO but would prioritize an application with high test scores.

I can look at the CDS and see low numbers of kids submitting, but I dont know if this means that school truly doesnt care or would care a lot.

test score is 1540 so not insane but would be on higher end of a lot of averages. not looking at T10 colleges

Focus more on the other stuff.
These stats matter go get you to the table. What else is there?
They aren’t usually going back and being wowed by a test score in committee

your student should submit a 1540 SAT everywhere they are interested. that's a universally great score.

Anonymous wrote:I know there are schools that are truly test optional.

But I wonder if there's a list of schools that are TO but would prioritize an application with high test scores.

I can look at the CDS and see low numbers of kids submitting, but I dont know if this means that school truly doesnt care or would care a lot.

test score is 1540 so not insane but would be on higher end of a lot of averages. not looking at T10 colleges

Pretty much every top 30 school.

Here is a video that points out the truly test optional schools. The rest care.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHc5TrrWJho

There is no TO college where a 1540 won’t help you. UC’s are test blind, except Cal and UCLA take AP scores and love a wall of 5’s

Are you asking whether to submit a 1540? That’s an excellent score to be submitted everywhere.
Or are you asking if such a high score gives you a leg up at TO schools?

This is most places except some SLACs that were test optional pre-COVID

Most selective ones want those high scores to report. If they’re trying to keep their submitted percentage to at least 50%, they care. One clue is that they tell you not submit unless your score is higher than x. Eg, Northeastern. I think a high score is an advantage almost anywhere (even potentially test blind UCs if you report NMSF status).

How would we know what is "really" in the minds of admissions

I know there are schools that are truly test optional.

But I wonder if there's a list of schools that are TO but would prioritize an application with high test scores.

I can look at the CDS and see low numbers of kids submitting, but I dont know if this means that school truly doesnt care or would care a lot.

test score is 1540 so not insane but would be on higher end of a lot of averages. not looking at T10 colleges