Anonymous
02/11/2026 20:18
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
Anonymous wrote:there is about 3.5 million graduating seniors .. of which 60% go to 4yr universities which is about 2.1 million kids. top 99th percentile in test scores ... say 1530 ish SAT, that would make it 21k kids. top 98th percentile (2% of kids) equals 42k students ... plenty to fill T25
So you think most students who score in top 2% on SAT end up at T25?
Anonymous
02/11/2026 15:17
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Huh? Why would they care about score declines?
All colleges care about the average scores or mid 50% range they report to the public It affects their prestige and ranking. The ones like Princeton that has been TO and also accepting a lot more LIFG than before and continue to accept athletes will be most affected. Once they have to disclose scores for every admitted student, their average will drop like rocks.
Highly selective colleges get high scoring applicants all the time, in fact they reject a large number of 1600 every year. There is no deficit of high scorers at places like Penn, Hopkins, or MIT. A high score without more isn't moving the needle. I just don't understand how your logic works. It's very one dimensional.
there actually isnt that many 1550+ with all 5s and leadership EC and published research--its much more rare than you think, my kid got into all ea which we were baffled by, for engineering, maybe being wf was hook but i think it was the high test numbers and then many social leadership ecs--kids in her school had either the numbers or the social part--none with both--now we will see if she gets in to private or ivy-she lacks awards and an art hook-which the art hook is a big minus for ivy
There is actually plenty of kids like that in the realm of college admissions. How many 1550 plus kids get low AP scores? They are great candidates but not super unique. If you want to really narrow the pool you need to add a desired but not correlated variable like being a recruited athlete.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 14:02
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Huh? Why would they care about score declines?
All colleges care about the average scores or mid 50% range they report to the public It affects their prestige and ranking. The ones like Princeton that has been TO and also accepting a lot more LIFG than before and continue to accept athletes will be most affected. Once they have to disclose scores for every admitted student, their average will drop like rocks.
Highly selective colleges get high scoring applicants all the time, in fact they reject a large number of 1600 every year. There is no deficit of high scorers at places like Penn, Hopkins, or MIT. A high score without more isn't moving the needle. I just don't understand how your logic works. It's very one dimensional.
there actually isnt that many 1550+ with all 5s and leadership EC and published research--its much more rare than you think, my kid got into all ea which we were baffled by, for engineering, maybe being wf was hook but i think it was the high test numbers and then many social leadership ecs--kids in her school had either the numbers or the social part--none with both--now we will see if she gets in to private or ivy-she lacks awards and an art hook-which the art hook is a big minus for ivy
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:54
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Huh? Why would they care about score declines?
All colleges care about the average scores or mid 50% range they report to the public It affects their prestige and ranking. The ones like Princeton that has been TO and also accepting a lot more LIFG than before and continue to accept athletes will be most affected. Once they have to disclose scores for every admitted student, their average will drop like rocks.
Highly selective colleges get high scoring applicants all the time, in fact they reject a large number of 1600 every year. There is no deficit of high scorers at places like Penn, Hopkins, or MIT. A high score without more isn't moving the needle. I just don't understand how your logic works. It's very one dimensional.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:38
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
Anonymous wrote:Huh? Why would they care about score declines?
All colleges care about the average scores or mid 50% range they report to the public It affects their prestige and ranking. The ones like Princeton that has been TO and also accepting a lot more LIFG than before and continue to accept athletes will be most affected. Once they have to disclose scores for every admitted student, their average will drop like rocks.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 13:31
Subject: Re:Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
UPenn went to test required this cycle.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 11:53
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Who has been most affected by budget/funding cuts?
Which colleges are most at risk of dramatic score decline after ending test optional?
The only ones that are marginally affected by what you described are the ones receiving huge amount of federal funding and are test required.
The only one fits the bill appears to be Johns Hopkins.
Emory too. They have been desparate about high test scores for a while.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 11:51
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
*Should have clarified that I was referring to public universities.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 11:50
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
I think more and more of the higher ranked schools will move away from test optional. It will temporarily reduce their average scores but probably strengthen rankings (and outcomes and student quality) over time.
I expect UVA, Michigan, Wisconsin and UNC to requires tests by '28 and possibly '27. There are anecdotal reports that the heavily favored applicants who reported scores this year, but that will presumably be quantified in the CDS.
I expect UVA, Michigan, Wisconsin and UNC to requires tests by '28 and possibly '27. There are anecdotal reports that the heavily favored applicants who reported scores this year, but that will presumably be quantified in the CDS.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 11:46
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
Anonymous wrote:Who has been most affected by budget/funding cuts?
Which colleges are most at risk of dramatic score decline after ending test optional?
The only ones that are marginally affected by what you described are the ones receiving huge amount of federal funding and are test required.
The only one fits the bill appears to be Johns Hopkins.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 11:37
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
The ones that are test optional will remain as such as it suits them both financially and in manipulation of their appeared selectivity. So, none.
Anonymous
02/11/2026 11:35
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
huh?
Anonymous
02/11/2026 11:30
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
there is about 3.5 million graduating seniors .. of which 60% go to 4yr universities which is about 2.1 million kids. top 99th percentile in test scores ... say 1530 ish SAT, that would make it 21k kids. top 98th percentile (2% of kids) equals 42k students ... plenty to fill T25
Anonymous
02/11/2026 11:26
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
Huh? Why would they care about score declines?
Anonymous
02/11/2026 11:24
Subject: Which T25 colleges may be most sensitive to higher SAT/ACT and full pay in the next 2 cycles?
Who has been most affected by budget/funding cuts?
Which colleges are most at risk of dramatic score decline after ending test optional?
Which colleges are most at risk of dramatic score decline after ending test optional?