TO is typical of well-meaning-hyper-empathetic people trying to level the playing field but in the process making a mess of what little structure there was in a complicated & confusing process.

Now nobody knows what the hell is going on even though some people claim they do.

What used to be a gate change at Dulles now looks like the last flight out of Afghanistan. The most you can do is pray that it’s not your kid clinging to the landing gear as it’s being retracted. BRING BACK REQUIRED TESTING!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of full pay white kids get accepted TO. They just won't disclose it here in DCUM.

40% plus don't submit scores anymore. Not all of them are URMs.

I know of at least one the last cycle. Others have reported examples on other threads. TO is real. But people really want to believe it isn't. I'm not sure why.

Because the schools release next to no data on test optional admissions, and it’s wide spread adoption is highly correlated to big increases in the admissions rates of urm (will be replaced by low income) and first gen students.

Out high school keeps this data in SCOIR. So at least for our HS I can see who got in TO. I can tell you at top 20s virtually nobody.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of full pay white kids get accepted TO. They just won't disclose it here in DCUM.

40% plus don't submit scores anymore. Not all of them are URMs.

I know of at least one the last cycle. Others have reported examples on other threads. TO is real. But people really want to believe it isn't. I'm not sure why.

Because the schools release next to no data on test optional admissions, and it’s wide spread adoption is highly correlated to big increases in the admissions rates of urm (will be replaced by low income) and first gen students.

Yes. So if you are a middle class-UMC and not first gen- scores matter for you. Test optional is not for you- admitting you isn’t helping their numbers/DEI. They have plenty of non-URM/non first gen with exceptional test scores, exceptional grades AND ECs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of full pay white kids get accepted TO. They just won't disclose it here in DCUM.

40% plus don't submit scores anymore. Not all of them are URMs.

I know of at least one the last cycle. Others have reported examples on other threads. TO is real. But people really want to believe it isn't. I'm not sure why.

Because the schools release next to no data on test optional admissions, and it’s wide spread adoption is highly correlated to big increases in the admissions rates of urm (will be replaced by low income) and first gen students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of full pay white kids get accepted TO. They just won't disclose it here in DCUM.

40% plus don't submit scores anymore. Not all of them are URMs.

I know of at least one the last cycle. Others have reported examples on other threads. TO is real. But people really want to believe it isn't. I'm not sure why.

Their kid worked like a dog for that 1550, it’s supposed to be the golden ticket, how could it be that it just doesn’t matter?

Bc if all they got to show for the last four years, is that score & a 4.0, and nothing truly interesting, unique or compelling, then sorry - you’re boring kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of full pay white kids get accepted TO. They just won't disclose it here in DCUM.

40% plus don't submit scores anymore. Not all of them are URMs.

I know of at least one the last cycle. Others have reported examples on other threads. TO is real. But people really want to believe it isn't. I'm not sure why.

Their kid worked like a dog for that 1550, it’s supposed to be the golden ticket, how could it be that it just doesn’t matter?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think like an admissions person. What would make you take a kid with no scores, when you have a deluge of similar applicants who did submit and can also raise your institution’s average score? The non-submitter has to have something rare or hard to find that the school needs.

Or…you can take a TO candidate who is a great fit for your institution and have it make no impact on your average score in either direction.

That's what pp stated.

No. The PP is saying
AO: no test. Musta been an 1100. Deny

Vs what other is saying
AO. I like this kid. Impressive. And I don’t have to worry about some test score or how it impacts our data. Accept

AO- We reject 95% of applicants, prove to me you shouldn't be one of them.
This is much harder to do without a test score.

It’s this.

I don’t understand why people don’t get this, but for those of you still confused, you need to read this over and over

If you are actually distinguished and different from a generic suburban “high achiever” you don’t need the test score and that’s the student they are actually looking for.

It’s not the grades, it’s not the SAT, it’s being able to demonstrate you are interesting and accomplished without those things.

If you say “that’s impossible” you’re not the guy they are looking for.

^ yes if your school is good about data you can see all the stats for yourself

Our class has about 250 students per grade so more manageable than if the HS is mammoth.

I just set SCOIR for class 2022-2023 and looked at all acceptances at some of the top 10 colleges for our HS. I only looked at about 4-5 universities so far and for the last two years none of those accepted were test optional. They all submitted good scores. Plenty of high GPA and no score/TO applicants rejected. I think the tide is turning back.

Anonymous wrote:that sentence is confusing.

it could read, we reject 95% of the applicants, give me a reason to put you in the 95% pile. Okay, that 1500 does that.

this is only for the very top 10 schools. after that, 1500 goes in.

in theory, I think most DCUM kids will submit there schools to 10 out of the 12 on their list and not submit it to 2 out of 10.

Not my senior. Decided to go test optional a while ago. No scores to submit. Top 5% in the class, great leadership, recs, essays. Not the norm but more common than most on here would think.

Anonymous wrote:A lot of full pay white kids get accepted TO. They just won't disclose it here in DCUM.

40% plus don't submit scores anymore. Not all of them are URMs.

I know of at least one the last cycle. Others have reported examples on other threads. TO is real. But people really want to believe it isn't. I'm not sure why.

A lot of full pay white kids get accepted TO. They just won't disclose it here in DCUM.

40% plus don't submit scores anymore. Not all of them are URMs.

that sentence is confusing.

it could read, we reject 95% of the applicants, give me a reason to put you in the 95% pile. Okay, that 1500 does that.

this is only for the very top 10 schools. after that, 1500 goes in.

in theory, I think most DCUM kids will submit there schools to 10 out of the 12 on their list and not submit it to 2 out of 10.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think like an admissions person. What would make you take a kid with no scores, when you have a deluge of similar applicants who did submit and can also raise your institution’s average score? The non-submitter has to have something rare or hard to find that the school needs.

Or…you can take a TO candidate who is a great fit for your institution and have it make no impact on your average score in either direction.

That's what pp stated.

No. The PP is saying
AO: no test. Musta been an 1100. Deny

Vs what other is saying
AO. I like this kid. Impressive. And I don’t have to worry about some test score or how it impacts our data. Accept

AO- We reject 95% of applicants, prove to me you shouldn't be one of them.
This is much harder to do without a test score.

It’s this.

I don’t understand why people don’t get this, but for those of you still confused, you need to read this over and over

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think like an admissions person. What would make you take a kid with no scores, when you have a deluge of similar applicants who did submit and can also raise your institution’s average score? The non-submitter has to have something rare or hard to find that the school needs.

Or…you can take a TO candidate who is a great fit for your institution and have it make no impact on your average score in either direction.

That's what pp stated.

No. The PP is saying
AO: no test. Musta been an 1100. Deny

Vs what other is saying
AO. I like this kid. Impressive. And I don’t have to worry about some test score or how it impacts our data. Accept

AO- We reject 95% of applicants, prove to me you shouldn't be one of them.
This is much harder to do without a test score.