They should "go" test optional, that's for damn sure!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better to have a low test score than a GPA lower than 3.75UW. They say our kids shouldn't stress about grades -- then they make it ALL about grades. You can't have a bad day or a bad year because your 1500 SAT won't make up for those Bs even if was in AP classes.

This is why TO should go away. Someone who has a UW3.6 but took high rigor classes and gets a 1560 on SAT belongs in a elite college, someone who has a UW4.0 but took easier classes , or has grade inflation, and gets a 1290 does not.

Says who? We see your bias, but it doesn't make it so.

Anonymous wrote:Better to have a low test score than a GPA lower than 3.75UW. They say our kids shouldn't stress about grades -- then they make it ALL about grades. You can't have a bad day or a bad year because your 1500 SAT won't make up for those Bs even if was in AP classes.

This is why TO should go away. Someone who has a UW3.6 but took high rigor classes and gets a 1560 on SAT belongs in a elite college, someone who has a UW4.0 but took easier classes , or has grade inflation, and gets a 1290 does not.

William and Mary.

Better to have a low test score than a GPA lower than 3.75UW. They say our kids shouldn't stress about grades -- then they make it ALL about grades. You can't have a bad day or a bad year because your 1500 SAT won't make up for those Bs even if was in AP classes.

Both of my kids had below 1400 SAT. One is at University of Miami in Florida, the other at Davidson, both test optional.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they happy? Where did they apply and get in/not get in? Merit anywhere?

In at UVA, UCSD, UCSB - offered significant merit at two 'Likely' schools.

Just to be clear...UCSD and UCSB are test blind. You can't even submit your scores if you tried.

DD had a 1300. She is a senior at UMD. It was a reach when she applied and I know it’s harder now so perhaps not relevant. But she applied to I think 10 schools and was accepted to all including a lot of small private schools with merit aid, plus Miami of Ohio. So under 1400 isn’t the end of the world. Her brother struggles with paralyzing anxiety on standardized tests and I expect him to top out at 1200 though his goal is 1300. He is considering the non- flagship UNC campuses, Miami of Ohio, Towson, JMU and WVU so far. He is hoping to go TO where possible.

CS at UMBC
1280 SAT, 3.0 gpa (unweighted)

UVA does tend to be a bit more forgiving with the test scores than other simliarly ranked schools. So I would give UVA a shot.

One at Syracuse, one at Delaware

My niece had 1290 I think or something around that. She is going to Rhodes college in Memphis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they happy? Where did they apply and get in/not get in? Merit anywhere?

In at UVA, UCSD, UCSB - offered significant merit at two 'Likely' schools.

My ds is considering all of these. Any merit at them? What were grades and score?

GPA and SAT don't always correlate. A lot depends on how your school grades.

My DS had a 1380 and is at UVA, yes a couple of years ago, but it was "low" then too. Super high GPA and class rank.