Anonymous
Post 10/26/2025 10:16     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At the top schools, the tide is very obviously moving away from TO for multiple reasons - college readiness (professors have been vocal in their complaints) as well as further scrutiny from the new administration.

There’s no longer an excuse to not sit for tests, the data points to their value in the admissions process, and no one is being fooled by omitting scores.

Sure some top schools are still TO but it’s pretty much exclusively for hooked applicants and athletes.


This. With a few exceptions (Vandy, not sure who else), schools want scores from upper middle class white kids.


These schools are truly TO according to our private IEC. Esp for non-STEM and non-business majors.

However, to work, every other piece of the application must be perfect. No red flags.

UChicago
JHU
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
UVA



[b]Define perfect



Hooked, obviously. That’s what TO exists at all.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2025 08:47     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Think it’s this list:

UChicago
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
USC
UVA
UNC

Think Emory and Rice still prefer tests.


My kid was told to submit to Michigan and USC with a 1400. But was advised test optional at the other schools on list.


Last cycle, mine got into Michigan and Vanderbilt test optional.



This cycle may be different?


Yes, it will be different for Michigan. Michigan really wants scores and if you are OOS they need to be high. Off the record discussion with admissions officer. I am the person that told everyone on here last spring that Michigan was moving to ED this year and no one believed me. Send scores if you are OOS!
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2025 01:21     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Think it’s this list:

UChicago
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
USC
UVA
UNC

Think Emory and Rice still prefer tests.


My kid was told to submit to Michigan and USC with a 1400. But was advised test optional at the other schools on list.


Last cycle, mine got into Michigan and Vanderbilt test optional.



This cycle may be different?
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2025 00:56     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Think it’s this list:

UChicago
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
USC
UVA
UNC

Think Emory and Rice still prefer tests.


My kid was told to submit to Michigan and USC with a 1400. But was advised test optional at the other schools on list.


1400 is low for Michigan unless in-state and 90 points below the 25th percentile for USC admitted students.

Anonymous
Post 10/26/2025 00:51     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At the top schools, the tide is very obviously moving away from TO for multiple reasons - college readiness (professors have been vocal in their complaints) as well as further scrutiny from the new administration.

There’s no longer an excuse to not sit for tests, the data points to their value in the admissions process, and no one is being fooled by omitting scores.

Sure some top schools are still TO but it’s pretty much exclusively for hooked applicants and athletes.


This. With a few exceptions (Vandy, not sure who else), schools want scores from upper middle class white kids.


These schools are truly TO according to our private IEC. Esp for non-STEM and non-business majors.

However, to work, every other piece of the application must be perfect. No red flags.

UChicago
JHU
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
UVA



For all its admissions games, UChicago still prefers tests unless from a trusted privateh feeder school, and JHU is now test required.

Notre Dame may be test optional but being Catholic is pretty much required.

UVA and Vanderbilt are subject to increased scrutiny from the current administration and might likely be less generous with their TO admissions this year.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2025 00:08     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At the top schools, the tide is very obviously moving away from TO for multiple reasons - college readiness (professors have been vocal in their complaints) as well as further scrutiny from the new administration.

There’s no longer an excuse to not sit for tests, the data points to their value in the admissions process, and no one is being fooled by omitting scores.

Sure some top schools are still TO but it’s pretty much exclusively for hooked applicants and athletes.


This. With a few exceptions (Vandy, not sure who else), schools want scores from upper middle class white kids.


These schools are truly TO according to our private IEC. Esp for non-STEM and non-business majors.

However, to work, every other piece of the application must be perfect. No red flags.

UChicago
JHU
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
UVA



Sorry not JHU. That was an old list.


Not UVA or Notre Dame
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2025 23:12     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Think it’s this list:

UChicago
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
USC
UVA
UNC

Think Emory and Rice still prefer tests.


My kid was told to submit to Michigan and USC with a 1400. But was advised test optional at the other schools on list.


What was the results/outcome?


Current applicant
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2025 22:30     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At the top schools, the tide is very obviously moving away from TO for multiple reasons - college readiness (professors have been vocal in their complaints) as well as further scrutiny from the new administration.

There’s no longer an excuse to not sit for tests, the data points to their value in the admissions process, and no one is being fooled by omitting scores.

Sure some top schools are still TO but it’s pretty much exclusively for hooked applicants and athletes.


This. With a few exceptions (Vandy, not sure who else), schools want scores from upper middle class white kids.


These schools are truly TO according to our private IEC. Esp for non-STEM and non-business majors.

However, to work, every other piece of the application must be perfect. No red flags.

UChicago
JHU
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
UVA



Define perfect
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2025 22:26     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Think it’s this list:

UChicago
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
USC
UVA
UNC

Think Emory and Rice still prefer tests.


My kid was told to submit to Michigan and USC with a 1400. But was advised test optional at the other schools on list.


Last cycle, mine got into Michigan and Vanderbilt test optional.

Anonymous
Post 10/25/2025 21:58     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:What top school(s) (let’s say top 50) did your student get into applying test optional? What were their other stats and ECs like? What do you think gave them the edge in the AC’s eyes?


Wash U
UCLA
Wisconsin
Northeastern
Ohio State
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2025 21:39     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:Think it’s this list:

UChicago
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
USC
UVA
UNC

Think Emory and Rice still prefer tests.


Our counselor said UNC and ND are definitely test preferred for non-athletes/ non-FGLI.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2025 21:29     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Think it’s this list:

UChicago
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
USC
UVA
UNC

Think Emory and Rice still prefer tests.


My kid was told to submit to Michigan and USC with a 1400. But was advised test optional at the other schools on list.


What was the results/outcome?
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2025 21:26     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Anonymous wrote:Think it’s this list:

UChicago
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
USC
UVA
UNC

Think Emory and Rice still prefer tests.


My kid was told to submit to Michigan and USC with a 1400. But was advised test optional at the other schools on list.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2025 21:00     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
TO needs to go away.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2025 19:14     Subject: Acceptances to Top Schools Applying Test Optional
Think it’s this list:

UChicago
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Michigan
UCLA
Cal
WashU
USC
UVA
UNC

Think Emory and Rice still prefer tests.