Anonymous
Post 03/09/2025 08:35     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:In UVA meeting today they talked about potential to have SOL scores be sent- so ACT, SAT or AP/IB scores and SOL…. I am sure the third party tutors companies would love another thing to get $$$ for- but doesn’t that just create the same problem they say want to solve- that some kids get prepped and others don’t. Or is the idea coming up because some VA schools don’t have AP so would need other options beyond SAT/ACT?



SOLs shouldn’t be a reason to share.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2025 05:49     Subject: Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
So if a student doesn’t submit test score, its obvious they did less than 1500, and if everything else is great, rigor gpa etc they are at a disadvantage, cause than the college knows kid didnt do good in SAT?
ie, less chance of getting in?
Honest question… wondering the logic behind test optional.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2025 13:55     Subject: Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sooooo. No decision.


Test optional for at least one more year.


Which many expected.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2025 12:32     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wild to have 40% of enrolled class to have done TO and if the case, the test scores will just keep going higher as only the 1500s will want to submit


The 1500s that got accepted probably got accepted elsewhere and may have chosen a different school to attend. So the scores will not necessarily go up.

Students should be required to submit AP exam scores if they take the course. Getting an A in the class but an AP score of 2 or 3 doesn’t validate the A in the class or the rigor. College stem classes are nothing but exams, gotta do well to pass/succeed.



In Board meeting they said 75th percentile was 1540 - yes they go up


For which class?
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 18:28     Subject: Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:I think they should make hs mandatory course offering for sat or act prep I know many foreign private schools have gone that route So students prep during school curriculum.

As pp said, get out of the NOVA bubble. There are schools that can’t even offer calculus. You think they can handle SAT test prep?
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 17:24     Subject: Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
I think they should make hs mandatory course offering for sat or act prep I know many foreign private schools have gone that route So students prep during school curriculum.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 16:11     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
In UVA meeting today they talked about potential to have SOL scores be sent- so ACT, SAT or AP/IB scores and SOL…. I am sure the third party tutors companies would love another thing to get $$$ for- but doesn’t that just create the same problem they say want to solve- that some kids get prepped and others don’t. Or is the idea coming up because some VA schools don’t have AP so would need other options beyond SAT/ACT?
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 15:39     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wild to have 40% of enrolled class to have done TO and if the case, the test scores will just keep going higher as only the 1500s will want to submit


Girl in my daughter’s school got into Cornell TO last year. Couldn’t crack 1300.


I see this happen often. Colleges like TO policy because it allows them admit less academic students.


We were told by an admissions counselor that test scores are indicative of success during the first year of college,e but grades are more indicative of success overall in college. Thoughts?


That kind of makes sense to me for many students. First year classes tend to be larger and weeder/test heavy. Depending on your major, the classes may get smaller and less test intensive as you progress. Kids who may not test well may be very hard workers or be stronger in essays/ projects so they tend to do better as the emphasis on tests decreases.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 15:25     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:For those that watched today, who was the other guy talking, sitting to the left of VP Provost (Farmer) during the Admissions-Test Optional part of meeting?

https://batten.virginia.edu/people/benjamin-castleman
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 15:25     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:For those that watched today, who was the other guy talking, sitting to the left of VP Provost (Farmer) during the Admissions-Test Optional part of meeting?


Ben Castleman, professor of public policy at Batten
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 15:24     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:For those that watched today, who was the other guy talking, sitting to the left of VP Provost (Farmer) during the Admissions-Test Optional part of meeting?


Ben Castleman, a prof who helped with the analysis
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 15:22     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
For those that watched today, who was the other guy talking, sitting to the left of VP Provost (Farmer) during the Admissions-Test Optional part of meeting?
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 15:19     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wild to have 40% of enrolled class to have done TO and if the case, the test scores will just keep going higher as only the 1500s will want to submit


The 1500s that got accepted probably got accepted elsewhere and may have chosen a different school to attend. So the scores will not necessarily go up.

Students should be required to submit AP exam scores if they take the course. Getting an A in the class but an AP score of 2 or 3 doesn’t validate the A in the class or the rigor. College stem classes are nothing but exams, gotta do well to pass/succeed.



In Board meeting they said 75th percentile was 1540 - yes they go up
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 15:18     Subject: Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Anonymous wrote:Sooooo. No decision.


No, the decisions is test optional for another year so guess the panic parent in threads above can now rest easy
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2025 15:17     Subject: Re:Test Optional Policy at UVA in Fall of 2026
Test optional it remains for now says Ryan as they send the admissions folks back to do more study