Anonymous
Post 06/13/2026 22:47     Subject: Which T20 are still test optional?
Columbia College and Columbia Engineering are
returning to required standardized testing for all
first-year and transfer applicants, effective August 2027 for the 2027-2028
admissions cycle.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 18:02     Subject: Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:Education and art majors are a good TO pathway to Vandy among private school kids we know. Solid students but not top students/not highest rigor. But they had strong education- associated EC and good art portfolios. Most other private school kids admitted to vandy with more popular majors had very high test scores and strong leadership. Tufts bfa fine arts also an easier admit for TO. At our private, we were told washu, emory etc like to see test scores...

Emory yes, WashU is just like Vandy. Don't submit if under 1530.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 20:39     Subject: Re:Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:My kid applied to engineering at a TO school listed and no way did he/would he apply without submitting his SAT.


Agreed. A lot of idiot TO kids getting in. Luckily this is stopping at most top schools soon.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 18:14     Subject: Re:Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At which T20 schools should one apply TO if they are at the 25th percentile SAT? In other words, 1510-1520.

Obviously Vandy, but which others? Duke, Rice, Columbia, Princeton?


Is this person a musician or quarterback? If not, then TO is not actually meant for them


Mine got into Columbia, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt TO, and was neither of those things.
ORM girl.
Private high school.


A feeder high school is a hook you know


A private HS is not a hook for test-optional candidates. Come on.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 17:59     Subject: Re:Which T20 are still test optional?
My kid applied to engineering at a TO school listed and no way did he/would he apply without submitting his SAT.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 17:49     Subject: Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Both Northwestern and Vanderbilt not only have D1/competetive NCAA sports and top music schools, but they both also have top education schools.

It is unlikely either one goes back to being test required.


Vandy has around 40% TO admits while NU is closer to 20%. And Northwestern cares about composite scores, so it is better classified at test preferred.

Vandy is 50% TO


Sorry, I was being too charitable.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 17:42     Subject: Re:Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At which T20 schools should one apply TO if they are at the 25th percentile SAT? In other words, 1510-1520.

Obviously Vandy, but which others? Duke, Rice, Columbia, Princeton?
What major?
What’s the split?

A 1510 for Princeton engineering is read differently than a 1510 for Princeton classics.
That's actually less true at Princeton than just about anywhere else.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 17:11     Subject: Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Both Northwestern and Vanderbilt not only have D1/competetive NCAA sports and top music schools, but they both also have top education schools.

It is unlikely either one goes back to being test required.


Vandy has around 40% TO admits while NU is closer to 20%. And Northwestern cares about composite scores, so it is better classified at test preferred.

Vandy is 50% TO
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 16:12     Subject: Re:Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At which T20 schools should one apply TO if they are at the 25th percentile SAT? In other words, 1510-1520.

Obviously Vandy, but which others? Duke, Rice, Columbia, Princeton?


Is this person a musician or quarterback? If not, then TO is not actually meant for them


Mine got into Columbia, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt TO, and was neither of those things.
ORM girl.
Private high school.


A feeder high school is a hook you know
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 15:20     Subject: Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You should really assume test optional at T20 is for hooked only - first gen, legacy, faculty kids, athlete, kids from unpopulated states, super niche major, musician for band etc.

Once u take all of those kids out of the admitted student pool, how many spots do u realistically think are left for wealthy, white kids?


IDK, but can we continue this list but expand it to the top 50 ?

DD is a straight A student going into senior. But she’s not good at doing tests (especially math), and she hasn’t taken those AP or Honors classes because their too hard. What are good schools to fit her?


I think all private schools ranked 20-50 are test optional.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 15:14     Subject: Re:Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At which T20 schools should one apply TO if they are at the 25th percentile SAT? In other words, 1510-1520.

Obviously Vandy, but which others? Duke, Rice, Columbia, Princeton?


Is this person a musician or quarterback? If not, then TO is not actually meant for them


Mine got into Columbia, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt TO, and was neither of those things.
ORM girl.
Private high school.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 14:55     Subject: Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:You should really assume test optional at T20 is for hooked only - first gen, legacy, faculty kids, athlete, kids from unpopulated states, super niche major, musician for band etc.

Once u take all of those kids out of the admitted student pool, how many spots do u realistically think are left for wealthy, white kids?


IDK, but can we continue this list but expand it to the top 50 ?

DD is a straight A student going into senior. But she’s not good at doing tests (especially math), and she hasn’t taken those AP or Honors classes because their too hard. What are good schools to fit her?
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 14:51     Subject: Which T20 are still test optional?
Education and art majors are a good TO pathway to Vandy among private school kids we know. Solid students but not top students/not highest rigor. But they had strong education- associated EC and good art portfolios. Most other private school kids admitted to vandy with more popular majors had very high test scores and strong leadership. Tufts bfa fine arts also an easier admit for TO. At our private, we were told washu, emory etc like to see test scores...
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 13:38     Subject: Re:Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Princeton
Chicago
Duke
Northwestern
Columbia
UCLA (test blind)
UC Berkeley (test blind)
Vandy
Rice
Michigan
Notre Dame
Wash. U.
Emory
and the fine arts programs at CMU


What ranking are you referring to? If USNWR Emory is not Top 20


Yes, this was discussed on page 1.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2026 13:33     Subject: Re:Which T20 are still test optional?
Anonymous wrote:Princeton
Chicago
Duke
Northwestern
Columbia
UCLA (test blind)
UC Berkeley (test blind)
Vandy
Rice
Michigan
Notre Dame
Wash. U.
Emory
and the fine arts programs at CMU


What ranking are you referring to? If USNWR Emory is not Top 20