DC

BASIS SCHOOL 1
GEORGETOWN DAY SCHOOL 1
GONZAGA COLLEGE H. S. 1
MARET SCHOOL 1
NATIONAL CATHEDRAL SCHOOL 2
* SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS 5
SIDWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL 8
ST. ALBANS SCHOOL 5 (!)
ST. ANSELM'S ABBEY SCHOOL 1
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE H. S. 2
WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 1
* WOODROW WILSON H. S. 3 (!)

* indicates public.

Note that the numbers for DC schools are much smaller because the local score required to be a semifinalist is very high. I'd love to see data for commended students (score required for this does not vary by location) but the college board keeps that under an even tighter lock.

I poked around and turned up the local lists, basically because they are so handy when arguing on DCUM.

Virginia:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1587n_owua3YWjsM1ojya7_SBaQPiqeKX/view

Washington, DC:

https://dpaste.org/dyJLS/raw

Maryland:

https://web.archive.org/web/20230913233627if_/https://litter.catbox.moe/ftekdo.pdf

West Virginia:

https://web.archive.org/web/20230917051359if_/https://litter.catbox.moe/m1nd3x.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids/schools prepare for the PSAT now that almost every college is test optional. And that also means the NMSF designation will become even less relevant.

It’s only helpful for attending off-the-run colleges on scholarship. They’ll start emailing you brochures asap.

Exactly. It’s becoming obsolete.

Not so much obsolete as déclassé.

No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Incorrect. The following colleges require the SAT or ACT in 2023-24:

MIT
Georgia Tech
UGA
All Florida public universities (including the University of Florida and FSU)
Georgetown University
University of Tennessee
Purdue (unless an applicant is unable to take the test)

“No matter what schools like Penn tell you, students with great scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who do not submit scores," Taylor said.”

https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

Wow. You are right. The vast majority of colleges require scores. Oh, wait. I just checked. It's less than 20%.

Maybe schools will decide to go back to testing eventually, but for the current crop of high school students, it's really meaningless. Especially the SAT. You really think most high school students aren't thinking to themselves about how they don't have to worry about the SAT or ACT? Even if they plan to take them, they are aware they have an out. Doesn't have the same importance that it once did.

For those in the cheap seats, like you:

“No matter what schools like Penn tell you, students with great scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who do not submit scores," Taylor said.”

https://www.thedp.com/art...admissions

Your link doesn’t work. But after I googled the quote, I laughed when I saw the person who said it. The director of a college counseling service? Someone who sells test prep? Yeah, those of us in the “cheap seats” are apparently better able to smell bull than you, my oh so smart and elite friend.

Good luck to your child applying test optional. You’ll find out what some of us already know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids/schools prepare for the PSAT now that almost every college is test optional. And that also means the NMSF designation will become even less relevant.

It’s only helpful for attending off-the-run colleges on scholarship. They’ll start emailing you brochures asap.

Exactly. It’s becoming obsolete.

Not so much obsolete as déclassé.

No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Incorrect. The following colleges require the SAT or ACT in 2023-24:

MIT
Georgia Tech
UGA
All Florida public universities (including the University of Florida and FSU)
Georgetown University
University of Tennessee
Purdue (unless an applicant is unable to take the test)

“No matter what schools like Penn tell you, students with great scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who do not submit scores," Taylor said.”

https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

Wow. You are right. The vast majority of colleges require scores. Oh, wait. I just checked. It's less than 20%.

Maybe schools will decide to go back to testing eventually, but for the current crop of high school students, it's really meaningless. Especially the SAT. You really think most high school students aren't thinking to themselves about how they don't have to worry about the SAT or ACT? Even if they plan to take them, they are aware they have an out. Doesn't have the same importance that it once did.

For those in the cheap seats, like you:

“No matter what schools like Penn tell you, students with great scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who do not submit scores," Taylor said.”

https://www.thedp.com/art...admissions

Your link doesn’t work. But after I googled the quote, I laughed when I saw the person who said it. The director of a college counseling service? Someone who sells test prep? Yeah, those of us in the “cheap seats” are apparently better able to smell bull than you, my oh so smart and elite friend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids/schools prepare for the PSAT now that almost every college is test optional. And that also means the NMSF designation will become even less relevant.

It’s only helpful for attending off-the-run colleges on scholarship. They’ll start emailing you brochures asap.

Exactly. It’s becoming obsolete.

Not so much obsolete as déclassé.

No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Incorrect. The following colleges require the SAT or ACT in 2023-24:

MIT
Georgia Tech
UGA
All Florida public universities (including the University of Florida and FSU)
Georgetown University
University of Tennessee
Purdue (unless an applicant is unable to take the test)

“No matter what schools like Penn tell you, students with great scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who do not submit scores," Taylor said.”

https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

Wow. You are right. The vast majority of colleges require scores. Oh, wait. I just checked. It's less than 20%.

Maybe schools will decide to go back to testing eventually, but for the current crop of high school students, it's really meaningless. Especially the SAT. You really think most high school students aren't thinking to themselves about how they don't have to worry about the SAT or ACT? Even if they plan to take them, they are aware they have an out. Doesn't have the same importance that it once did.

Just because something isn’t required doesn’t mean that it’s not important. Many colleges don’t require 4 years of math, science, or foreign language. However, students who apply with only 3 years of a given subject place themselves at a competitive disadvantage.

Any student applying test optional to highly selective universities better have an otherwise stellar application.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids/schools prepare for the PSAT now that almost every college is test optional. And that also means the NMSF designation will become even less relevant.

It’s only helpful for attending off-the-run colleges on scholarship. They’ll start emailing you brochures asap.

Exactly. It’s becoming obsolete.

Not so much obsolete as déclassé.

No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Incorrect. The following colleges require the SAT or ACT in 2023-24:

MIT
Georgia Tech
UGA
All Florida public universities (including the University of Florida and FSU)
Georgetown University
University of Tennessee
Purdue (unless an applicant is unable to take the test)

“No matter what schools like Penn tell you, students with great scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who do not submit scores," Taylor said.”

https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

Wow. You are right. The vast majority of colleges require scores. Oh, wait. I just checked. It's less than 20%.

Maybe schools will decide to go back to testing eventually, but for the current crop of high school students, it's really meaningless. Especially the SAT. You really think most high school students aren't thinking to themselves about how they don't have to worry about the SAT or ACT? Even if they plan to take them, they are aware they have an out. Doesn't have the same importance that it once did.

For those in the cheap seats, like you:

“No matter what schools like Penn tell you, students with great scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who do not submit scores," Taylor said.”

https://www.thedp.com/art...admissions

I'm not talking about NMSC, but private corporations and their foundations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Not even the students from non-upper class families who can earn tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships for being a National Merit semifinalist or finalist?

$2500. Where are you getting this tens of thousands?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids/schools prepare for the PSAT now that almost every college is test optional. And that also means the NMSF designation will become even less relevant.

It’s only helpful for attending off-the-run colleges on scholarship. They’ll start emailing you brochures asap.

Exactly. It’s becoming obsolete.

Not so much obsolete as déclassé.

No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Incorrect. The following colleges require the SAT or ACT in 2023-24:

MIT
Georgia Tech
UGA
All Florida public universities (including the University of Florida and FSU)
Georgetown University
University of Tennessee
Purdue (unless an applicant is unable to take the test)

“No matter what schools like Penn tell you, students with great scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who do not submit scores," Taylor said.”

https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

Wow. You are right. The vast majority of colleges require scores. Oh, wait. I just checked. It's less than 20%.

Maybe schools will decide to go back to testing eventually, but for the current crop of high school students, it's really meaningless. Especially the SAT. You really think most high school students aren't thinking to themselves about how they don't have to worry about the SAT or ACT? Even if they plan to take them, they are aware they have an out. Doesn't have the same importance that it once did.

Anonymous wrote:No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Not even the students from non-upper class families who can earn tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships for being a National Merit semifinalist or finalist?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids/schools prepare for the PSAT now that almost every college is test optional. And that also means the NMSF designation will become even less relevant.

It’s only helpful for attending off-the-run colleges on scholarship. They’ll start emailing you brochures asap.

Exactly. It’s becoming obsolete.

Not so much obsolete as déclassé.

No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Incorrect. The following colleges require the SAT or ACT in 2023-24:

MIT
Georgia Tech
UGA
All Florida public universities (including the University of Florida and FSU)
Georgetown University
University of Tennessee
Purdue (unless an applicant is unable to take the test)

“No matter what schools like Penn tell you, students with great scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who do not submit scores," Taylor said.”

https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids/schools prepare for the PSAT now that almost every college is test optional. And that also means the NMSF designation will become even less relevant.

It’s only helpful for attending off-the-run colleges on scholarship. They’ll start emailing you brochures asap.

Exactly. It’s becoming obsolete.

Not so much obsolete as déclassé.

No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Ok, sure. You go ahead and believe that.

Then why is it some schools have gone back to mandatory scores? Because it shows a basic level of aptitude! https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/we-are-reinstating-our-sat-act-requirement-for-future-admissions-cycles/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids/schools prepare for the PSAT now that almost every college is test optional. And that also means the NMSF designation will become even less relevant.

It’s only helpful for attending off-the-run colleges on scholarship. They’ll start emailing you brochures asap.

Exactly. It’s becoming obsolete.

Not so much obsolete as déclassé.

No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Ok, sure. You go ahead and believe that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids/schools prepare for the PSAT now that almost every college is test optional. And that also means the NMSF designation will become even less relevant.

It’s only helpful for attending off-the-run colleges on scholarship. They’ll start emailing you brochures asap.

Exactly. It’s becoming obsolete.

Not so much obsolete as déclassé.

No, definitely obsolete. In a test optional world, the SAT and PSAT no longer hold meaning for any student regardless of class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems to be a school that tries to reduce the level of cutthroat competitiveness among students

Oh really?
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/legacy/posts/list/1142902.page

The majority of the posts that say Sidwell was cutthroat come from students (now adults) who attended in the 90s and early 2000s. I think we can all agree that things can change and evolve in a span of 20 to 30 years.