To Test or Not to Test
According to FairTest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, (http://fairtest.org/) more than 1580 colleges and universities plan to remain test-optional for Fall 2022 applicants.
There are pros and cons for not submitting test scores, just as there are reasons for submitting them. For example, some schools still consider test scores as an important factor when making merit aid/scholarship decisions. When applying to schools, students should be aware of a college or university’s aid policies especially if they are hoping to be considered for this type of financial award.
As a general rule, if a student is planning to apply to a school that is considered ‘highly selective’ (accepts less than 15% of its applicants) they should include test scores if they fall at or above the 25th percentile of the school’s SAT/ACT median score range. Generally, this means a composite ACT score of 30 and an SAT score of at least 1370. For extremely selective schools that accept less than 35% of their applicants, the average composite ACT score is slightly less at 29 with SAT scores also slightly less at 1340. (College Transitions)
Examples of ‘most selective’ schools that accept less than 15% of their applicants include Duke, Dartmouth, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Rice, Vanderbilt, and Yale. Examples of ‘extremely selective’ schools include Davidson, Georgia Tech, Tulane, UCLA, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, and Wake Forest.
The primary reason for including test scores to most and extremely selective schools is that all applicants are likely to be exceptional students in academics and activities and have challenged themselves in both areas. Test scores, even when listed as optional, can be another gauge that college admissions officers will use to determine if a student can be academically successful at their school.
When a student decides not to submit test scores, they should be aware of that colleges will need to put more emphasis on other sections of their applications such as the essay and personal statements so they can determine if a student will be a good fit for their school. This means students need to choose their essay topic wisely, and write in a manner that can convey a strong sense of who they are and how their mind works, often in 650 words or less.
Making the important decision to ‘test or not to test, to submit or not submit’ should not be left to a student to figure out on their own. Acuity College Counseling offers a special service that will help seniors take a holistic view of their applications to determine if they should send their scores into all, some, or none of the schools. During this review, Acuity can also help a student prioritize and list their activities so their interests and achievements are clear, providing yet another window into who they are and what they will bring to campus. And, if a student is struggling to select the ‘right’ essay topic and jumpstart their writing, Acuity can help with that, too.
If a student is planning to take the SAT or the ACT for the first time or as a repeat, they should mark their calendars with both registration deadlines and test dates from the College Board and the ACT. (See links below.) Students should also familiarize themselves with COVID protocols for each organization and be prepared on test day if they need to wear a mask or protective face covering.
If you have any questions related to submitting test scores, how to populate the activities section of an application, or selecting the most appropriate essay topic, please contact Jeanne Wilton at jeanne@acuitycc.com to set up a time for a consultation.
NEXT TEST DATES
The next SAT will be offered on Saturday, August 28th and the registration deadline is July 30: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines
The next ACT will be on September 11, with a registration deadline of August 6: https://act.org/content/act/en/register-for-the-act.html
