the answer to every question i’ve ever been asked about test-optional and test-free

(will Be updated over time)

Test-Optional and Test-Free Question and Answers (Includes where to find a test-optional list for 2022)

Last Updated 10/28/2022

The Basics

What does test-optional mean

It means the college/university is giving a student the option to decide if the ACT/SAT score reflects who he/she/they is/are and whether to include the score as a part of their academic profile. Alternatively, the student can decide they do not want it to be a part of the admissions process.

The way I explain it is it kind of like deciding whether to take that advanced credit class or to do a particular extracurricular. While some may have decided “this is a valuable activity and therefore it is worth the time” others took into consideration “will this look good for college admissions” when deciding. Operating under the “this is a valuable activity and therefore it is worth the time” model, decide whether the ACT/SAT is a valuable activity and worthy of the time commitment. Operating under the “will this look good for college admissions” model then decide if scores make the student look good.

Ask “is this test score a good reflection on the student” and “does this score put this student in the best light”

Of note: I never recommend a student do anything for the sake of college admissions. Especially since the student could commit time to an activity, not enjoy it, and never get into the “dream college.” The same rule applies to the ACT/SAT. A student could get a perfect score and never get in.

What does test-free/test-blind mean

It means the student cannot submit test scores, at all. Ever. The scores will not be considered even if sent. I prefer to say test-free. When I say test-free, it can also include a college/university that calls itself “test-blind.”

What’s the difference between test-Blind aka Test-free and Test-Optional

The difference is test-optional allows you to submit your SAT and ACT scores and Test-Blind or Test-Free colleges do not even let you submit them.

Where is a reliable test-optional list for 2022 and beyond

Fairtest.org

This is who I use. You can also search Common App to see what schools are test-optional. Thank you to my friend Anna Ivey for letting me know this. You go into common app and filter to see who is test-optional and who requires tests.

THE “GOOD-TEST TAKER”

My Student is not a “Good Test-Taker” should….take the ACT/SAT?

Let’s be completely honest with one another from the start. No one is not truly asking whether a student should take the ACT/SAT. What every person who has ever asked me this is asking about is whether a student will be harmed in the admissions process- receive less scholarship, merit aid, or get waitlisted/rejected- if the student does not take the ACT/SAT and/or submit a score. The true question is “are there negative consequences for not taking the ACT/SAT or submitting the score?” Let’s go over other relevant questions to consider in deciding the answer to this question.

How do I find out if the test is right for a particular student

I recommend taking an ACT and/or SAT once, see what the score is. I actually prefer students take both. A real test, taken the day of an official administration by the ACT/SAT if possible and if it is safe to test. I have seen too many students overperform or underperform with a practice test. Real tests tend to give a more accurate picture. If a real test is not available a practice test is a good substitute. Just know it may not be the most accurate assessment because the student will always know the test is not real.

If the score is more than 150 SAT points or 3-5 ACT points away from the goal score then anticipate 2-3 additional tests to reach the goal score. I typically recommend about 8-10 weeks of prep with a schedule of doing 2-5 hours a week of prep increasing it to 5-10 hours a week as a student gets closer. Decide if that is worth the time and if there is a better use of time.

What about students who are “Not Good Test-Takers” And/OR students with anxiety

The ACT/SAT are designed with tricks that prey on students who feel insecure during testing, second-guess themselves, have testing anxiety. The test is also DELIBERATELY designed to have tricky wording and trick answers. This ensures students do not all get a perfect score and some have to retake the test.

A student can take the test, but the student has to be realistic about how many hours will be needed to achieve the score and whether that time is better spent.

The goal is to have items in the application that gives a good impression and gives the admissions team the opportunity to know the student as well as know the REAL academic capabilities of that student. Sometimes an ACT/SAT cannot do that for a student. Test-optional and test-free admissions presents the opportunity to tell a high school story to admissions without a test score.

Do certain students do better on the act/sat than others

Yes. The higher the income, the higher the score typically. Students from certain races tend to score higher than others, the ACT/SAT both acknowledge the racial gaps. Even when researchers control for poverty, certain racial groups always perform better. There are some arguments and debates over why that occurs. Whatever the reason, the ACT/SAT tends to have a positive impact on some populations and a negative impact on others.

IS IT impossible for students from certain racial/socioeconomic groups to get a high score

After years of working with students, I have realized that there are biases within the test that tend to impact some students more than others. In my experience, this phenomenon even happens with students who had access to advanced course work and have high GPAs (sometimes over 4.0s).

The ACT and SAT admit there are racial and socioeconomic gaps within the test that they hope to improve. There are studies that prove the racial and socioeconomic gaps within the test. Here is one of those studies. Here is another article that summarizing some of the issues.

We are aware students with lower socioeconomic status and certain racial groups tend to have lower scores and those lower scores are part of a statistical pattern.

This is not to say a student from a certain racial group will never perform well on the test. A student could be an outlier, this could be a student who performs higher than most. There are students that study and do well. I happened to be one of those students. I work with those students who became outliers as well.

That being said, I think it is important for students to go into this test with their eyes wide open. If a student gets a score that is significantly lower than the GPA would predict and this remains true even after studying for the ACT/SAT the score remains the same it is important for the student to know not to take the outcome personally.

To be clear, I say this for ALL students. The ACT/SAT does not measure the intelligence of a student or whether a student is ready to take on college work. The ACT/SAT does not always reward hard work even after hours or months of studying. There students from certain racial groups and students from certain socioeconomic backgrounds need to be aware of the statistical patterns that produce lower outcomes.

If a student feels this test is not producing a fair outcome or not allowing the student to have a better shot at admissions, know there are colleges who WANT the student and WANT the student to apply regardless of ACT/SAT scores.

Only “diverse” and/OR “poor” students can do test-optional

I thought about not including this question because I do not like the phrasing but I do get asked it a lot.

I have people tell me “my student is middle class/rich and white they should not apply optional- test-optional is not for them.”

I have seen other test-prep professionals and admissions counselors say this explicitly. I have seen “test-optional is not for everyone” and “they expect a score from students who are going to a ‘good school’” or “it is for Black, Brown, “diverse” kids but not for rich kids and/or white kids” or “it’s for low-income kids or first-generation kids.”

That has not been my experience working with students from all types of backgrounds. I have had kids from all backgrounds use test-optional successfully. No one group has been disproportionately more successful than others. They get accepted/rejected/waitlisted at the same rate.

Unsure if test-optional is right for a student, ask admissions is test-optional right for my student and are their certain students this policy is designed for.

Do students with disabilities do well on the act/sat

I also find that with the difficulties in getting accommodations for my students with disabilities. As a result, some of my students with disabilities tend to have scores that are lower than their GPA would predict. I find students with ADHD and Dyslexia it is hit or miss in most cases. The ACT/SAT scores tend to be really good or really bad- those who care for students with ADHD and Dyslexia may already have experienced this with classes where grades can be an A/B one quarter and a D/F the next. I find students who have disabilities where it impacts their ability to process information, students who have Dyscalculia, students with language comprehension and/or processing issues that impact reading comprehension activities can struggle with ACT and SAT. These students tend to need more time to prepare for the test and understand how the test works. They tend to test more frequently as well in my experience.

Can a student with a disability get a good score on the act/sat

I have worked with students who need accommodations/who test without accommodations/who were denied accommodations take the test and do well. But I have seen other students struggle with the test and have the process impact their self-esteem/confidence and never receive a score.

Every disability is different and it manifests differently in each student. There is a reason we advocate for Individualized Education Programs- it is not one size fits all.

I do find that the accommodations for ACT/SAT do not always produce the best fit accommodation. Unfortunately, there is no individualization for accommodation. The ACT/SAT have failed to realize that not every disability is the same and not every accommodation can fit into one box.

I have also seen students DENIED accommodations that they typically receive in school and/or that they would need to be successful. I do find parents/students can get frustrated with the amount of paperwork, give up, and students end up taking the test without accommodations. That sometimes impacts performance. Students who are used to taking exams with, for example, time and a half, who do not receive that accommodation for whatever reason can have that impact their ability to perform.

In addition, I have seen students struggle with the length of the test. The ACT and SAT are 3-hour exams. Many students who need time and a half or double time STRUGGLE with 4.5 to 6-hour tests. Testing over multiple days is available but some students struggle with that.

This is all to say, it really depends on the student.

What are the Best practices for students who need accommodations for the act/sat

Apply for accommodations REALLY early. It can take 7 weeks. I recommend applying as early as 14 weeks out so a follow-up can happen after 7 weeks and there are still 7 weeks to appeal if needed and get a second determination. Most guidance counselors or special education coordinators can help.

Decide before the student applies for accommodations if the student can truly get a score that represents him/her/them without accommodations and without a significant amount of stress.

PRACTICE with the accommodation. If the student is using a scribe, practice with a scribe. If the student is doing time and a half, double time- practice that. Practice in isolated areas as students with disabilities tends to be the only student in the room or one of few.

And my biggest recommendation- keep checking in with the student. The process of accommodations can, at times, be embarrassing at times and/or reduce a student’s confidence. If the student’s mental health is being impacted by the process of testing then consider test-optional/test-free as an alternative.

And I will say this again: If a student feels this test is not producing a fair outcome or not allowing the student to have a better shot at admissions, know there are colleges who WANT the student and WANT the student to apply regardless of ACT/SAT scores.

I am a good student- why am I not doing well on the SAT/ACT

The ACT and SAT both admit students rarely get their ideal score the first time around. It is rare that students take an ACT or SAT the first time and do well. This test is designed to have repeat-test takers (which means more money for the ACT/SAT) rather than single-test takers (people who take the test once).

Please hear me when I say this, the problem is not with students, the ACT/SAT wants students to take the test multiple times which means they should not score well on the first or sometimes the second time. This ensures the most revenue. On average 2-3 if not more times.

A student’s experience, academic knowledge, academic commitments, study habits- all could be solid and the student still could not receive a good score.

It’s very rare, but I have had students study for months and still not break a certain score. They applied optional, went on to college, and they are doing well.

Third time saying this: If a student feels this test is not producing a fair outcome or not allowing the student to have a better shot at admissions, know there are colleges who WANT the student and WANT the student to apply regardless of ACT/SAT scores.

If I/my student is more than 150 SAT points/4-5 ACT points away or is not well suited for the test- Recommendations

A student could invest a lot of time SAT/ACT that but there are no guarantees for a better score (even if a company or tutor is promising it). Alternatively, a student could focus on finding a job, extracurricular, service, leadership opportunities, and keeping the grades up. A student could consider using that time to take a more rigorous Math, Science, English class that they would enjoy or that compliments their strengths and puts the student in the best light. Instead of spending a summer worrying about the SAT/ACT a student can take a community college class or even a free online College level course at EDX.org. Stay away from the big-name, expensive programs, even if it is from a “dream college/university” promising to give a student experience- thanks to my friend Anna Ivey for this resource.

Let’s say this a fourth time: If a student feels this test is not producing a fair outcome or not allowing the student to have a better shot at admissions, know there are colleges who WANT the student and WANT the student to apply regardless of ACT/SAT scores.

Do Test-optional/test-free applicants get into college

there aren’t a lot of test-optional opportunities after the COVID pandemic- I don’t want to limit my options

NACAC- the National Association of Admission Counseling, recently polled more than 450 institutions about plans for Fall 2021 admissions policies. 470 admissions officers responded and said over 84% of their program plans to allow test-optional or test-free opportunities for the Fall 2022 cycle. When asked, 287 respondents said they will not require scores but consider them in admissions if submitted (61%), 109 said they would not require or consider the ACT/SAT (23.2%), 14 respondents said test would be required and no alternate scores/materials accepted (3.0%), and 60 said there was no decision yet (12.8%).

According to Fairtest.org as of 11/11/2021 there are 1785+ colleges that do not require test scores for admissions purposes.

Do students who apply test-optional actually Get accepted to college

Yes- I have several students going to college who never submitted an ACT/SAT score. This was true BEFORE the COVID pandemic as well. I had test-optional applicants prior to the pandemic accepted into college. Test-optional is not new. The policy has existed for a long time and has become well-publicized. See Fairtest.org timeline.

Do students with perfect scores/near-perfect scores or even high scores have an easier pathway

I have had perfect scorers rejected from MULTIPLE schools. I have had high scorers rejected. I have had perfect scorers/high scores waitlisted. I have had perfect scorers/high scorers get in but get no scholarship/merit aid.

A perfect score or a high score is not a guarantee. It may give a student a sense of safety because unlike extracurriculars, service, jobs, or even GPA (which can be constructed with various classes) it is something a student feels they can control and that admissions can compare objectively but it is not a golden ticket.

Let me be clear YOU CAN GET A PERFECT SCORE AND STILL GET REJECTED OR END UP WITH NO MERIT AID/SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS.

Do students who apply test-optional get rejected

Yes. Test-optional applicants get rejected in the same way students with test scores get rejected. I have not seen any pattern where test-optional students get rejected more often than students who apply with test scores.

Do students who apply test-optional have fewer opportunities than those who apply with test scores

That really depends on the college/university. Ask the admissions officers at each college/university you apply to before you come to a conclusion. Admissions websites are sometimes outdated. Independent counselor’s who say they know for sure a college gives financial disadvantages to test-optional students can be wrong. Last year I watched a webinar where a counselor said they KNEW full-ride offers were not going to test-optional students, they would only be going to students who applied with test scores. My test-optional student got a full-ride. Always check with admissions officers. They have a better sense of their policies than outside sources and usually have the most up-to-date information. Ask the admissions officers multiple times to make sure nothing changed and to verify the information you received.

Do students who apply with act/sat scores have more opportunities than those who applied without scores

Again, depends on the college/university. Ask admissions officers “how many students were accepted with scores and without scores?” Please note that even if the number is low for applied /accepted without scores there is still a possibility a student could be successful in this process.

If a college says a majority of their students were admitted with a test score does that mean a Sat/act test score gives you an advantage

Just because a college admitted MORE students with scores than students without scores doesn’t mean students WITH SCORES have a competitive advantage. A student may have gotten in despite their SAT/ACT score or because of their SAT/ACT score. It may be they had a bad score and good grades but got in.

There is one college in particular that comes up where over 80% of students submitted scores and students who submitted scores were accepted more often than students who did not submit scores. I know a student who applied test-optional and WAS SUCCESSFUL. Meaning this test-optional student joined the other less than 20% of applicants who submitted their application with a score and was accepted despite stats that show students with scores had an advantage.

In fact, every single one of my students who applied test-optional last year were accepted into programs where MORE students were admitted WITH scores than without. Yet they were ALL admitted WITHOUT test scores. They also got merit aid and scholarships

how can you be sure sat/act scores don’t give advantages If a college admitted more students with scores then students who applied test-optional

I know a student who applied to the college mentioned above where over 90% of their applicants were admitted with a test score and less than 10% were accepted without a test-score (test-optional). Like I said above, a student was admitted test-optional to that college. I had 2 other applicants apply with a test score. One in the 1400 range and another with a score above 1550.

Admissions Decisions:

Test-optional student: accepted with scholarship

1400 range student: accepted with scholarship

1550 range student: rejected

Academic profiles were almost the same. In fact, the 1500 student had more APs and a slightly higher GPA but was still rejected over the student who applied test-optional and the student who applied with a 1400. Having a test score does not always give you an advantage.

Having a test score or even a HIGHER test score does not always give you an advantage. You could invest a lot of time and energy pursuing a perfect score AND be rejected while a test-optional student is accepted. I will say it again, perfect scorers get rejected. My perfect scoring students (1600 SAT/36 ACT) were rejected at colleges as well as my other students.

Of Note: I was given permission to share this information

Does test-optional make me more/less competitive for college

Depends on the college/university. Again ask the admissions officers, “does applying test-optional make me less competitive?” There is no one-size-fits-all answer for colleges when it comes to test-optional.

Does submitting test optional hurt your chances

No. We’ve been applying test-optional to highly rejective/selective institutions and colleges all over the country. Our students have gotten into every type of college test optional

If You APPLY TEST-OPTIONAL are OTHER things “WORTH MORE”

No. Every admissions officer we speak to has stated they do not judge things like your college essay, awards and achievements, references, and any extracurricular activities with more weight because you decided to apply test-optional. We have never encountered this. After research and experience we learned, the SAT and ACT was not a huge factor in admissions.

ARE IVY LEAGUE OR HIGHLY REJECTIVE/HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGES REALLY TEST-OPTIONAL

We aren’t fond of “what about the ivy leagues” questions but here is my answer. I have had students apply test-optional to almost every Ivy League and Highly Rejective or Highly Selective Institution- they got in test-optional. They were accepted and rejected at the same rate as my students with high test scores. I’ve had perfect scorers NOT get in. In a pool where every student has a 1500-1600, the SAT/ACT doesn’t carry much weight. If you have enough on your academic transcript you can get into an ivy or highly selective/rejective without a SAT/ACT score.

Is test-Optional taking a risk

Everything in admissions is risky due to the lack of transparency from admissions. Colleges/universities that love test scores tend to be upfront about it. Georgetown told students they valued standardized test scores in their test-optional announcement. But even Georgetown, who admitted 81% of students with test scores in the 2020-2021 and sent students emails asking for test scores when they applied test-optional, did find 4% of the admitted class to be worthy to be accepted test-optional. They have since returned to requiring test scores.

Some colleges/universities have more than 50% of their class accepted with test-optional. There are a lot of schools in my state, Virginia, that have accepted a lot of students test-optional in 2020-2021 and before the pandemic.

More competitive collegeS/universitiES want SAT/ACT scores, they prefer it- aka “what about the ivies” AND/OR “IVY LEAGUE/Elite/highly Selective” COLLEGES

Please note, while I had my students apply to Ivy league colleges and “highly selectives” “highly rejective” and get in, I do not subscribe to the idea that we should frame admissions conversations around these colleges/universities or that rankings/prestige make certain colleges “better” than others.

However, the idea that test-optional should only be used by students applying to certain schools is pervasive and I will address it. There is this idea that you cannot have a student apply to an Ivy League or “highly selective” test-optional and be successful. I KNOW this is wrong. I can prove it is wrong.

I have had multiple perfect scorers rejected from the Ivies. I had students with low scores accepted and students with high scores rejected. I have had test-optional students accepted into an Ivy or a “public Ivy” or a “highly selective.”

Remember, those colleges/universities get perfect GPA, students with rigorous course work, perfect or near-perfect ACT/SAT all the time.

Near-perfect scores/GPA is the floor for them, a perfect score is not going to break the ceiling for them. Most do not even offer merit aid for any student. Meaning a perfect score will not be financially rewarded.

A perfect or higher score is not going to stand out in a pool with tons of perfect scores. Just like straight As will not stand out.

if a college is test-optional then the essay/extracurriculars/service are worth more

This is a myth that I have no factual evidence for and it is usually advanced by people who do not understand admissions. I have seen researchers and academics from “prestigious” colleges say this myth with authority. They never can cite one admissions officer they spoke to before coming to this conclusion. They believe it, advance it as true, write articles, and put out statements about it. Yet, there is no evidence of this phenomenon that when test scores are not considered, the essays/extracurriculars/service projects are worth more.

I have spoken with a lot of admissions officers. I have yet to find one that says essays/extracurriculars/service projects are worth more. In fact, when I ask them if other things are worth more now that you aren’t considering test scores they say “that’s not how it works” OR and this is the most common response, “I did not really consider them to begin with.”

But I did not just trust admissions officers at their word. I went to Common Data Sets for colleges/universities. In a Common Data Set, every factor considered for admissions is listed and the college/university TELLS you what factor is worth more or less. I looked at Common Data Sets for multiple colleges BEFORE they adopted test-optional policies and AFTER they adopted test-optional policies.

There are 4 categories for the relative importance of academic/non-academic factors (such as rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, recommendations, essay, extracurriculars, service). Each factor is deemed to be either Very Important, Important, Considered, Not Considered.

I have not found one college/university that decided to reclassify standardized test scores from Very Important/Important to Considered or (in the case of test-free) not considered that moved up the essay, service projects, extracurriculars to a higher classified rank. What I have seen is if an essay is classified as important, it remains important after the school goes test-optional. If extracurricular/service is classified as important or considered, it remains in that slot after test-optional.

People who think essays/extracurriculars/service projects are worth more now that test scores are optional seem to say this without any proof. They believe admissions is a formula and as a result of the formula, if test scores are not considered then something has to take its place. I cannot find any proof that this is true.

What I have found in my research and conversation is the application is considered in the same way but without a score. I cannot find evidence that the system of review changes for test-optional students and some things are considered “more.”

But if you don’t believe me google, “common data set (insert a name for college/university)” and see how each factor of admissions is ranked. Then ask the college if the Common Data Set is accurate.

Not a lot of students apply test-optional, I don’t want to stand out

According to Common App in the 2020-2021 cycle saw 44% of students apply with scores, 56% apply without scores. That is up from 2019-2020 when 77% submitted with scores and 23% applied without scores. Read more about that here

I always tell students, I would rather a student stand out for applying test-optional than stand out because the student has an ACT/SAT score that does not make the student proud or reflect the academic capability. I’ve had many students in previous and this cycle worried about applying optional only to get in later- more since the pandemic.

Again, I have had students accepted to colleges where a majority apply with test scores and more students with test scores got in than without test scores (test-optional). Every one of those students had reservations about applying test-optional. I convinced them to apply. They were shocked when they got in. None of them regretted applying test-optional.

If you have a lot of doubt about your test score, if you are nervous that it will make you look bad, then apply test-optional. You already believe it is a risk to apply. You already believe you are going to stand out with a low score. Why not apply without it and feel more confident in the things you do submit.

colleges/universities only went test-optional for the pandemic

No. Students and caretakers may have just found out about test-optional and test-free but that doesn’t mean this is a new policy. In my state, Virginia, a lot of colleges were test-optional for years. See Fairtest.org’s timeline for more information about when schools went optional.

How can I determine if a college/university is test-optional/Test-Free and find out more information AND where can I find a list of test-optional anD Test-Blind colleges in 2021 and Beyond- AKA where is the official test-optional list of Colleges and Universities for 2022

Go to their website. If it is unclear, ask admissions officers. There is also a list at Fairtest.org of test-optional and test-free colleges/universities

I read test-optional is a trick…

I read an article that said Georgetown 80% of students who applied submitted with test scores and only 3% were accepted who applied test-optional - Doesn’t that mean colleges and universities are lying about test-optional

The colleges who prefer tests, tend to be explicit about that. For example, Georgetown said during the pandemic they prefer tests to be submitted and even asked students to submit their SAT and ACT scores if they had them AFTER the student applied. They recently returned to an ACT/SAT requirement. But Georgetown is VERY DIFFERENT than most colleges and universities. It is well-known that they want scores and value them. They indicate that in their announcements.

Test-Prep companies and those who want to scare students into taking the test (mostly because they profit off it when selling test-prep packages), use Georgetown as an example because it fits the narrative.

MOST COLLEGES, do not do admissions the way Georgetown does admissions. Georgetown has always played by their own rules. If you are applying to Georgetown then submit scores (you now don’t have a choice). But don’t use Georgetown’s philosophy to determine your chances at another college. Figure out each college and universities relationship with the test.

But does Test-Optional really mean optional- I saw an article that said test-optional means test-preferred is that true

Colleges have gone out of their way to say “Optional means Optional.” NACAC asked colleges committed to the idea that “Test-Optional means optional” sign a pledge. See it here.

Colleges and Universities were not forced in any way to sign this. They made the choice to sign it. Some decided NOT to sign it. Over 567 College Admissions Officers signed it on behalf of their school.

This is what admissions officers had to say:

The following colleges with test-optional policies in place affirm that they will not penalize students for the absence of a standardized test score. Together, we strongly endorse a student-centered, holistic approach to admission that will not disadvantage any student without a test score.

Any college or university choosing to REMAIN test-optional post-pandemic is choosing to let students continue to let students decide whether to submit their score. If they preferred tests, they could just get rid of the policy (Georgetown did just that).

There are a lot of articles saying test-optional Places you at a disadvantage or test-optional makes you less competitive

If a college wanted the test to be submitted they would not have a test-optional policy. Ask them about the article you are reading. Show them it. Ask “is that how this works here?”

Most of the people writing these newspaper articles or magazine articles either

1. Are selling test-prep products

2. Are independent college consultants who charge people for their advice

3. Have no experience working with students getting into college (economist, professors, tech gurus)

4. Are former admissions officers and readers for admissions

Consultants and test-prep individuals like myself ARE NOT REGULATED. I can say whatever I want, there are no rules. Test-prep providers and consultants are the same. They can say WHATEVER they want. This is why Lori Loughlin (Aunt Becky) and Felicity Huffman went to jail. Rick Singer sold them lies and then had them bribe people.

Economists, tech gurus write a lot of articles about test-optional. If you asked them how many students have you gotten into college recently they would probably all say none.

Professors think they know how admissions works.

Some professors or professionals may also be an application readers for a college. This means they review the application materials. One thing to note about a reader. They are not the ones making a decision. They just score the application they read. Their decision can be overturned. Readers may know how an essay USED to be scored when they are working there. They may have once seen a rubric. But they are typically part-time or SEASONAL readers. They typically DO NOT know anything about the process. They assume they know.

Former admissions officers may have conversations with those in admissions but they do not know what is going on for sure. And sometimes, to sell more test-prep products or services, they may lie. They also can be wrong. What was true when they were working for XYZ college, may not be true anymore. Admissions can change dramatically from year to year.

Do NOT trust consultants or test-prep professionals. Do not trust ANYONE who is not CURRENTLY working in admissions.

You may say, but you want me to trust you and you said you’re a test-prep provider and consultant. No, I don’t. I want you to check what I say with people CURRENTLY working in admissions at the schools you ACTUALLY are applying to. Do not trust me. Or if you do, TRUST BUT VERIFY. When you finalize your list ask every college on the list what is their relationship with the test.

I read an article that says Test-optional means test-preferred though what should we believe

Many authors claim this. Some use to work in admissions offices and now pretend to know what is happening there. They always “just talked” to a friend in admissions or had dinner or lunch. And conveniently they have said test-optional means test-preferred. If they claim this- verify. Most of these articles do not hold up to scrutiny.

One author did claim test-optional means test-preferred in an article. The author sells test-prep services and therefore is INVESTED in keeping students committed to taking the test. Someone on the advisory board for a college which the author claimed had a test-optional means test-preferred policy asked for the article to be corrected and claimed the author had not told the truth. The advisory board member said the college would be in contact with the author about the claims.

There are a lot of things that can be said about test-optional. Some of these things can be true, others false. It is your job to take the articles influencing you, get the main idea, then ask admissions officers questions about those ideas so you can get a sense of the college or university’s test-optional stance. Verify EVERYTHING

What do test-optional colleges and universities want, How can I find out what a college or Univesity values for admissions, Do admissions officers lie to students

What do test-optional Colleges and universities want, what are test-optional colleges and universities looking for in an application?

Colleges and Universities are looking for what they are always looking for a sense of what you are capable of in and outside of the classroom.

What impact do you have at school and in your community? They are not looking for something MORE or new when you apply test-optional

You aren’t at a deficit because you decided not to submit an SAT or ACT score. You don’t need to “make up lost points,.

The choice to take the test or not take the test, submit SAT and ACT scores or not submit SAT and ACT scores is similar to the decision to take AP Chemistry instead of AP Environmental Science or to submit an AP score or not submit an AP score (yes, I have had students get a low AP score, not submit the score and STILL get into college as well). It is similar to the decision to submit an application BEFORE your first or second quarter grades or in or decide to wait to submit an application so colleges can see you in the best light.

A lot of people pretend test-optional is NEW or different. It is not. You are already making decisions on what classes to take, what classes to avoid, which classes put you in the best light, which teachers to ask recommendations for, what AP scores to submit. In all of those cases, you are making decisions that are in your own best interest. When you make decisions for admissions they should not be out of fear but with empowerment.

Every decision with admissions should make you feel MORE confident not less.

How do I find out what a college or university wants or what they are looking for if I apply test-optional- how to find out what colleges and universities actually want & WHAT FACTORS THEY CONSIDER?

Again, they are not looking for anything new because you decided to apply test-optional. The rubric does not change. If you aren’t sure what a college is looking for now that they are letting you apply test-optional there are two ways to find out

1. Ask the admissions officer

2. Google “Common Data set [insert name of college]”- the common data set for last year’s round of admissions tends to come out in November-December. Remember what colleges were looking for in 2019-2020 and what they prioritized MAY have changed over the pandemic.

The common data set tells you what a college is looking at for admissions. In fact, a common data set tells you EVERYTHING a college is looking for in admissions. It tells you the factors being considered for admissions AND how they rank. Want to know if a college finds an admission essay to be “very important, important, considered, not considered” the common data set tells you that. Want to know if class rank matters, GPA, recommendations matter. The common data set tells you that. Want to know how important standardized test scores are, the common data set tells you that.

In fact, do you want to know how many students were admitted with your GPA and how many were admitted with certain SAT and ACT scores- the common data set tells you that

How do I find a college or University’s secret admissions formula?

Again, google the common data set. Colleges that release their common data set tell you exactly what they care about and what they don’t care about. Also, again, ask them. Wait until the common data set comes out for last year (October or later) then ask college admissions representatives what they value the most and say “I heard XYZ factor is important- why does that matter so much to you all”

Are admissions officers really going to answer my questions- How do I know they won’t lie?

Yes, they will answer your questions. They don’t have to lie to you. At all… ever… why? I could give you the entire formula for a successful admissions package at a college. Tell you what classes to take, what to write your essays about, what matters and what doesn’t. At the end of the day it will come down to whether the college agrees you are the right fit after seeing ALL you decide to submit.

I bet you know someone who you thought was a shoo-in for a certain college or university. Then you found out they did not get in. Happens all the time.

Admissions officers don’t need to lie because they don’t need to protect their secrets. They can put them all out there AND tell you the truth. They can believe you have a good shot but then realize, based on what they are seeing in the course of the application season, that you would not be a good fit for the current class.

Why lie? They want you to be successful and put the best application possible foward so they can determine WITH THE BEST APPLICATION if you’re a good fit. They have no reason to sabotage anyone.

Do they over-exaggerate- yes. Do they oversell- yes. Do they market their college- yes. Are they trying to get you to apply- of course. But do they lie… I mean if they do it would not be over whether you should apply test-optional or if essays matter.

But they don’t tend to lie about what they are looking for because they don’t want to have to read a bad application or review things they don’t need to. I am not saying they are the MOST HONEST PEOPLE. I am saying- they have no incentive to lie to you about what they want to see on a college application they will be forced to review.

But people say college admissions officers lie to you

Are those people selling you a package where only they have the truth… they know the formula? They can give it to you for [insert price]?

Again, ask why would an admissions officer care SO much about you (specifically you…) that they would see you as a threat and want to sabotage your application? If they have a grudge against you they can just reject you. But if they are caught lying about what they want in application they could lose their job. No one is risking their job to lie to you when they can just reject you.

Make sense?

Determining if test-optional is right for a student:

What to know before applying test-optional

Please note none of this applies to test-free colleges/universities.

A student cannot submit a score even if that student wanted to submit the score to a college/university not accepting them due to test-free policies.

AREN’T THERE MORE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE TEST SCORES

Depends on the scholarship. The ACT/SAT and other test prep tutors/independent counselors love to tell people that if they do not test, they won’t be eligible for as many scholarships.

Too often we see those invested in profiting off the ACT/SAT say “students will miss out if the student does not take the test.” Instead, I always frame it as “there are opportunities for students who take the test and do well AND opportunities if students want to apply without ACT/SAT scores.”

There are scholarships that do not require ACT/SAT scores. For private scholarships, students can sometimes get ACT/SAT requirements waived (I have and so have my students). Also, what I have seen is my perfect scorers have not gotten as much money in terms of scholarship and merit aid as my students who put more time into their service, extracurriculars, their job and apply test-optional.

GPA and ACT/SAT scores may put students in the running for scholarships but it is extracurriculars, service, jobs, and stories that tend to close scholarships. I have seen students with a higher GPA and/or ACT/SAT score lose scholarships to students with lower GPA and/or ACT/SAT scores. I have seen perfect scorers not selected for scholarships.

There are some college/university that automatically award scholarships/aid based on scores but there are TONS of schools awarding scholarships/merit aid WITHOUT test scores. In fact, I know many colleges/universities require ACT/SAT that do not consider scores for their merit aid/scholarship.

Should I keep taking the ACT/SAT or go test-optional/Test-Free

I do not advise more than 3 tests. Why? I find test prep gets in the way of more meaningful pursuits- working a job, doing community service, extracurriculars.

In the last two admissions cycles (2019/2020 and 2020/2021) I learned the hard way, along with my students, that students who wasted a lot of time with test prep to achieve a certain score sometimes got accepted into their college/university of choice but tended to yield less merit aid/scholarships than students who decided to invest the time they would have spent prepping for the test into a job, extracurriculars, service, projects.

Students who wasted a lot of time preparing for the test tended to have less to say when it came to meaningful activities.

My students who took and prepped for the test 1 or 2 times at most and decided early to apply to some or all of the schools test-optional received more full scholarship/presidential awards, merit aid, and outside scholarships than those who went on to receive a perfect score.

I tend to find that the students in pursuit of a perfect score put less time into jobs, extracurricular, service, etc. Those activities are the things that made other students with lower ACT/SAT and/GPA scores more compelling when it came time to interview for the big scholarships.

Please do not assume I am saying the pursuit of perfect or high scores ALWAYS result in lower merit aid/scholarship awards. There are colleges/universities that reward high GPA, high scores, or have unfair/biased merit aid and scholarship practices that will always favor certain groups. Bright Futures and National Merit and other scholarships can be worthy pursuits and require high ACT/SAT scores.

But I will say a high score is not a guarantee for a scholarship (Bright Futures is the big exception). High scores, at all costs, where a student fails to do anything else or pursuing a high score even when it is taking up a lot of time, can have a negative impact at times so keep that in mind. And if a student does not have a high score there are merit aid/scholarship opportunities that exist.

If pursuing a high test score does not take a bunch of time, then please, by all means, I encourage students to pursue it and work with them to pursue it. However, if it takes a lot of time, I encourage a student to do a test-optional/test-free application and find colleges/universities that do not require ACT/SAT scores instead value other factors- service, extracurricular, jobs, etc.

Should I APPLY test-optional? Information to review

No one wants to hear this- it depends. The best thing to do is to look up the ACT/SAT range for a college to see the average score for students who apply. There are a couple of ways to do that. Google “freshman profile (insert name of college).” Google “common data set (insert name of college)” where students will not only find information about the percent of test-takers admitted who received a score comparable to the students score but also see how the test and other factors (class rank, GPA, extracurriculars, standardized testing- which includes AP/IB and other tests besides SAT/ACT) factor into admissions decisions.

I also encourage students to speak to admissions counselors at the college/university they want to attend and ask the ACT/SAT score range and if they should apply optional if they fall outside of the range (no, students won’t be penalized for asking that). In fact, speak to multiple admissions officers at one college/university if possible and ask “how does the ACT/SAT” factor into admissions.

If students are still unable to find information about the ACT/SAT range go to BigFuture, type in the college/university’s name, and find the ACT/SAT range under there (under “applying” on the left-hand side).

What is a good score for the ACT/SAT

A score in the 50% range for the college/university for any college the student is applying to is a good score. See above on how to find that out.

If my GPA is low, should I try to get a higher SAT/ACT score to make up for it

First and foremost, let’s redefine “low.” Go to the Common Data Set for a college or the Freshman Profile (google for these) and see how many students got into the college with your GPA. This gives you the most accurate picture of your “chances.” Although most colleges consider more than GPA.

There is a common belief that if you have a low GPA you can make up for it with a high SAT/ACT score. That is not the case for most colleges. Think about it. Why would a college let 1 day testing make up for 4 years in the classroom?

Most of the colleges I have spoken to do not weigh the SAT/ACT in that way. But ask the college/university. Say if I have a low GPA can an ACT/SAT score make up for it.

Should I try to score higher than the range (especially if I have a low GPA)

In most cases, a higher score that is above the range does not matter. Ask admissions if a higher score than the range produces more benefits (in terms of access to programs, scholarships, merit aid, etc). Ask the source

IS there a way a college/university can see a “bad” score Even if I decided to go test-optional/test-free

Sometimes the ACT/SAT scores are printed on transcripts. In Virginia, some counties print ACT/SAT scores on transcripts even if students are unaware of this practice. Check with your counselor.

Also, College Board and ACT can sell data if a student gives them permission by checking the box that lets them send information about scholarships and college programs.

All is not lost if a student sends a score by accident or a transcript is sent or ACT/SAT by accident.

Most colleges/universities who are test-optional don’t care about the low score- they created a test-optional policy so students WOULD apply without a low ACT/SAT score because THEY WANT STUDENTS TO APPLY despite that. The admissions team knows students applied test-optional for a reason.

If a score is accidentally sent, ASK admissions about the impact and what the next step should be.

do collegeS/universitIES really superscore

Superscoring is when a college pulls the best scores from each section of the test across multiple test sittings. For example let’s say you got a 700 on the SAT math in October but a 600 in reading that test day. Then the next time you take the test in November you get a 680 in math but a 650 in reading. Superscoring allows a college to take the 700 in math from October and the 650 from reading in November to get the best score overall. This is called superscoring.

Some test-prep professionals say submitting ANY low score can hurt you, even when a college superscores. I haven’t found this to be the case.

Ask admissions their policy on superscoring. Most do colleges/universities superscore and they do it for a reason- they know students might have had a bad day or a bad section. They created the policy so they can put your test score in the best light. It doesn’t make sense for them to create that policy then penalize you for using it.

should I Apply test-optional- Should I send SAT Scores to Test-Optional collegeS/universitIES

If there is an ACT or SAT score produced by the student within the range of ACT/SAT scores usually accepted then it is usually a good idea to apply with a score.

If a student is unable to get the score within the range of admitted applicants ask an admissions officer what to do. Say “right now I have a score that is below the range for ACT/SAT accepted. Is it better to apply with a score below the range, retest, or apply test-optional?” Yes, it really is that simple. There is no penalty for asking questions.

Most colleges will tell students to apply if the score is a good reflection of a student’s academic capability. If a score doesn’t reflect a student’s capabilities- apply test-optional.

What if I never get a score in the act/sat range

Apply anyway. Seriously. I have had students tell me they will never get into a college/university with their scores and/or GPA that got accepted. Apply anyway and see what happens. A student in this position (and even students with “great” scores) should find a way to tell the college/university about the impact and difference he/she/they will make on-campus instead.

Can we really trust admissions &

test-optional/test-free: Who Can We Trust

Admissions will tell students anything to get students to apply, there are secret formulas they are hiding- how can we trust them

That could be true. But everyone else could also be lying under that logic. We saw what happened to all those kids and parents who paid that admissions coach during Varsity Blues, listened to Rick Singers advice about how to get into college, got into college, and later went to jail.

I used to work with other companies that made promises all the time and did not deliver.

Realize that Admissions Officers do have an agenda. They want students to apply. That is TRUE. AND finding good applicants and convincing them to apply and getting them to enroll MAKES THEM LOOK GOOD.

We have a saying in my admissions support group “everything in admissions is a lie.” Yes, it is over the top and overbroad. Everything is not a lie. But how we translate that in our group-

1. Ask questions directly to admissions

2. Ask multiple people from the same college/university admissions team the same question to see if the answer holds up over time

3. Verify any information that comes from anyone who isn’t on the admissions team with admissions- “I heard test-optional students are disadvantaged,” “I heard this college/university want a lot of community service,” “I heard if I don’t take this class I won’t get in,” “I heard pre-med needs a lot of pre-med service work/classes”

4. Check the source of the information- is this person giving me information to sell me something or make themselves look good.

5. Recognize expertise- a student who got into a college or even a group of students who got into college and made a YouTube/Tik Tok and/or Reddit about successful elements of their application is not an expert. We can learn from them. But what worked for them may not work for every student. A college admissions advisor who had success placing students may not be telling us about who they failed to get in or may/may not help. Admissions staff and policies can change from year to year. Take everything with a grain of salt but ultimately, the admissions officers know their process more than any outsider.

Should I trust For-profit Counselors, admissions experts, tutors and test-optional “experts”

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT trust anyone selling ACT/SAT products or college admissions counseling (myself included) to give truthful advice about a certain college/university test-optional policy.

Go to the source- go to the admissions officers at the college/university. Not all test-optional/test-free policies are equal. What is true at one college, may not be true at another.

Also do not trust wholeheartedly and unconditionally other students who got in, policies change from year to year and not all students are equal. Some students are failing to say their parents donated or promised donations or they are a legacy or have a sibling at the college. Some students feel they got in for one reason (a score, an Essay, an extracurricular, an advanced class) when they may have gotten in regardless if that element was not in place AND/OR despite poor performance AND/OR for another reason entirely they forgot to mention. Sometimes students are right about how they got in but don’t realize everything has changed in the process for that college/university.

Sometimes even the admissions website for the college/university is not updated. The brochure is outdated.

Go directly to the source- go to admissions officers and talk to them. Repeatedly.

Independent college counselors and those selling students applying to college products, especially ACT/SAT products, will tell students not to believe a college’s admissions team, that they know the secret formula, they know the truth and “those admissions officers are just telling students something they tell everyone but if students want to stand out they need to/should…”

These counselors will tell students they spoke to admissions officers and got “inside information” or have private conversations “all the time” with admissions officers and know what they want. This makes a student/caretaker interested in buying the product they are selling. Ask that counselor: “who on the admissions team said this?” Pull up the website. Make them identify the person.

If, they give a person’s name, follow up with the admissions officer via email, tell them what was told, and ask for confirmation of the information

If they cannot identify the person or say “I told this person I would keep their name out of it” send an email to the general admissions team about the information and CONFIRM.

“a counselor by the name of… said students applying should… is this true? Do I need to (insert advice) to be successful?”

Verify all information find about test-optional/test-free with admissions officers. In fact, verify EVERYTHING with admissions officers when that is a possibility.

Heck, even verify what I said here and make sure it is accurate for the college/university of choice. It is possible some of the information here may not apply to a certain school- better to know that early.

Can I trust admissions when they say test-optional will not put me at a disadvantage?

Admissions departments that care about scores tend to be very transparent. Admissions departments that do not care about scores tend to be very transparent.

Some good questions to ask (see more below):

• Does GPA matter more than test scores

• Do the classes I take and the level of difficulty matter more than test scores

• At what stage of the process does the admissions team use test scores

• What advantages does ACT/SAT give me

• Has the admissions team rejected students over ACT/SAT score- if so, what were the circumstances

• Has it ever come down to two students or more than two and the ACT/SAT was the deciding factor

• How many applicants did this college/university accept with test scores last year

• Will I qualify for merit aid without ACT/SAT score

• Are there scholarships I am not eligible for if I apply test-optional

• Does the admissions team use test scores in determining who gets off the waitlist

• Should I invest a lot of time in test-prep or is my time better spent on other activities

• What are things the admissions teams tend to see in the application of successful applicants

I have gotten students into colleges all over America. Some got in with scores. Some got in without scores. I have had perfect scorers not get into the college of choice. I have had low scorers get into colleges where they were below the range. I have had students within the ACT/SAT range get rejected. ACT/SAT scores typically do not make an impact for most schools but where they DO MATTER, the school usually tells students. They are transparent about their use of scores and unapologetic about their love for the SAT/ACT.

How can I really trust that test-optional won’t put me at a disadvantage

Again, ask admissions. “Are there instances where having an ACT/SAT score puts me at an advantage or disadvantage?” Ask explicitly about merit aid/scholarship eligibility and if that is impacted if a student applies without test scores.

For most colleges/universities, once they adopt test-optional they do not disadvantage students from applying without a test score. They went test-optional for a reason. They want students to decide if the score reflects their capability. Students decide what AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/Honors or non-weighted classes to take, what advanced class standardized test scores to submit, what they want to talk about or not talk about in the essays. Every part of the application is a set of choices. Test-optional is a choice to have a score that reflects academic capabilities included OR to not have a low score included.

Admissions only want STUDENTS to apply without a test score if it is last resort

That’s not true. In most cases, when colleges/universities created the policy they WANTED students to apply even if those students did not get the best score. They realize that they were missing out on applicants because of the testing requirement. The colleges/universities who are only doing this for the pandemic have SIGNALED that and some of those admissions teams have since changed their mind about this after a season without scores and decided to remain optional OR they have doubled down and are returning to the test.

If you are unsure, ask admissions. “Does the admissions team really want students to apply without a test-score” and “does the admissions team really plan to accept without a test score if they qualified in all other areas” and tell the admissions officer, “I am thinking of not applying if I don’t get a certain score, is that a valid reason not to apply?” See what they say. Doesn’t hurt to ask

ARE SAT/ACT SCORES MORE IMPORTANT THAN GPA

I have spoken to a lot of admissions officers. One admissions officer told me this, “the book is written by senior year” and the book he talked about is the GPA/Class rigor. I have spoken to an admissions officer that said an ACT/SAT score matters MORE than grades or class rigor. In fact, as someone who works with students on application and has seen acceptance patterns, I would say taking a harder class like Calculus or Trig and getting a C would be a greater advantage than a perfect SAT or ACT score. Remember 4 years always tells an admissions officer more than 1 day, especially when they know people like me exist to manipulate students scores. Here is Dean Jeannine Lalonde (@UVA Dean J) discussing the importance of grades. She explained that the grades and class rigor are like scoops of ice cream. The SAT score and ACT score were compared to a sprinkle. Nice to have but not need to have.

What about collegeS/universitIES where ACT/SAT test scores give STUDENTS an advantage

They exist. And many of those colleges/universities are proud to tell students about the reasons they like the ACT/SAT and why they give students who apply with a score advantage. These colleges/universities are explicit usually on their website or when students speak to them. If a college/university says there are advantages to test scores believe them. If they say submitting a test score doesn’t give students an advantage, believe them.

Are there places where I should not apply test-optional

If a student is in Florida and plan to stay in Florida for public colleges not taking the test is not really an option. Bright Futures still requires scores and most public Florida colleges/universities require test scores. Georgia plans to return to ACT and SAT being required for admissions. The west coast tends to have more test-optional opportunities.

All things being equal- students with an act or sat score will help a student get accepted and another rejected

Who told you this? A fellow student, paid or free counselor, admissions consultant, a You-Tuber, test-prep tutor or provider?

When in a student’s life does a student have a friend taking all the same classes, doing all the same service projects, participate in the same extracurriculars, working the same job, are writing the same admissions essay, whose parents make the same amount of money, have the same exact FAFSA, have the same guidance counselor, got the same AP/IB/Dual Enrollment grades/test scores? Even twins are not the completely same person and don’t submit the exact same application.

A lot of factors go into admissions. There is no instance where students have a “separated at birth” scenario like the famous movie “The Parent Trap.” Don’t believe me, read this then come back.

Still unsure. Ask admissions officers “if all things are equal does the admissions team use an ACT/SAT score to decide?” and “are there times where the ACT/SAT was the deciding factor for a student?” The admissions officers who use the score as the deciding factor always tend to be very upfront about it.

Now I know what many are thinking, that doesn’t make sense. If I have the same classes, the same GPA, the same AP scores, everything else is the same then won’t it come down to the score? Why wouldn’t it come down to the last 4 years of work in high school, or the essay, or the extracurriculars, or the community service? It could come down to anything. It most likely won’t come down to an ACT/SAT score.

Why do people say “if all things are equal an act or SAT score will be a deciding factor”

I worked for the biggest test prep provider in the country where I used to be trained to say that “if all things were equal it would come down to the score.” These companies have convinced students and their caretakers that it will come down to the score. This is the most profitable lie in test-prep.

I saw students and their caretakers be sold on this AND then when a perfect score happened, the student applied and was rejected “all things being equal” no longer was true. The students were shocked but they did not get their money back. If they called we told the student, “admissions can be so random, there is no reason for this rejection.” We were trained to shrug it off and never mention the “all things being equal” lie again.

All things being equal is a marketing message created by test makers and those who sell test prep products to induce students to test more often and spend money on prep. I have not met any admissions officer who agrees with this.

Okay so all things being equal- what does it come down to- What makes the difference for admissions, what’s the secret

There is no magic formula or golden ticket- it really does come down to what a college/university values and prioritizes.

Most do not “decide between students” to be honest. They decided where each student is placed and if they have too many students they review the application pile again to see which students are the most compelling. I have not found an admissions officer that pits one student against another student. They may compare the student to the class admitted so far but I have yet to hear one say I pit one student against another and decide.

If a college/university needs more women vs. men or if they need more people for a certain program or if they have a good relationship with a school counselor or if they need more students a particular state/region or less or if a student is a legacy or if a student has wealthy parents who can donate or if they just like a particular application or… or…. or… there are a lot of things it could come down to for a student AND for every student who applies it could be a different thing that makes the decision.

But again, if the college/university/admissions team/admissions officer’s priority is an ACT/SAT score as a deciding factor, they tend to be TRANSPARENT and HONEST about that.

ASK THEM

I am scared to ask admissions for advice or to aSK questions

Scared to ask admissions officers questions. But I get it, admissions is SCARY. I encourage students to take the risk and be vulnerable because it usually pays off. It is a skill/muscle. It is a exercise. Students can benefit from asking questions. The first time it will be scary but the NEXT TIME it will be easier and the time after that and the time after that.

I always tell those in my admissions support group, “you can’t say the wrong thing to the right people, you can’t say the right thing to the wrong people”

Do not trust me, go to admissions for advice. Remember, at the end of the day they want to convince students to apply, they tend to overhype at times, but I find test-optional statements from admissions officers are usually transparent. Most admissions officers I met do not care about ACT/SAT scores and the ones that do tell students test scores matter here, ACT/SAT scores matter here, and here is why.

So ask them but ULTIMATELY it should come down the gut.

Never take a college off a list if the only thing stopping the application is an ACT or SAT score.

If applying without a test score makes creates a lack of confidence, submit a score and move on.

The final words of passing- do not let an ACT or SAT score produce any anxiety. Students are more than a score. Students have more to offer. Feel confident either way.

Want 15 Questions to ask Admissions Officers? Here is what are some ideas: https://www.jennthetutor.com/blog/testoptionalquestions