Attention Parents of Rising Seniors in Prince William County (Class of 2021)

Attention Parents of Rising Seniors in Prince William County (Class of 2021)

I recently learned that Prince William County has decided to publish SAT and ACT scores on transcripts. This position is not one shared by Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, and other neighboring counties that do not publish highest SAT/ACT scores.

The only way to remove these scores is to request removal.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR TRANSCRIPT BEFORE IT GETS SUBMIT AS IT MAY HAVE PREVIOUS SCORES YOU DO NOT WANT COLLEGES TO SEE

If your student is:

1. Applying test-optional or test-blind

2. Appyling to Ivy or Selective colleges

3. Applying to schools where the SAT/ACT is below the stated range

4. Planning on retaking due to "low" scores

5. Planning to apply early but take test(s) later

I would recommend you remove the SAT and ACT scores by contacting your PWCS assigned counselor.

There are very few circumstances in which I believe a student benefits from having SAT/ACT scores on their transcript. I've had students apply to Ivy leagues rejected with SAT/ACT scores that were higher than 1550 SAT/33 ACT.

The only situations where I feel a student benefits is if they are 3 points above the average ACT and 150 points above the SAT range (and not applying to an Ivy). Even then, I would submit the test scores officially.

I recently confirmed with UVA's Dean, Jeannine Lalonde, that Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, and other neighboring counties do not publish SAT/ACT scores.

I have since proposed that Prince William County adopt the same policy instead of the current policy that requires parents to opt-out.

I think a student/parent should be given the opportunity to decide that they would like the SAT/ACT scores published rather than having to take proactive steps to remove the SAT/ACT scores.

Until then, please check and double check transcripts and request score removal for any schools where you feel your SAT/ACT makes you less competitive.

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If you are a PWCS senior your highest SAT and ACT score is printed on your transcript I cannot think of many situations where I would advise students to have their SAT and ACT scores printed on their transcripts. For example, I had a student with a 1590 last year apply to Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford and I felt that score put the student at a disadvantage as it gave the application of “too perfect” and we decided to highlight extracurriculars and leadership as well Call your counselor and remove the SAT/ACT score and send your score report instead. If you are applying test-blind and test-optional you don’t want them on your transcripts at all. If you are applying to very competitive schools you don’t know the impact printing scores on transcripts will have in later rounds of admissions. Student services in PWCS is working on removing them last I heard and informing parents/students how to remove them but counselors can assist in removal. Remove the scores is the bottom line. I am advising all my students to remove them

A post shared by Jennifer Jessie 👩🏽‍🏫🎓 (@jennthetutor) on Sep 1, 2020 at 12:01pm PDT