All Things Test-Optional: Can students get in and get scholarships without a SAT/ACT score (Class of 2021 & Beyond)

All Things Test-Optional Class of 2021

I have a longer post on test-optional here

In the state of Virginia, there are 18 colleges that will remain test-optional (learn more here). The number grows by the day.

I spent last year and the years before the pandemic (yes, test-optional existed prior to the pandemic) learning all things test-optional. I have talked to admissions officers all over the country, hosted live discussions, and hosted students panels for the National Association of College Counselors on optional. I have been quoted in articles about test-optional.

Test-Optional is not a fad. It is also not a trick. Students get into colleges without test scores all the time and this was true before the pandemic.

I have had students get into college with test scores and without.

Can students get into college or universities without a SAT/ACT score

My students were accepted last year WITH and WITHOUT SAT/ACT scores. I found the number one thing that helped me predict a successful application was what type of classes they took- easy vs. "hard"- and their GPA.

If you are unsure where a college/university stands with test-optional- ask. If you want to know what they think about optional applications- ask.

Asking an admissions officer is the NUMBER 1 way to get the truth. I can get the truth but so can you.

Also, talk to your counselors, they know more than you think about test-optional and which students tend to be successful with certain colleges.

Can students without test scores or “bad scores” get scholarships- do you lose money applying test-optional

Yes. I have helped tons of students go to colleges and universities, receive merit aid awards, and scholarships optional

This really depends on the college/university. Most colleges have changed their policies to allow test-optional scholarships and merit aid awards to be awarded. Ask every college on your list the following question: "do I lose out on money if I apply test-optional?" They will tell you the truth. They have no reason to hide it.

At some colleges/universities, all scholarships are test-optional and merit-aid is not decided with test scores. Other colleges/universities, reserve some scholarships for students with scores. It really depends on the college/university.

There are some private scholarships that still require it but I found if you ask them to apply without a score, they tend to let you apply without a score. I had successful private scholarship winners who won without scores after receiving a waiver.

My students who applied without scores and with scores received merit aid and scholarships. We were able to secure over $850,000 in scholarships last year in our pro-bono initiatives- many of these offers were for students who applied WITHOUT scores.

We also negotiated over $10-30k off of tuition.

For me applying to colleges with generous merit-aid and negotiating financial aid is a better avenue than applying for a ton of scholarships.

How do you find colleges that are test-optional but give scholarships and merit aid?

The way I do it is this:

  1. Look for colleges that are “test-blind” through Google. A college that is test-blind will not allow you to submit scores AT ALL. In those cases, scholarship and merit aid are not dependent on scores. Some colleges and universities that come to mind: CalTech, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), UCLA, Berkeley, St. Mary’s

  2. Fairtest.org has a list of test-optional colleges updated for 2021 that has every college and university that went optional or test-blind but it also has a chronological list. If a college has a long standing test-optional policy (I would say pre-2019 and pre-pandemic) the chances are they have merit aid and scholarships that are available without SAT and ACT scores

  3. Ask- again ask admissions officers “will I lose out on scholarships and merit aid if I apply test-optional?” Colleges that have scholarships and merit aid packages tied to SAT and ACT scores are transparent about it.

So should I test:

If you can secure your SAT/ACT score in 2 tests or 3 at most and you have a history of testing well then go for it. If it will not take a lot of time away from meaningful activities and school then your student should test. If testing doesn't produce too much anxiety then test.

I always say try one test and see how it goes

But if there are issues, apply test-optional.

If you live in Georgia and Florida, I recommend testing. The Bright-Future Scholarship requires it. Florida and Georgia public colleges/universities are committed to keeping the tests.

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How do I stand out for scholarships and merit aid (even if I apply test-optional)

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