<div>
<p>If you’ve have been following how colleges and universities are responding to the COVID-19 crisis, you have very likely heard about some institutions <strong>moving to a “test-optional” admissions policy for next year or longer</strong>. We wanted to explain what that actually means for our students.</p>
<p>Some colleges have made this transition as a result of the chaos caused by COVID-19; this growing list includes <a href="http://www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/first-year/#Tests">Boston University</a>, <a href="https://thedaily.case.edu/cwru-leaders-authorize-test-optional-admissions-for-students-entering-in-fall-2021/">Case Western Reserve University</a>, <a href="https://admissions.tufts.edu/apply/first-year-students/sat-and-act-tests/">Tufts University</a>, and <a href="https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/response-covid-19.html">the University of California</a> system. However, the test-optional movement began many years ago. <a href="https://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/our-process/test-optional-policy/index.html">Bowdoin College</a> and <a href="https://www.bates.edu/admission/optional-testing/">Bates College</a>, for example, two highly selective small private colleges, have been test-optional for literally decades. The <a href="https://news.uchicago.edu/story/uchicago-launches-test-optional-admissions-process-expanded-financial-aid-scholarships">University of Chicago</a>adopted a test-optional policy in June of 2018. </p>
<p><strong>If a college is test-optional, that does NOT automatically imply that you shouldn’t submit your ACT or SAT scores to that college next fall.</strong> In fact, in most cases here at Stuy (our students tend to do<em> </em><em>really</em> well on the ACT and SAT), you <em>should</em><em> </em>submit or report your scores<em>. A college using a test-optional policy will still consider ACT/SAT scores in the admissions process if they are submitted. </em><em> </em>Submitting strong ACT/SAT scores still helps your cause. Many colleges will not consider SAT Subject Tests if submitted, but the same does <u>not</u> apply to the ACT/SAT exams.</p>
<p><em><strong>How do you know if you should submit ACT or SAT scores for a particular college?</strong></em><em> </em>Conventional wisdom is that if your scores are good enough for that particular college, you should submit them<em>.</em><em> </em>Go to the website of the college in question (the admissions page) and look at the admitted student profile for the most recent class. You can also use a reliable, regularly updated website like <a href="https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search">CollegeBoard.org</a> and look up the college’s profile. Do your best scores fall within or above the “middle 50%” of admitted students? <em><strong>If that answer is yes, submit your scores. </strong></em><strong><em> </em></strong>If they don’t, then that’s when you should consider being a non-submitter.</p>
<p>Remember that if you’re not sure and want advice, consult with your college counselor; that’s one of the many things we’re here to help you with throughout this process!</p>
</div>
