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 moving to a “test-optional” admissions policy for next year or longer. We wanted to explain what that actually means for our students.
Some colleges have made this transition as a result of the chaos caused by COVID-19; this growing list includes Boston University, Case Western Reserve University, Tufts University, and the University of California system. However, the test-optional movement began many years ago. Bowdoin College and Bates College, for example, two highly selective small private colleges, have been test-optional for literally decades. The University of Chicagoadopted a test-optional policy in June of 2018.
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. In fact, in most cases here at Stuy (our students tend to do really well on the ACT and SAT), you should submit or report your scores. A college using a test-optional policy will still consider ACT/SAT scores in the admissions process if they are submitted. Submitting strong ACT/SAT scores still helps your cause. Many colleges will not consider SAT Subject Tests if submitted, but the same does not apply to the ACT/SAT exams.
How do you know if you should submit ACT or SAT scores for a particular college? Conventional wisdom is that if your scores are good enough for that particular college, you should submit them. 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 CollegeBoard.org and look up the college’s profile. Do your best scores fall within or above the “middle 50%” of admitted students? If that answer is yes, submit your scores. If they don’t, then that’s when you should consider being a non-submitter.
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!
