On Test-Optional Policies in Admissions

Loyal readers of our college admissions blog know where we stand on test-optional admissions policies. In spite of what many admissions officers will tell you to the contrary, all else being equal, students with great SAT or ACT scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who choose not to … 

Read More

Great Test Scores Matter Under Test-Optional Policies

As loyal readers of our college admissions blog may remember, early on in the pandemic, we took heat for asserting that elite colleges — even though they were test-optional in name — would always favor students with strong test scores. In short, all else being equal, students with great SAT … 

Read More

A Test-Optional Study

The Gates Foundation has awarded a $1.4 million grant to a University of Maryland-led study that will examine the impact of America’s colleges going SAT/ACT-optional in admissions as well as their potential elimination down the road. The study’s authors, who say the study will likely take two years as they … 

Read More

Many Students Rightly Don’t Believe Test-Optional Policies

America’s elite colleges are test-optional. Students need not submit test scores in order to apply. And, yes, some students can even earn admission without test scores. But as we’ve said all along, under test-optional admissions policies, students with great test scores will always enjoy an advantage over students with no … 

Read More

Student Defends the SAT

If one subscribes to the list-serv for the National Association for College Admission Counseling as we do, one might think that just about everyone and their Great Aunt Sally is against the consideration of the SAT or ACT in college admissions. Except of course the employees of The College Board … 

Read More

Test-Optional Is Malarkey

When you have a question about highly selective college admissions, it’s best to ask an expert. That means don’t bother going to the deli to ask the butcher. Don’t ask the FedEx deliveryman. And don’t write an advice columnist in your local paper asking if your child should or should … 

Read More

The Truth Comes Out About Test-Optional Policies

Several months ago, there was a brouhaha on the National Association for College Admission Counseling email listserv. For those not familiar with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), it’s an organization that includes admissions officers, school counselors, and private college counselors. So what was the brouhaha all about, … 

Read More

Elite Universities Going Test-Optional for 2021-2022 Admissions Cycle

This past admissions cycle, our nation’s highly selective universities went test-optional due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a historic turn of events, these schools didn’t require applicants to submit SAT / ACT scores or the now defunct SAT Subject Tests. It’s all led current juniors and their parents to wonder…will … 

Read More