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More than a few top colleges recently announced that they’ll be remaining test-optional for next year’s admissions cycle. This is not a surprise to us given the many benefits the colleges reaped this year when COVID issues required test-optional admissions. But what to do if you’re a junior now, thinking about testing for next year’s applications? Like everything else with the college admissions process, the answer is, “it depends.” But at Union Hall Advising, we’ve been giving our kids the following advice:
First, recognize that colleges still want to accept kids with high test scores. All else being equal, a college is going to want these students because the high scores help bolster their reported middle 50% SAT and ACT scores. However, unlike in the past, when colleges had to accept more kids with top scores to keep their overall averages higher, having two pools of students (those with scores and those without scores) keeps the low-scoring kids out of the reported numbers. That means this pool of non-scored kids can be larger and not hurt their stats. Some schools tapped into this before COVID, like the University of Chicago, which saw its average standardized test scores rise after going test-optional. I expect we’ll see similar increases this year from other top colleges that were forced to go test-optional.
The definition of a top score has narrowed a bit since COVID. It typically means not submitting a score that is not at least at the midpoint of the reported middle 50%
So, if you can secure a high score on the SAT or ACT, then you should by all means do so. We recommend students continue studying for and taking the tests when possible. However, the definition of a top score has narrowed a bit since COVID. It typically means not submitting a score that is not at least at the midpoint of the reported middle 50%. This is because an average score won’t hurt the college when it reports the numbers. For the very highest ranked schools, that likely means not submitting a score unless you have a 34 or higher on the ACT or a 1500 or higher on the SAT. If the school super scores, you should use that as your measure, since that is what the college will report out. Scoring a 32 or 33 on the ACT is for sure impressive, but even in pre-COVID days, these were slightly “below average” scores at the tippy-top places and so submitting them just because you think they will stand out relative to kids with no scores is not the logic we’ve been using (with exceptions, of course, based on the context of that score to the applicant’s demographics). In our experience with test-optional admissions so far, really interesting kids with great stories but no scores have beat out somewhat interesting kids with just OK scores. This goes not just for the top 10 schools, but up and down the top 50.
The second thing to know is that being test-optional gives colleges the freedom to truly choose the class they want. Not only are top schools getting more applications to choose among (sometimes 100% more - hello Colgate University), they are also increasing the number of good stories they get to hear. Stories from kids who are compelling in every way but their test scores. We run into these kids frequently at Union Hall Advising - star students and star people with good, but not great test scores. In this new world, they have every bit the opportunity to gain admission - IF they craft a compelling application.
One final thing to consider is that whether you have great test scores or not, great stories always beat great test scores. We sometimes talk to parents for the first time after the ED round, who are shocked that their student was rejected with a perfect or near-perfect test score. Top 1% scores are great - but they cannot replace a great narrative about a student and why he so belongs at the university to which he is applying. That’s why it’s critical that this year’s juniors - who are likely going to be up against even more applications to the top schools next year - start crafting that story now.
Crafting these types of narratives is what we do every year at Union Hall Advising so please schedule a consultation with us if you’d like to find out how we can help your student.
