Test Optional = Test Preferred
What is Going On With Testing?!?!? Summer & Fall 2020
August 9, 2020The rush into test-optional is on, and it's likely to be a universal.
The ACT and SAT have been aggressive about adding test dates. Depending on how the fall goes, I think there is a reasonable likelihood that the entire admissions calendar--early action/decision and regular decision--may move back.
ll that said, many colleges have not gone test optional. And, many colleges have expressed an extremely strong preference for test scores. Don't bet on a snow day instead of studying for your final.
That said, let’s assume every college goes test-optional. That doesn't mean you won't need tests for some things (departmental admissions, placement, and scholarships). It does not mean that colleges won't look at scores.
It’s quite the opposite. Colleges crave quantitative data—its part of college rankings, it shows preparedness for college level work, and it allows them to compare students. Take a look at the top factors in admissions from a survey of admissions officers taken right before the pandemic.
Test Optional Means Test Preferred
For rising seniors, half of junior year (and most likely senior year) grades are garbage.
With fewer people submitting tests, tests become more important as a metric of preparedness for college level work and comparing applicants. Also, the US News has not announced whether it will change its ranking methodology for test-optional schools. If they don’t, colleges will have an extra incentive to keep those numbers high.
How Test Optional Really Works
Winners & Losers in Test Optional Admissions
Big shakeups mean big consequences. There will be students helped and students hurt by this. Here's my take.
Winners
Students with a good GPA who took advanced courses early and often
Students with a good GPA who have heavy extracurricular involvement
Students with a good test score
Students with an exceptional life story/interesting resume
Students who go to high quality (read: well known) private and select public high schools with administrations capable of and motivated to act as student advocates.
Students who have some combination of the above factors but are simply not good test takers
Losers
Students without a lot of advanced coursework
Students with advanced coursework wholly concentrated in junior year
Students with academic potential not captured in a transcript
Students from poor quality high schools, smaller high schools, and schools with incompetent college counseling (the majority of public schools)
Students who have not had access to much advanced coursework
- Students with fewer extracurricular opportunities, particularly those in rural ares.
Probable Losers
Students who do not submit scores when applying to colleges where many students from their high school are applying and submitting scores. This is absolutely the case for "test-flexible" colleges like the University of Michigan.
Upper middle class students who have few family obligations who have had opportunities to test and choose not to submit scores
Students applying for direct entry into engineering, computer science, and other STEM programs that typically require scores, if the student does not have a proxy for minimum educational competence (math olympiad participation, for instance).
Students without application guidance from a professional--feel free to contact us. Lacking quantitative data, your application needs to be a cohesive, narrative pitch. Like painting your own portrait, that's tough. English teachers and high school guidance counselors usually--but not always--give bad editorial advice for essays and guidance for college applications.
Still Not Convinced?
Let's look at what colleges are saying and doing.
The University of Michigan
Michigan is not test-optional, but they are test flexible. Essentially, they'll take a look at applicants without test scores, but this is not a true test-optional policy, Let's look at what they have to say.
Although test scores are encouraged (SAT I or ACT), if available, and can be self-reported on the student’s application, we recognize access to testing is limited. We will review all exam results, or lack thereof, within the context of each student’s overall achievement, and what they are able to submit.
Michigan wants test scores enough that they'll allow students to sent PSAT and PACT scores.
The University of California
The University of California system has been rightly cited as a leader in what could be a revolution in admissions, vowing to go test-optional this year and next, and then test blind.
But... they are developing their own exam. In fact, last fall they evaluated removing the testing requirement and the faculty senate—an organization typically skeptical of testing—recommended keeping it. They are using the pandemic as a way to create their own product, a huge opportunity, and, hopefully, address some of the issues they’ve had with race-blind admissions.
More to the point, students must submit test scores to qualify for academic scholarships and the California state resident guaranteed admissions requirement.
Cornell
Most Ivy Leagues issued perfunctory statements like Harvard'sStudents who do not submit standardized testing this coming year will not be disadvantaged in the application process.
But Cornell was the first Ivy League to go test-optional, and they said a lot more. Their statement is begrudging.
As appears to be true at test-optional colleges and universities, we anticipate that many students who will have had reasonable and uninterrupted opportunities to take the ACT and/or SAT during 2020 administrations will continue to submit results, and those results will continue to demonstrate preparation for college-level work.”
They go on...
In Cornell’s review during the 2020-2021 application cycle, results from the ACT or SAT might still be a meaningful differentiator in particular for students who: live near or attend a school that will be open, and where testing will be offered, or who live near a testing center that will be offering more testing seats or dates than they did in 2019; and… have not experienced lost income for one or more of their household providers or other significant new hardships and losses during 2020.
