I’ve read a lot about schools using the Test Optional/Holistic Approach, and I was wondering how students are doing during the 2023 acceptance cycle? I think this would be great information to help future students in preparing their applications.
Did you or your child get admitted, waitlisted, or denied without standardized test scores?
What School?
If you got in, what do you think helped in the decision process?
Great idea for a thread. My D20 will be applying later this year and may be looking at test-optional schools. I would be interested in other families’ experiences with this.
@Dancingmom518 I thought so too. I’d love to see how these options are actually being utilized by schools or if they are just using them to bypass certain applicants through the process.
I’m hoping the process is being used as intended…To get strong applicants that don’t shine on standardized tests admitted. Hopefully, we will see some good news.
Here are some schools that are test optional which would be great to see some results: University of Chicago, Bowdoin, Bates, Wake Forest, Wesleyan, Colby, Smith, Bryn Mawr, College of the Holy Cross, George Washington, Worcester Polytechnic Institue, Pitzer, James Madison, Temple, etc.
D20 will likely be going this route. I received an email a few days ago that University of Denver was going test optional for next year. Others she plans to apply to that are test optional: Puget Sound, Lawrence, Austin College, Clark, Agnes Scott. I’d also be eager to hear how this year’s kids fare with their test optional apps.
@Eveready2Grok My D20’s college counselor said Smith and Mount Holyoke in particular do use test optional to admit students who are strong applicants otherwise, but don’t shine on standardized testing.
I have no personal experience but I have seen at least one parent here on CC say their student was admitted TO to Chicago.
We also got the email from Denver, but it’s too far from us. Good option, though.