<p>Technically Bowdoin already has these scores but I never opted to include them in my Common Application since I didn’t know my scores yet, but ACT seems to have reported them since I asked for it (in premature move that was sort of stupid). Do you think these scores are worth sending in or would they hurt me? (I opted not to send in my SAT scores.)</p>
<p>This is pure guesswork, so take it with a grain of salt, but I don't think it will hurt to submit the ACT, but it might not help much either. Bowdoin, as far as I know, doesn't report their 25-75%tile for ACTs, but by looking at similarly selective schools, or converting to SAT (1280-1310) you can guess that a 29 ACT is probably somewhere around their 20-35% range (for submitting students!). However, adcoms know that students who withhold their standardized test scores are usually significantly below the college's mean. In other words, if you don't send in your score, they'll very likely assume that you scored 29 or lower anyway. Plus the reported scores at SAT-optional institutions are deceptive, because they obviously don't include the scores of non-submitters, who overwhelmingly cluster at the bottom. </p>
<p>All that, in tandem with the deemphasis on standardized testing at SAT-optional institutions, and I don't think that you will hurt your chances for admission at all by submitting a 29.</p>
<p>i would recommend not submitting. furthermore, the bowdoin admissions department doesn't assume about withheld scores. they just don't consider them. if they assumed that everyone who suppressed their scores were doing so because they scored terribly, AND they considered that interpretation in their decisions, the SAT optional policy would be vacuous. </p>
<p>bowdoin's SAT average is 1360-1480. i would not submit an ACT of 29.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I ended up not submitting, I'd rather get admitted on the merits of everything else but my average test scores.</p>
<p>I have to think Bowdoin does do a degree of "assumption" with with held SATs.</p>
<p>CB says that something like 72% of admitted students submitted SAT scores, and that doesn't include people who submitted only ACT scores...</p>
<p>It seems a bit conspicuous that Bowdoin accepts only about 20% of applicants without SAT scores. It seems impossible that Bowdoin wouldn't do a degree of assumption.</p>
<p>I had a slightly less than great SAT score (2140, but 790 W, 680 M, and 670 CR) and I submitted my scores. I guess I'll wait and see how things turn out.</p>