This does make sense - I agree. I was just curious about the number of non-athletes that make it in w/o testing. I know that my daughter will be supplying test scores but it would be interesting to see how many students do make it w/o scores. If you look at the common data it gives you a percentage of students sending scores - it just doesn’t break anything down re: ED round. Even though Wes is test optional we are going w/ the more info provided the better.
^ @liberalartsmom , I think you are wondering about and asking a very astute question. On the one hand, I want to, and maybe tend to, believe an honorable institution like, say, Bowdoin, when they say you can submit w/o scores and be judged fairly.
the skeptic in me, though, wonders if it’s more a tool for admitting hooked applicants w/ lower scores.
I just don’t really know the answer, but the optimist in me tends to prevail over that other guy. 
@liberalartsmom Nope. Non-athlete.
@MiddleburyDad2 Bowdoin has had a test optional policy since the 1960’s…Long before the concept of “hooked” applicants came into play. I think it’s fair to say that it was never intended to be a tool, or to game the system. The reasons for it are more idealistic.
@liberalartsmom ‘Nope. Non-athlete.’ Congrats again! Best of luck
I do believe that Wes is a great school! The idea of ‘test optional’ is a great policy. The number of schools taking on this policy seems to be growing. My daughter is Jr and the amount of effort she has placed on her work is amazing. She has always been a good student - but now it is done w/ purpose - college is waiting! The amount of hours put into work by students trying to get into these schools is amazing. If the test optional policy is truly honored I think that it is great. If you can’t understand the effort / work it takes to get impressive grades in these high level classes - then colleges are missing something. So reducing the need for standardized tests makes sense. I am happy to hear that that an applicant doesn’t need a ‘hook’ to be accepted in a test optional school. The actual work they have been doing can be enough of a ‘hook’