<p>I want to feel that with colleges that have long-standing SAT optional choices, that they don’t consider it a disadvantage and some have reports showing no real difference in performance later. The “newer” schools, some which might be using it as a tool, it might be harder to judge. I think though, that if they have the student’s grades, along with a couple of graded papers, showing how that teacher marked, along with teacher recs, they can get a good overall perspective. Guessing at the SAT score seems to discount the whole process, although I know it must happen.
I think the essay section is hard, in one way it’s not a good judge, but it’s the only essay,( unless you send a graded essay) that could not be altered. The admission essay, although important, is not always just submitted by students. Many, depending on the school system, students wealth/background, will have it checked by parents, teachers, paid admission counselors, sometimes online essay business’s that edit and send it back for a fee,etc. This is not an unusual occurence and I heard one college rep saying if the two essays seem vastly different, a flag goes up. On the other hand, some say they don’t look at it…who knows, it’s hard to say you don’t see a number, like “unringing a bell”.</p>