<p>Of all the pieces of the college admission process that drive me nuts each year, this season's new Score Choice policy may be the worst. The College Board claims that Score Choice (which allows applicants to select which test results are reported ... and which ones aren't) was designed to help reduce student stress. But it's produced mainly pandemonium instead, especially because some colleges insist on seeing all scores, regardless of the Score Choice option.</p>
<p>So how do seniors complete their Common Applications when they are applying to a mix-and-match roster of schools that are honoring Score Choice and those that are not?</p>
<p>Check out this latest entry in "The Choice" (The New York Times blog by The Gatekeepers author Jacques Steinberg): </p>
<p>It includes straight-from-the-horse's mouth advice from Rob Killion, executive director of the Common Application. </p>
<p>Excerpt:</p>
<p>
[quote]
At issue is the “self-reported test” section of the Common App, in which applicants are asked to list their standardized test scores on the universal admissions form, which is accepted by nearly 400 colleges. To ease applicants’ anxiety, Mr. Killion wants them to know that among their options is a simple one: to leave this particular section of the application blank.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Although there are still many questions and concerns (not to mention fury), that the new Score Choice policy evokes, this column should allay some worries about how to best tackle the test-score section of the Common App this year.</p>
<p>There are, of course, pros and cons to leaving that section blank, but I do feel that some folks will sleep better at night knowing that it's at least an option.</p>
<p>while the focus is on CB’s new policy, I’m still “flummoxed” about those schools like Yale which request ALL scores, and how they treat the ACT. Do they expect a student to pay to send each and every ACT score report?</p>
<p>Since many HS transcripts include the “test score stickies” from each SAT and ACT a student takes, how is “score selection” really going to work. I know that colleges don’t often “accept” the scores on the transcript, but they would be hard to “ignore” if they are there.</p>
<p>Accordingly along with mom’s post: if the HS transcript stickies the ACT/SAT how does a student apply to a test optional school? I know this is a rhetorical question since many HS transcripts DO include SAT/ACT but with more and more schools going test optional, the transcript stickie may have to be revisited at many high schools…</p>
<p>Are the Common App people planning to do anything to address this? </p>
<p>I’m majorly bummed - S has almost completed the Common App for one school where he was sending all scores, and was about to start on the next school where he wasn’t going to send all scores.</p>
<p>He had already entered all of the scores. We had incorrectly assumed that for the next school’s app, he would able to remove them. </p>
<p>The only way I can figure out to get around it now that the scores are entered is to start over with a new user name, and re-enter all of the old info from the entire application. Does anyone else have a better idea?</p>
<p>Sacchi do not do that! There is a way to edit the application before sending it to another school. I asked Common App about this and I will PM you their response!</p>
<p>you cannot start a new app, since the computer will catch the SSN, name and address, etc. But you can send off one application and then save, open and revise & raname to send to school #2.</p>
<p>Right ^^ Yale is the only college that has specifically allowed for self-reporting, instead of requiring all official reports for ACT scores. Others, like Pomona and Georgetown, appear to expect applicants to pay separately to send every ACT test result. A ridiculous policy, IMO.</p>
<p>The colleges that rejected score choice AFTER kids had planned their testing strategy around the purported availability of score choice really annoy me (in case you hadn’t noticed). There are actually students out there (in the senior class of 2010) who saw the offer of score choice as allowing them to experiment with various testing combinations, and now they have to strategize about how to deal with their apparently naive reliance on the promise of score choice.</p>
<p>I’m a little skeptical/concerned about leaving the test scores blank. With schools like Yale, where they specifically ASK you to self report all your scores, I feel like leaving the section blank could make it look like you’re trying to cheat the system or something like that…which could have some pretty bad consequences ^^</p>
<p>agree with fauxnom and the bunny.
I resent that so many colleges package their numbers as it suits them, but want to have total control of test taker numbers.</p>
<p>Okay, you demand to see ALL the scores for every test ever taken, why don’t you show your scores for your ENROLLED freshman versus admitted, how about breaking down those numbers by race, legacy and developmental status? Care to release your admit rates and stats by your individual colleges (I’m looking at you, Penn)? I could go on…</p>
Yes, it really does need to be revisited. There is information on collegeboard.com to give to high schools/school systems that should encourage them to remove standardized test scores from transcripts. For one thing, it is a violation of privacy, unless the parent or 18+ year old student has explicitly given their permission.</p>
<p>Our school district has implemented the removal of all standardized testing scores from its transcripts. I suggest checking in with the schools to see if they can delete the tests. Its worth a try, though maybe too late for the 2010ers.</p>
<p>I am not understanding why no one has mentioned the multiple version option for common ap. Last year, my daughter did not have to deal with the differences caused by score choice but instead she was dealing with varied common ap essays she she was sending to each of the 10 schools to which she applied. I think she had 5 versions by the end. Each version was sent to the cluster of schools to which she wished to send the same data. I could not log back in to see daughter’s account but I watched the “demo” on commonapp.org. On it, I could see the application instructions page that show a link to the instructions for “application versions”. If you have an account, you should be able to access these instructions. It was very easy to do and should allow an applicant to not have to deal with the concern of sending a common ap with blank score section. Customize it. It is worth the little bit of extra effort.</p>
<p>sacchi : you can easily set up versions within one common app account. It allows a max of 10 versions. Follow the instructions as provided on the common app web site by clicking the instructions link on left side of the page. There is a section called “application versions” that will tell you what to do.</p>
<p>For me, the issue isn’t simply CAN one customize the Common Application to reveal different score sets (or none at all) to colleges, but should one HAVE to?</p>
<p>With so much else to keep track of (application and financial aid deadlines, requirements, test registration dates, etc.), it seems absurd that now parents and students need to track down and adhere to test-reporting policies that vary from college to college. </p>
<p>Score choice was supposed to make this process a bit easier, but it certainly hasn’t.</p>
<p>Here is a question for you all :
My kid, HS Freshman has been participating in the talent search program since 6th grade.
The talent search we are associated with (due to region) recommends both SAT and ACT to be taken by 9th graders. They do it because of score choice. I worry about it. I do not think it looks good if you have too many scores on your account. He already has an SAT from 8th grade that we asked to be kept on file. He does not mind taking these tests at all and I think it is a VERY good practice for him. But I do not know what to do this year. Proceed with both or skip altogether?</p>