Parents of the HS Class of 2021 (Part 1)

Good morning, I just came across this post on G&F for anyone applying to GW without scores.

So apparently Georgetown is not really test optional. My daughter just applied early action without submitting her ACT scores and they sent her a questionnaire to check her tests status which did not give her any options to opt out unless she had never taken a test because of the Covid-19 situation. We emailed the admissions office to get an explanation about their test optional policy, and once they found out that she is just unhappy with her score because it was taken under rough circumstances, they told her to submit the scores. Did anyone who took a test successfully apply to Georgetown Early Action without being pressured to submit scores?

Georgetown’s website is clear
only those who have not been able to take a test can apply test optional. If an applicant has taken an SAT and/or ACT test, or tests, all scores must be reported, same as always for Georgetown
No score choice, no test optional.

I am interested in knowing whether GU’s application volume is down, because that policy stinks. Similarly, the UF system, which is still not test optional, has 50% fewer apps so far, reported at the Florida Board of Governor’s meeting this past week (I don’t have a link).

Here’s GU’s policy:

https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/flexible-testing-requirements/#

Seems a bit early to know I think. We don’t know where cases will be in April. Any college with kids on campus that doesn’t even allow prospective students to walk on campus is going to face a lower yield for sure. Since you’re on the west coast, I understand the gloom. Lots of SoCal schools don’t have any students on campus.

As D’s list stands right now, I think most of her schools allow visitors to self tour so we would do that for sure. And we would try really hard to find a student from our high school or some friend-of-a-friend to show us around. We’d probably plop ourselves down on a bench on campus for a decent amount of time, too, and just watch the students. Walk around the surrounding town and see if there are any students we could talk to. If it’s a place where D could dance, we’d try to meet or at the very least zoom with some of those girls. Deciding sight completely unseen is not happening! If schools drop off of the list because she can’t get on campus, then she will choose from what she can see.

@TVBingeWatcher2 not really surprised. I think these elite schools that have never done TO admissions and are not able to cut a certain percentage off the top based on scores are going to struggle in this cycle.

I don’t think it’s an elite school thing. I think it’s a Georgetown thing. They’ve always wanted a ton of testing - including all sittings of SAT and ACT and three SAT2s. Most top schools don’t have GT’s testing requirement for this year. And, yes, don’t we have to bet that they’ll have fewer applicants?

They extended their deadline by three days, but maybe they do that every year. I too would be interested to know what’s going on with their app volume.

Re: sending all scores, any ideas about how they use the lower scores in their admission review process, for example if a student has a clearly higher SAT and lower ACT or vice versa?

I don’t really know the inside workings of their admissions dept, but I have to believe they consider all the scores because that’s what they ask for.

How important test scores are in the overall holistic review, or whether a strong score can make up for a weak score, I do not know.

@burghdad can’t wait to hear what you and your D think of BAMA!

So, I found the source for the UF decrease in application volume statement. One of the Florida Board of Governors stated that there are a ‘significantly lower number of applicants’ than last year. Application volume at ‘many of the institutions is below 50%’.

The BOG then go on to discuss if not being test optional is contributing to this decline. Some members think that is true, but one guy said they are working closely with CB and ACT who assure them that students are able to test (HA HA)
actually, the data does not support that in Florida, feedback from counselors on list servs say there are many, many Florida students who haven’t been able to test. Bright Futures obviously still requires a test as well.

These ‘leaders’ are showing an egregious dereliction of duty. I wonder if they know that UGA’s app volume is up 30%? (yes, I know this is UGA’s first year on CA too, so not a perfect test optional comparison)

Anywhoo, I’ll stop my rant now. The link to the BOG meeting is here, the application volume discussion starts around 2:14:00, followed by testing/test optional chatter until 2:32:00 or so.

https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/11-5-20-florida-board-of-governors-meeting-part-1/

@TVBingeWatcher2 yesterday we got a letter from Alabama President which said “Welcome to the University of Alabama
 We;re glad you’ve joined the University of Alabama family, and we look forward to your arrival on campus”

Not sure why she got this she had not committed and deposit or anything was paid.

Anyway I will give the review of the visit when we get back next week.

Ok, so S21 private school went back about a month ago fully in person and now a student got Covid and they are going back to remote through at least after Thanksgiving (quarantining everyone). Our city only had 10 cases yesterday (up from almost none) so odds were quite low of this happening. Makes Covid a little more real.

I feel a bit nervous about his list schools that track interest but with his AP classes and all of the app essays, no one (including me) has any enthusiasm right now for watching more of that. I hope some virtual events were recorded so maybe during holiday breaks or after apps he can circle back and watch. We were very much off on our timing with those offerings. Searched too early when they were dealing with the class of '20 still and then burned out.

@GoldPenn Just wanted to offer a virtual hug for all you are going through!

@Mwfan1921 I also came across this nugget from Sept: GU Loosens Testing Requirements for Some Class of 2025 Applicants

Not sure what he means by “started” their applications (actually paid the fee, or something else?), but maybe we should be skeptical that fully-submitted EA apps will be up once students realize they need to submit all scores. It seems like there could be some confusion out there among applicants and if the website wasn’t read, the all-score requirement doesn’t appear until the applicant has paid and gets to test score section in the supplement.

@SammoJ Awww, thanks! That’s so kind of you.

Georgetown has their own app, doesn’t accept common or coalition apps.(!)

A student can start an app without paying any $
will be interesting to see how many of those 7K+ end up applying EA or RD!

@Mwfan1921 Well, having just gone through the GT app process, it is in 2 parts. Part 1 is basic info - submitting it costs $85 and it gets you on their radar and in the queue for an interview. Whether or not you continue with Part 2 (the essays), you have sunk the money. So I expect that “started” means completing Part 1 and paying.

S21 did Part 1 back in June, had his interview in August, and submitted Part 2 by Nov 1 (EA). He has the stats but it is still a reach - but it is his top choice.

My daughters friend is thinking about applying to University of Florida. UF moved their priority deadline to Nov 16th. She has a 3.93 Unweighted GPA and is a National Merit Semifinalist and decent ECs (honor Societies at school, Varsity athlete etc). The main reason she wants to apply for UF is the Benaquisto scholarship. But the UF scholarship website is really confusing. It says that the applicant must be a National Merit Scholar to receive the scholarship. So, do you have to be a scholar or is a finalist eligible to receive the scholarship especially for an OOS applicant? Also looks like the admissions decisions will not be made until the end of February. I really appreciate any help/information about this.

My D20 is an OOS Benacquisto recipient for FSU. You only need to attain Finalist status and then make UF your child’s first choice to get the scholarship. Once your kid gets the scholarship, he/she then becomes an NMScholar. If your kid gets either a corporate scholarship or the $2500 scholarship directly from NMSC, he/she still can get the Benacquisto, but will then not get the $500 award from the school. So, whether an applicant is an NMF or an NMS, he/she is eligible to get the Benacquisto.

If she’s a semi-finalist, got her paperwork in, and keeps her grades reasonable, she will be fine. Also, UF is not guaranteeing that they will honor the four years if Benaquisto funding isn’t continued. There are other FL schools that say they will (I believe UCF and maybe FSU?) That’s one thing that will be tricky about picking UF OOS as a full ride based on NMF.

Can anyone recommend a good online class for macro/micro Econ for AP tests? S is thinking if engineering isn’t “his thing,” he might like math/Econ, but wouldn’t want to have to take the intro classes. I looked at Hopkins CTY but it’s expensive. And yes, he “could” self study but seeing how that went with the standardized testing, it won’t happen. Thanks!