<p>My son applied to Bowdoin a very selective school and on the application the SAT scores were optional so he didnt include them since he thinks his 600 in CR will affect his chances even though he scored a 790 in Math..</p>
<p>Will this increase or hurt his chances? </p>
<p>Btw he has a 3.9 unweighted GPA and 4.1 weighted</p>
<p>According to the most recent common data set here:
[Common</a> Data Set (Bowdoin, )](<a href=“http://www.bowdoin.edu/ir/data/cds-table.shtml]Common”>Common Data Set | Bowdoin College)</p>
<p>Of the 72% of applicants who submitted SAT scores (presumably those applicants who thought that their SAT scores were good), the 25th to 75th percentile scores were:</p>
<p>SAT CR: 670 to 750
SAT M: 660 to 740
SAT W: 670 to 760</p>
<p>Call Bowdoin and ask. </p>
<p>It would be terrible if he didn’t get in, and you were all left wondering if you made a mistake in not submitting the scores.</p>
<p>Ask to speak with one of the admissions officers and ask them how they handle situations like this.</p>
<p>This is a case where I actually wouldn’t call Bowdoin and ask. If I had an SAT subscore that was substantially below the bottom quartile, as this one is, I would keep that information to myself.</p>
<p>Cvavmv, I think the relevant question is, “Will applying without SAT scores turn out to be better or worse than sending them?” Since 600 is fairly dramatically below Bowdoin’s bottom-quartile CR score of 670, and since Bowdoin specifically chose to allow applicants the option of applying without submitting ACT or SAT scores, I think the odds are that your son made the better choice. Does that mean he’ll get into Bowdoin? No. I mean, good luck to him and all, but the overwhelming number of Bowdoin’s applicants don’t get in. But if he is not admitted, I highly doubt that the reason will be his choice of an option that the college offered.</p>
<p>Agree w/Sikorsky. I think for selective schools, CR is the most important score to have within range, no matter what the intended major of the applicant. There may be more leeway given on the math section for a non-math/science student, but these schools are going to want to see strong reading & comprehension skills for everyone.</p>
<p>To add to what entomom said (and I hope you don’t mind, entomom), an applicant can demonstrate that he has strong reading and verbal skills without standardized testing. That’s the whole idea behind making the SAT and ACT optional. </p>
<p>Obviously, your son has high grades. If his teacher recommendations also address his ability to read, write and think very well, then Bowdoin will probably assume that he’s a smart and able student who’s just not so great at standardized testing. And that’s exactly what you want them to think.</p>
<p>^Thanks, yes, you don’t want to dissuade Bowdoin from something that his coursework and other factors are already telling them.</p>
<p>Don’t call. We visited Bowdoin this summer and had a really great info session with Ms. Soule. She’s either the Dir of Adm or Asst Dir. Anyway she made quite a few jokingly serious comments about Bowdoin’s test optional policy and the calls/questions they get by the truckload about whether or not folks should include scores.</p>
<p>Yeah, don’t call. That 600 CR may be a dealbreaker, so suppressing it is the right thing to do. 790 Math is nice and all, but not remarkable and certainly won’t make up for the sub-par CR.</p>
<p>Best of luck; Bowdoin’s a terrific school.</p>
<p>Just to be clear, I wasn’t suggesting that the OP identify him or herself (or the applicant) - but, rather, call anonymously and ask for advice. If necessary, frame the question in terms of a future applicant.</p>
<p>And, frankly, if the admissions office is getting questions about the school’s test-optional policy “by the truckload,” then they should be doing a better job of putting the answers where they belong: on the website!!!</p>