Works for me. 
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You could ask it anonymously, but the schools will most likely give a non-answer regardless. They will say something along the lines of âIf you believe that your scores enhance your application, send them. If not, then you do not need to send them and we will consider your application without scores.â
Without knowing the details of the rest of your application, itâs very unlikely that they would give an answer with any more specificity.
Most likely. But that is not the input my kid received. A college came right out and told the group of students on the info session - if you have a score of XX or above (it was a composite score), submit it. If not, it likely wonât help your application. We were surprised - and appreciative of - the straight forward input. I certainly wouldnât expect every admissions officer to give that type of info, but some might. To me, it seems more fruitful to ask the school since the rest of us are just guessing.
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I think this thread shows how the move to test optional applications has introduced a new gaming of the application process. The whole point of test optional was to allow kids who COULD NOT TAKE THE EXAMS an option to submit an application. It has devolved to students and school counselors not submitting scores because they are not historically good enough to get in to certain colleges. There seems to be no commiserate consideration for students whose schools totally changed the scheduling process and resulted in fewer AP and Honors courses available for them. And, most likely, it is kids form higher income schools who are able to take the tests, not get the scores they want, and then apply test optional and still get in.
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At the end of the day, test optional is really an exercise in game theory. Do the colleges know whether or not the test centers are open? I would think so, but they canât be completely certain, so there is an asymmetry of information to be exploited by either party. This is so diabolicalâŠ
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Itâs broader than that, most colleges for their stem majors will want a score, thatâs sort of my point. And these colleges would typically follow MITâs lead on things like that anyway. If youâre applying to MIT, you know you need to do well on the test, so you prepare and get a 1550 which you submit. Chances are youâll also be applying to Cornell or JHU and youâll submit there as well, now the OP will be competing without a score against the 1550 in BME, making it tougher to get in. A 1510 vs 1550 is not going to eliminate the applicant even with the 740 math, doesnât mean they get in of course.
If you have any data supporting this, Iâd be interested in seeing it. But so far as I can tell, and based on data posted in other threads by @Data10, MIT seems to be an outlier with regard to the way it is handling test optional. Or at least MITâs test optional policy is toward the âtest requiredâ end of the STEM spectrum; with CalTech(and its best blind policy) at the opposite end.
For example, while MIT encourages those with access to tests to submit, JHU (which you suggested would follow MITâs lead) is telling applicants that it it is their choice as to whether or not to submit, and emphasizing that even those who have access to testing can choose not to submit if they feel that their test score does not add value to the rest of the application. JHU also emphasizes that it will not penalize students who do not submit test scores.
Again, do you have any data on this, or is just your speculation? How many international stem students from Bombay are admitted to these schools with 740 Math score, as compared to a 790? And if the number is relatively small and the school encouraging students not to submit if the score doesnât add value, then why would someone with an otherwise stellar math application submit a 740? If the rest of the applicant demonstrates high potential and ability in math, then why voluntarily provide a data point that doesnât add value?
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Since the SAT and ACT are both tests that are vulnerable to costly test prep, some would suggest that allowing students to apply without those scores - including choosing to not submit a score that wasnât as good as hoped - levels the playing field more.
I donât think we know that, all we know is that OP didnât get into Duke ED test optional, but did get into CWRU, Emory, Union with submitting tests. Thatâs not causation of course, but itâll be interesting to see what happens with GaTech and Purdue where OP also submitted.
As a general principle, isnât more corroborating evidence better, in order to demonstrate onceâs candidacy? A 740 is corroborating evidence of aptitude in math. No, itâs not an 800 so it wonât stand out, but itâs not a 650 (which would cast doubt on aptitude). AOs are humans, so a reasonable conclusion if someone does not submit scores (and we know test centers are open), is that they are mediocre⊠Why let them draw that conclusion?
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Actually I did mention my maths grades are high elsewhere (Doing A levels right now). And Tulane* not Emory. Dukeâs ED pool is extremely competitive so itâs not easy to find what could have been the reason. Purdue has a high acceptance rate, so getting in seems very possible, and Georgia Tech is not TO so everyoneâs on a level playing field again.
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I donât think you can read anything into a rejection from Duke without a score vs acceptance to other schools with scores. Duke was one of the schools last year that accepted the same proportion of students who applied without scores (40% went TO/40% accepted without scores). This included kids applying to Pratt (engineering). And, our S (Pratt applicant last year) knows plenty of kids who got in TO for engineering.
What matters is the overall application. A student can absolutely stand out vs others with a high score based on the rest of their application, including a stem student. We know several stem kids from last year who never even took a test and who got accepted at top schools including Stanford, Hopkins, and Duke. Anecdotes arenât data but I donât think most schools are lying about TO. Some schools still appeared to favor scores, like Rice snd Penn, which you can see from the % who applied without a score vs the % accepted without a score, but many made sure the %âs were about even. You can look this up for the schools you are interested in.
At any rate, based on what I know about WashU, Iâd send the score. Itâs a good score so I donât know why youâd omit it. Not every stem kid gets a perfect math score. Our S is great at math but had to go to the bathroom during the math section of the ACT and I got a 34 on it. He sent it in (along with a 1520/800 math - but 1 error could drop you 20-30 pointsâŠ). Itâs going to come down to the quality of your entire app in the end. The score is just a small part of the app.
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âA 740 is corroborating evidence of aptitude in math.â
Thatâs how I see it as well, I think adcoms do differentiate between 790 and 800 but not necessarily 740 and 770, especially with an overall, balanced 1510.
âActually I did mention my maths grades are high elsewhere (Doing A levels right now).â
Do you have any idea how that compares to other applicants from India, does it stand out?
âPurdue has a high acceptance rate, so getting in seems very possible, and Georgia Tech is not TO so everyoneâs on a level playing field again.â
Purdue has a higher rate than the others in your list but itâs still 40% for engineering, maybe lower for international. Didnât know GT was test-required, let us know when you hear back. Good luck!
âWhat matters is the overall application.â
Sure, but what we know is that the overall application did not even get deferred, and imo a 1510 strengthens the application or at worst, is neutral and at least answers the question, can the student do the work. If a 1510 means a student canât do the work, that might be a blessing in disguise if not accepted.
âAnecdotes arenât dataâ
I think this early in the TO policy changes, itâs hard to get actual data especially for individual majors or say, college of engineering applicants, so anecdotes are probably the best we have now. However we canât take anecdotes about domestic applicants and apply those anecdotes to ones from India.
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Do you have any idea how that compares to other applicants from India, does it stand out?
Well students study under many different boards, like anywhere else. I have top grades so far - to put things in context, out off approximately 70 or more students last year, only 11-ish of us scored 90+ (This is in the cambridge board, donât know what itâs like for IB and Indian boards)
40% is still a fair shot Iâd say. Iâll keep yâall updated about purdue and GT.
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If a 1510 means a student canât do the work, that might be a blessing in disguise if not accepted.
Thatâs exactly what the problem is. Iâd average 770-780 in all my practice tests, my final score was the lowest Iâd ever gotten - I donât think it represents my abilities accurately, and I donât want AOs thinking that.
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Edit* They did I forgot
Well I just got the letter of acceptance to Purdue, GT will come on the 29th. Apparently thereâs been 50k+ application so I think rates will be very low
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nice! I know you submitted for them so one more more data point that submitting was the right decision imo, good luck with GT.
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Or one more data point suggesting that the counselorâs nuanced approach of submitting to some but not others was sound. Either way, congratulations to the OP on another admit!
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I got accepted to Gtech today. It was test required so everyone gave their scores. I know of people who got in with low scores and some who got deferred with really good ones. As it is, I still have the chance to submit my score to Harvard and Johns Hopkins, so Iâm kind of confused. Both were where my counsellor suggested not sending Theyâre both a long shot either way, especially Harvard. But since itâs not really that important any more Iâm wondering if I should risk it.
@theloniusmonk @mtmind and everyone else
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Iâd submit. A 1510 is not going to be a negative and you eliminate the possibility that an AO will consciously or subconsciously assume you did much worse. A 1500+ puts you in the Academic 2 rating range, at least in the past. â2. Magna potential: Excellent student with superb grades and mid-to high-700 scores (33+ ACT).â
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