To offer a fully considered opinion, it would be necessary to see the highest section scores, should you want to post them.
36 eng. 33 reading math 31 science 30. thx
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Bowdoin is truly test optional, so it’s up to you if you want to submit. If you feel your scores add strength to your app, send them. If not, don’t send. It’s unlikely the admissions decision would go differently with or without your score.
It’s difficult/imposssible to make a recommendation without knowing your whole app, but I lean towards submitting.
Good luck.
Since they are truly test optional, I would only submit scores if I thought the scores definitely increased my chances. Since you say the 33 is less impressive than the rest of your academic record, I might not submit.
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If they came out and said, “You must submit test scores,” they would get fewer applications. Fewer applications means a higher admit rate, which hurts in some rankings. I don’t see that (selectivity/admit rate) as an indicator of quality, but many rankings do, and I get how schools would care about it.
So – Bowdoin and many are sticking with TO for now. But that doesn’t mean they don’t show a preference for kids who submit.
I would definitely submit the 33.
Edit: what is your highest score on a single test? (I just realized the 33 is superscored)
USNWR, the only rankings that anyone cares about if they care at all, does not include acceptance rate in their ranking methodology.
As noted above, Bowdoin has been TO since 1969. I truly don’t understand why people don’t believe that AOs need a test score to evaluate whether the student would fit and succeed at their school. There has been nothing in Bowdoin’s historical management of TO over the last 50+ years to suggest that they prefer tests, AFAIK.
I do agree that it’s clear for some schools that came to the TO party late that they prefer test scores, but Bowdoin’s not in that group.
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I think - forgetting rankings - a lot of kids look at acceptance rate and that’s how they determine the level of prestige in their mind…if that makes sense.
So a sub 10% rate - even if half don’t include tests, etc. - is going to, for many kids, make that school seem more prestigious than a 30% or 60% or 90% acceptance rate.
Some see, for example, a Wisconsin as less prestigious even though it has a strong rep, because of it’s high acceptance rate…same with IU.
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Bowdoin has been TO since the 70s. It is part of their admission’s philosophy.
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I learned that today. hehe
I would still posit that they consider test scores, though I haven’t checked their CDS in a while.
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Partly because of the perfect score on the very important English section, the case for submission is further enhanced.
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I’m not sure we are of much aid to students if we just guess at what we think these schools policies might be.
You should submit these. The science score is about familiarity with interpreting data in the various forms in which the test presents the data, so I think that they wouldn’t be put off by the 30 in that. Unless you’re shooting for a STEM field, the 31 in math is perfectly adequate. And if you’re planning on a non-STEM field, the 36/33 English/reading is very nice. The only circumstances under which I think that your score might detract from your application would be if you were non-URM, were absolutely tops of your class from a reasonably good high school, had all sorts of academic awards that implied that you were the best applicant in a generation, and were applying to a tippy-top school. And even then, your score wouldn’t really harm you - it just wouldn’t help. That’s not the case here. The 33 confirms your good academic achievement. I don’t see how it could possibly harm your application to Bowdoin.
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Why ignore what Bowdoin itself states on its CDS, in which it marks standardized scoring as “important” in evaluating applicants? For comparison, schools such as Hamilton and Amherst mark standardized scoring one level lower, as only “considered.”
Reading is fundamental! At work, I don’t always have time to research. A lunch break allows a little time –
Looks like they do superscore at Bowdoin.
33 is strong, within their 25-75% among those who submit.
https://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/our-process/test-optional-policy/index.html
Here is what Bowdoin says about submitting test scores:
Since 1969, we’ve been selecting the right applicants for Bowdoin, using only the materials that we require of you: your transcripts, your writing, and how your teachers talk about you.
This policy allows applicants to decide for themselves whether or not their SAT or ACT results accurately reflect their academic ability and potential. For candidates electing to submit them, test scores will be reviewed along with other indicators of academic ability.
Forty-six percent of students in the Class of 2026 chose not to submit their scores.
Test Optional Policy | Bowdoin College
So, while it may be an “important” factor for those who submit, it is not necessarily important for those who do not submit, and will not necessarily hurt their application.
That’s the dilemma for a student like the OP. If a 33 undersells “their academic ability and potential” then even this otherwise solid score may do more to harm the application than help. But it is impossible to say without knowing much more about the student’s application, demographic, etc.
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So my S is NOT an URM. she is top 10 percent of class at an independent school. It’s a good, competitive school that sends students to Bowdoin every year, but not in Andover, Lawrenceville category. School says if he doesn’t send they will assume lower than 33 even though they say they don’t think about it! Even Last year they found TO applicants across the board from their cohort of schools did worse than those that submitted even at "truly’ TO schools.
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Your counselor is in a much better position to help with this than anyone here.
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but they also told him not to do optional diversity essay…which ultimately we did not agree with
A score of 33 translates to 98th percentile!
Why would Bowdoin not be happy to get top 2% students?
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Yes, I posted that same excerpt from Bowdoin’s website upstream. I would believe this over the CDS.
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