So it seems that there seems to be some backing off now from the benefit of so many schools going test optional for 2021. Now it seems that they will go full test blind for 2022 but still penalize 2021 despite covid if you cant take your SAT - which in CA doesnt look like it will happen unless SAT does it online in October. SO now our school is suggesting we take the SAT for all the test optional colleges- but thats 6 months wasted sitting around and now I doubt my son will do better than average so is there really a point? They say test scores will not penalize but how can they say that when they are now saying an average score will be helpful? Im not in favor of sending myson to take the SAT with 200 other kids even if its outside. What are you being told about test optional schools and how do you beef up or address no test scores in your essay or application? Especially for UC?
Our school counselors are being told that test optional is exactly what it says. However, like everything, you need to work out what rounds and strengthens your application. So if you are prepared and know you will score well on the test then it may be prudent to continue with efforts to try and take the test. If you don’t think it will strengthen or enhance your application then probably good idea to forego. I think the risk of taking the test for a typical kid with no underlying issues is very low so as not really to be a consideration IMHO since they are spaced and masked but that is of course a personal risk assessment. From what you have said you don’t think that your son is an average test taker so this test would not really be a benefit so if I am reading correctly, my advice would be to skip it. HTH
Our kids aren’t back to school so we haven’t heard anything from the counselors really but from what I’ve read and an admission counselor or 2 I have talked to it’s thought best to submit a score if it is average or higher for a particular school and/or you are looking for merit. If you don’t have a score and don’t think your son’s scores would portray him in a better light than his grades, then it might not be worthwhile. It’s still hard to say. However, I just received an e-mail today from Catholic University in DC they are going to be completely test blind for 2021…for admission, honors college and merit awards. It will be interesting to see if other colleges follow suit.
Our school counselors aren’t pushing one way or the other but our school has been a test site in July and August with reduced capacity. Some parents from other schools seem surprised that other students are taking tests - one parent I talked to this week actually thought they were all canceled everywhere. Clearly some students will be applying with test scores while this possibility isn’t even being considered by some parents. I am interested to see if the current decision stands in California.
Who is “they”? “Seems” to who?
All students are being forced to do either the pre-ACT (fresh and soph) or practice ACT (juniors). SAT our school has always made more optional except for those pursuing more competitive colleges.
Push may be the wrong word. Taking the SAT (usually Spring of junior year) is required for graduation in my state. Canceled in April and waived, but now reinstated as a graduation requirement. All seniors will take a school day SAT in September - even though school is remote through at least mid-October.
Our high school isn’t pushing the SAT… it is the kids and parents pushing the high school to offer a test date! They have a tentative date in October for seniors-only, but there is a lot of demand among juniors too.
My son’s high school is offering two dates in September when seniors will be able to take the SAT at the school during school hours. FYI, our schools are currently only operating in an online manner so only those students taking the test will actually be at the school.
I recently sat in on a zoom presentation that was jointly conducted by a consortium of 5 liberal arts colleges here in the Pacific Northwest (Reed, Lewis & Clark, University of Puget Sound, Willamette, and Whitman).
Some schools like Reed definitely said they will not be considering SAT scores this year by which they mean they won’t even look at them. Others, like Lewis & Clark and UPS said they were optional by which they meant, if you want them considered as part of your application then send them.
Basically the schools are all over the map. Some are explicit about not using SAT scores this year. Others hedge their bets and vaguely imply that SATs are still worth reporting if they are good.
In addition, some of the state schools around here like UO have merit scholarships for which both SAT scores and GPA are a criteria. To my knowledge they haven’t adjusted their criteria for merit scholarships even if they have adjusted their criteria for admissions and have gone test optional.
In my opinion, for parents and students seeking good merit aid awards, it is still worthwhile to put down a good SAT score, even if it may not be as important for admissions.
NOTE: Here in the Portland metro area there were at least a half dozen different test sites with seats available for upcoming SAT sessions, all at various area high schools that are currently on 100% distance learning. I expect what they will do is just use the gyms, cafeterias, and other big spaces to spread kids out to the correct socially distanced spaces. Which will be easier to do now with the schools essentially empty.