Wondering if anyone has experience with applying to schools test optional & if so, did it affect you receiving merit money? My D has just ok SAT score & wondering whether to go this route @ two of her schools or not…
I can’t answer your question @theaterwork but I wonder if your student has taken the ACT. Many students do better on it than the SAT, and vice versa. Our D never took the SAT. All of her schools took the ACT scores.
Yes @HappyDancer98 she will take ACT in Sept. Her SAT isn’t awful just not that high. Might do better on ACT I agree. Math is her Achilles heel!
Ditto. Thus, my handle. hehe
I get it. Good numbers mean good money … And more options. Best of luck! I think I would call the schools and ask about the merit money/test optional situation. It’s a good question and they may be able to put your mind at ease. One less thing to ponder. 
My daughter did not submit scores to the only test-optional (at the time) school she applied to. Her scores were fine but she wrote an essay about how glad she was to be applying to such a progressive school that cared more about the person than the flawed testing system. Got in with presidential scholarship. (though didn’t go; chose a different school).
@theaterwork My daughter applied test optional to The George Washington University (#1 choice) and American University (#2 choice)
She was accepted to GW’s Elliot School and the University Honors Program. She also received the Presidential Academic Scholarship.
She was also accepted to AU’s School of International Service and Global Scholars Program (3 year program). She received no merit. Based on my discussions with several AU admissions staff I suspect her not submitting any scores drove this decision.
She attended a full International Baccalaureate private school and applied with a 4.16 GPA (weighted).
This link provides a list of “test optional” and “test flexible” schools: