<p>Or to put it another way ... does it really matter?</p>
<p>I know the kids obsess about their SAT scores -- but if a school says it's 'test optional' does it really consider the test scores that are submitted? Can an applicant be hurt by submitting test scores that aren't outstanding if a large portion of applicants don't submit test scores at all?</p>
<p>Some schools will specify --- "SAT is optional. However, if you submit scores, we will consider them as part of your application."</p>
<p>It's best to check with the specific school regarding their particular policy.</p>
<p>I'm sure the schools consider the test scores if they are submitted. Bates, for example, says in their Common Data Set that SAT (and ACT) scores are considered if submitted. At Bates about 51% of the applicants submitted SAT scores and 26% of the applicants submitted ACT scores, likely with some overlap. I would hesitate to submit scores below the 25% percentile, but would think there is little downside to submitting scores that are above the median.</p>
<p>For a current list, and a description of the individual institutional policies visit The</a> National Center for Fair & Open Testing | FairTest This is one more thing that you have to investigate on a school-by-school basis. The policies vary widely.</p>
<p>Virtually all schools (Sarah Lawrence is the exception) will gladly consider test scores if a student submits them. </p>
<p>There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that selective schools intentionally or unconsciously impute modest scores to non-submitting students. It's a perfectly reasonable practice: non-submitting student's scores are, on average, a lot lower than those of submitters.</p>
<p>My personal favorite was a quote on one college's website, which lasted only a month or so, where the dean of admission said, "well, we don't assume that a nonsubmitting student's scores were abysmal." If you really want to know if that's the practice, ask directly, but don't assume you're getting full disclosure.</p>
<p>I once heard an admissions officer at Bowdoin, a highly selective LAC that's been test-optional for many years, explain it this way (paraphrasing slightly, but as accurately as memory allows):</p>
<p>"'SAT-optional' doesn't mean we don't consider test scores. We do consider them if they're submitted, and that can be an important part of our evaluation of the candidate's file. Most of our applicants do submit test scores, and that helps us make an informed evaluation. If we don't have test scores, it forces us to place greater weight on other parts of the application, so essentially, the rest of your application---things like grades, strength of HS curriculum, teacher and counselor recommendations, ECs, essays---probably needs to be that much stronger to be competitive. But every year we do admit a significant number of applicants who don't submit test scores, whose applications are otherwise outstanding. If your test scores are good, you're probably better off submitting them. If they're not so good, you may decide not to submit them. Even though it's probably true that most applicants who decide not to submit test scores make that decision because their scores aren't at the top of the heap, we'll try not to make that assumption about any particular candidate and instead make the best judgment we can from the information that's available to us."</p>
<p>Many schools that are "test optional" are only test optional regarding the evaluation of the application for acceptance. In order to be considered for their merit scholarships, many of these "test optional" schools require the submission of SAT/ACT scores. In other words, not sending in scores will not prevent you from being accepted, but it very well may prevent you from being awarded a merit scholarship.</p>
<p>That's true, although on an old thread on this topic, some schools did. Drew and Providence do give merit without scores, other schools said, No, some said, "on an individual basis".</p>
<p>
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In other words, not sending in scores will not prevent you from being accepted, but it very well may prevent you from being awarded a merit scholarship.
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Not universally true, as Debruns also said. S received merit $$ from WPI, but did not submit scores of any sort. He did, however, have to submit a project instead of scores, per WPI's policies.</p>
<p>The merit award policy is specific to the school. Yes, some will offer merit aid without the submission of SAT/ACT scores but many will not. It depends on the school and it is something that parents need to be aware of when suggesting a test optional school to their child.</p>
<p>And, some schools that are listed as "test-optional" are more correctly termed: "you get to choose which tests we evaluate." Connecticut College, for example, doesn't require the SAT or ACT with writing, but if you don't submit one of those two then you have to submit either 2 Subject tests or 2 AP tests.</p>
<p>Also, although each case is vastly different, Drew gave an award of 22,000 to one student without scores. If they don't have anything written I have reason to doubt and i ask...although for some, it's a very new policy and they haven't updated or decided on that yet. I think seeing graded papers, (some requests are very specific)maybe a few, along with your grades and teacher recs, can give somewhat of a good picture. Nothing is perfect. You can see how they work and how the teacher grades. I know if asked some colleges will allow you to submit more than requested to give them a better overview.</p>
<p>
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Connecticut College, for example, doesn't require the SAT or ACT with writing, but if you don't submit one of those two then you have to submit either 2 Subject tests or 2 AP tests.
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</p>
<p>Conn actually doesn't accept the SAT to meet their standardized testing requirement at all. Students HAVE to submit either the ACT or SAT Subject Tests.</p>
<p>Connecticut</a> College : Admission - Requirements & Deadlines</p>
<p>It's a more restrictive policy than that of most SAT-required schools (which take the ACT as an equivalent of the SAT), particularly since Conn is in a part of the country where the SAT is the default first test for most students.</p>
<p>Remember- as many have advised here; if you do choose to take Act/Sat, do not have scores automatically sent to any colleges. Wait to get results before you make that choice.</p>
<p>Hamilton also has a policy that still requires other testing. In other words, you can substitute a quantitative test and a verbal test for those portions of the SAT I-- but they have a list. (It's basically SAT IIs and APs.)</p>
<p>And some schools (Ursinus?) are test optional for only those applicants who meet a certain gpa or class rank threshold.</p>