COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CHANGES 2021-2022

Whether your child is applying to private school, boarding school, or college—there is no hiding the fact that the pandemic has changed the admissions landscape. 

What does test-optional really mean? And what does that mean for my child?

The majority of colleges have confirmed they will remain test-optional at least through the 2021-22 admissions cycle. Test-optional means that colleges are no longer requiring test scores; however, the SAT and ACT remain powerful forces, offering admissions committees quantitative data points that are used to assess the college readiness of high school students and to compare applicants. Many colleges still rely on these scores.

Here is a brief look at how submitting SAT/ACT scores affected admissions outcomes for the 2020-21 application season:

How did the decision to move to a test-optional setting affect admissions for the 2020-2021 admissions season?

The number of applications received at the most selective colleges increased dramatically, which of course means that acceptance rates decreased—making the admissions landscape all the more competitive. In light of colleges’ test-optional stance, many students grew more ambitious and thought, Oh, now that standardized test requirements have been waived, let me try my luck at colleges which were previously out of my reach. (Harvard saw a 42% increase in applications last year, Penn a 34% increase, Tufts a 35% increase, University of Maryland a 15% increase, and Colgate a 102% increase.)

Should your child test?

Last year, since COVID was new, thousands of standardized tests were cancelled; colleges understood that many students couldn’t test, no matter how hard they tried. This next year will be different, as tests are readily available in most areas of the country. If students don’t submit a test score, colleges may assume the worst: SAT/ACT scores were not up to par. In any case, applying test-optional means that every other component of a student’s application holds more weight.

Referencing a college’s 25th-75th percentile SAT/ACT ranges can offer a way to assess how an applicant’s scores might fit in with previously admitted students. If your child has the potential to score at or above a college’s 25th percentile (and testing does not jeopardize the health of your child or family)—submitting scores can only help! Due to COVID, many students’ applications have missing pieces: semesters’ worth of grades due to temporary pass/fail grading systems, extracurriculars that were cancelled, internships that never happened, and so forth. A strong standardized test score provides colleges with a valuable assessment data point and often provides a student with an advantage over those who have similar grades but no test scores.

For those students who opt not to move forward with standardized testing, they should instead use the extra time to find ways to stand out through impressive grades, a rigorous course load, internships, volunteer work, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and supplemental essays. Without test scores, admissions committees will have to find ways to quantify these factors in order to assess your child’s contribution to their student body.

The test-optional policy is not for everyone and can help or hurt your child’s chances of admission. Since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, we would advise you to consult with an admissions expert at Fresh Outlook Tutors to formulate a strategy. (Sometimes we advise a student to apply test-optional to some schools while submitting test scores to others, giving the student a competitive advantage at different institutions.) Generally speaking, it is in your child’s best interest to sit for an SAT/ACT at least once in order to gauge whether test-optional admissions is the right choice for them.

Navigating all of these questions in an ever-changing application landscape is challenging for families. Please do not hesitate to reach out to discuss your student-specific testing and application strategy. Our team is here to answer any questions you may have as you head toward early decision and/or regular decision application deadlines. 

Please reach out to us by phone at (917) 414-0686 or by email at FreshOutlookTutors@gmail.com to help you determine whether test-optional admissions is right for your child.