Sally_Rubenstone

Of all the pieces of the college admission process that drive me nuts each year, this season's new Score Choice policy may be the worst. The College Board claims that Score Choice (which allows applicants to select which test results are reported ... and which ones aren't) was designed to help reduce student stress. But it's produced mainly pandemonium instead, especially because some colleges insist on seeing all scores, regardless of the Score Choice option.

So how do seniors complete their Common Applications when they are applying to a mix-and-match roster of schools that are honoring Score Choice and those that are not?

Check out this latest entry in "The Choice" (The New York Times blog by The Gatekeepers author Jacques Steinberg):

For Those Withholding SAT Scores, Advice on Completing the Common Application - The Choice Blog - NYTimes.com

It includes straight-from-the-horse's mouth advice from Rob Killion, executive director of the Common Application.

Excerpt:

Although there are still many questions and concerns (not to mention fury), that the new Score Choice policy evokes, this column should allay some worries about how to best tackle the test-score section of the Common App this year.

There are, of course, pros and cons to leaving that section blank, but I do feel that some folks will sleep better at night knowing that it's at least an option.

bluebayou

while the focus is on CB's new policy, I'm still "flummoxed" about those schools like Yale which request ALL scores, and how they treat the ACT. Do they expect a student to pay to send each and every ACT score report?

mom2collegekids

Since many HS transcripts include the "test score stickies" from each SAT and ACT a student takes, how is "score selection" really going to work. I know that colleges don't often "accept" the scores on the transcript, but they would be hard to "ignore" if they are there.

rodney

Accordingly along with mom's post: if the HS transcript stickies the ACT/SAT how does a student apply to a test optional school? I know this is a rhetorical question since many HS transcripts DO include SAT/ACT but with more and more schools going test optional, the transcript stickie may have to be revisited at many high schools....

sacchi

Are the Common App people planning to do anything to address this?

I'm majorly bummed - S has almost completed the Common App for one school where he was sending all scores, and was about to start on the next school where he wasn't going to send all scores.

He had already entered all of the scores. We had incorrectly assumed that for the next school's app, he would able to remove them.

The only way I can figure out to get around it now that the scores are entered is to start over with a new user name, and re-enter all of the old info from the entire application. Does anyone else have a better idea?

rodney

^^reminds me of fall 2007 when common app started to allow customization of the essay for each school.....after we had all hit "submit"......

sportgreet03

Sacchi do not do that! There is a way to edit the application before sending it to another school. I asked Common App about this and I will PM you their response!

bluebayou

sacchi:

you cannot start a new app, since the computer will catch the SSN, name and address, etc. But you can send off one application and then save, open and revise & raname to send to school #2.

Anarch

I know that, at least in Yale's case, you are required to self-report all your ACT scores, and send one official ACT score report.

FauxNom

Right ^^ Yale is the only college that has specifically allowed for self-reporting, instead of requiring all official reports for ACT scores. Others, like Pomona and Georgetown, appear to expect applicants to pay separately to send every ACT test result. A ridiculous policy, IMO.

The colleges that rejected score choice AFTER kids had planned their testing strategy around the purported availability of score choice really annoy me (in case you hadn't noticed). There are actually students out there (in the senior class of 2010) who saw the offer of score choice as allowing them to experiment with various testing combinations, and now they have to strategize about how to deal with their apparently naive reliance on the promise of score choice.

fuzzyfirebunny

I'm a little skeptical/concerned about leaving the test scores blank. With schools like Yale, where they specifically ASK you to self report all your scores, I feel like leaving the section blank could make it look like you're trying to cheat the system or something like that...which could have some pretty bad consequences ^^

broetchen

agree with fauxnom and the bunny.
I resent that so many colleges package their numbers as it suits them, but want to have total control of test taker numbers.

Okay, you demand to see ALL the scores for every test ever taken, why don't you show your scores for your ENROLLED freshman versus admitted, how about breaking down those numbers by race, legacy and developmental status? Care to release your admit rates and stats by your individual colleges (I'm looking at you, Penn)? I could go on...

blaw

I also hear that many colleges superscore SAT and ACT anyway.
They'll just pick the best ones that you got.

Deja

Yes, it really does need to be revisited. There is information on collegeboard.com to give to high schools/school systems that should encourage them to remove standardized test scores from transcripts. For one thing, it is a violation of privacy, unless the parent or 18+ year old student has explicitly given their permission.

learninginprog

Our school district has implemented the removal of all standardized testing scores from its transcripts. I suggest checking in with the schools to see if they can delete the tests. Its worth a try, though maybe too late for the 2010ers.