Chance me Tufts early decision [3.7 GPA, top 8% rank; biology]

[Mjkacmom]

There is no downside, take the SAT and/or ACT, a good score will only help. Any calculus?

[AustenNut]

@Blueberry12tea

I have not taken the SAT or ACT. My sister said it would be a bad idea to take it since colleges are test optional.

Many of the most competitive schools are starting to require test scores again, and many that aren’t requiring it this year are test-preferred. The good news, though, is that you have some good AP scores that you can submit to help substantiate the strength of your grades.

I’m not up to date on the policies for all schools, but I just looked up three of the schools on your list, and they will remain test optional this year. I would double-check this for the remainder of the schools on your list.

• Amherst: Information about Standardized Testing Policy | First-Year Applicants | Amherst College
• Wellesley: Apply - Wellesley.
• Williams: https://www.williams.edu/admission-aid/apply/first-year/

According to this aggregator, this was the percentage of students submitting the related test to these schools for entry in the Fall of 2022. I would go to the schools’ pages to see whether the number of accepted students submitting tests has shifted (lower percentage now is good news for you, higher percentage now is less good).

School	Percentage who submitted SAT	Percentage who submitted ACT
Tufts	37%	19%
Umass-Amherst	30%	5%
Umass-Boston	28%	3%
Northeastern	33%	11%
Boston College	34%	18%
Wellesley	40%	21%
Williams	41%	21%
Amherst	40%	21%

[thumper1]

@Blueberry12tea

My sister said it would be a bad idea to take it since colleges are test optional.

Some colleges are NOT test optional. And some college require a test score for merit aid consideration, if you are looking for that.

Plus…without taking the test, you have no way to know if it would enhance your application….or not.

[parentologist]

Let your guidance counselor write the history. Your essay should focus on your hopes and dreams. Meanwhile, you have a good shot anywhere not requiring a test.

[Blueberry12tea]

I’ll try and follow that, I don’t want my essay to sound too basic. I’ve been having trouble trying to figure out how to navigate that. In a way what I’m trying to do is maybe a few sentences on my past, then leading to how it shaped me, and then what I want to do in my future because of it.

[DramaMama2021]

It’s a delicate balance. Take advantage of the free essay review service here. Best of luck!

https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/t/follow-these-steps-to-get-free-essay-feedback/3645578?u=dramamama2021

[green92]

That’s great!!