Do you have a link for Tulane?
Well we need merit and have been studying and working butts off here and paying private tutor weekly for months. SAT and ACT were both canceled and my junior is rescheduled to take both of these in June for the 1st time! Poor kid has a 504 for ADD. We need multiple shots at this. We live in Montco PA so possible June might not happen either. How will that be fair if we can’t be considered for Merit?
Not all schools require test scores for merit, but many do…you will have to check into this for each school.
Has your student taken real, full length practice tests? PSAT?
If it’s possible to make a determination that one test is better for your student than another, I might only focus on one and not be studying for both at this late-ish date. @lindagaf? @homerdog?
Is there a master link to all the colleges going test optional since this all happened? Thx
This is the closest list I could find. It’s updated regularly but still not totally up to date. https://www.fairtest.org/sites/default/files/Optional-Schools-in-U.S.News-Top-Tiers.pdf
@mom517 I believe there’s a list here on CC somewhere of colleges that are going test optional for the upcoming application season. It’s changing every day. Best to check on each college’s website. Yes, this means more research on the part of parents and students.
The problem with merit aid for the next cycle is that merit is typically awarded to students with very high test scores AND grades. Many colleges award merit based on the National Merit Scholarship. Colleges that rely on NMS to make awards might just stick to that measure. Other colleges might base merit awards solely on grades.
I think it’s not possible to know other than contacting individual colleges in a couple of months. I think many colleges are currently hashing out how they will award merit for this coming cycle.
One thing I am fairly sure of is that merit awards are going to be harder to come by. Colleges are going to take a big financial hit. They will more aggressively court the best students. They will probably favor students with stronger test scores, because they will want all data points to boost their ratings. They will possibly be offering fewer merit awards.
I’m sorry to say but I think it’s going to be a pretty brutal cycle for those needing merit aid from private colleges. Those who don’t need so much money and those who can pay will find themselves with more acceptances. Public U’s will, I expect, see a big bump in applicants.
I could be wrong. Maybe they will offer more awards, but in smaller amounts, in order to attract more students. I expect that colleges with smaller endowments will struggle and not offer as many merit awards.
@Mwfan1921 , yes, I agree, I don’t see an advantage in trying to study hard for two tests right now. There will be limited testing opportunities, but I think both ACT and College Board will try to add additional test dates, if possible. Currently, there is no news about that.
Students can take a free practice test for either ACT or SAT and figure out which test they prefer. Focus on doing well on one test, for now.
There could be an issue for students who had a qualifying PSAT score but are unable to take a “confirming” SAT or ACT for NM.
Colgate went test optional https://www.colgate.edu/news/stories/colgate-university-test-optional-fall-2021-applicants
Also lots of kids don’t do well on the psat but then do great on the Sat /Act
Middlebury just went test optional for this one year.
She did not do well on the SAT or Pre ACT. She has been doing 1300 on practice SAT. I am not even sure about where exactly she would be applying or what major frankly.
Here is a running list
https://www.scribd.com/document/455860610/Test-Optional-Growth-Chronology-Revised#from_embed
Loyola Marymount University
http://www.laloyolan.com/news/lmu-waives-standardized-test-score-requirements-for-fall-2021-applicants/article_901c6067-2ab0-5374-805e-87d0e65347dc.html
Babson College
University of Washington
@mom517 my s19 had accommodations from his online hs and was able to test 1:1 in quiet location due to AutismSpectrumDisorder. You could ask if your D qualifies for this accommodation and it might be easier for her to test if there are any tests anywhere in the US that test on that date even if the ones in your local area are cancelled. He was confident in his area of interest-finance so it made the college search a little easier. We wanted to keep him closer to home since he has both ASD and a chronic health condition. He applied to one in-state public and one reciprocity state public as we knew he didn’t have the stats for any great merit scholarships. It has worked well for him.
@kanfly and @Mwfan1921 I have checked the merit charts of a couple schools of interest for next year and she is in a good spot there if the merit offerings stay the samea for next year…but if the ACT/SAT requirement moves up even a point, it would make a difference and of course I don’t know about schools that don’t have the auto-merit. So…if testing becomes available again, I will want her to at least try for a better score. Let’s hope for the best 
There is a list on 2021admissions.org for those looking for a daily-updated list of colleges going test optional for 2021 admissions cycle