Does annyone know if Vanderbilt prefers applicants who submit test scores?
So unless a college is actually test blind, it is pretty safe to assume submitting a high test score helps at least a decent number of the applicants who do that.
Maybe not all–there is evidence that sometimes a high test score is essentially redundant with the academic information they already have, say a transcript from a trusted high school. Even in those cases, though, submitting a high test score can be seen as further reducing the risk of a mistaken evaluation, even if that risk is already low in that specific case.
But anyway, Vanderbilt marked Standarized test scores as “Important” in their Common Data Set. This wouldn’t make sense if they never “preferred” to see a high test score.
On the other hand, they reported 24% of enrolled first years submitted an SAT, 28% an ACT, and likely there is some overlap, so probably 50% or more of the enrolled class applied test optional. So clearly their preference was not so strong as to be insurmountable.
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The prevailing thought is yes but there’s no way to know.
Last year 52% of enrollees submitted (assuming no duplicates). Take out athletes and it’s likely higher.
I think most elite schools are headed back that way.
Test typically differentiates the unhooked vs. hooked. Maybe an athlete or Questbridge doesn’t need a test but a suburban, wealthy suburb kid - does (or at least it could help push them over the edge).
And then money is often a great differentiator - you live in a great zip code, as an example - as they are need blind. But that might attract them thinking you are full pay - as Vandy provides need to less than half the students (although they have great endowed merit too).
Good luck.
They do not prefer test scores. They are very clear in every admission session and every AO HS visit to NOT report scores below last year’s 25th %ile…because submitting a lower test score may hurt you. And that’s for everyone…FGLI students included because they do NOT consider scores in context. (I directly asked an AO this within the last month)
I understand people may not believe this from a random person on the internet, so reach out to your AO and ask. If you haven’t done an admission session, do one.
It’s hard to believe that a student shouldn’t submit a 33 for example, but Vandy is remarkably transparent on this topic. Please listen to the schools when they give you direction. It doesn’t matter what any of us think about this policy.
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Yeah, to somewhat state the obvious, we pretty much know Vanderbilt prefers a high test score, but the question you are focusing on is when is a test score low enough it no longer helps.
And I agree people should just listen to what Vanderbilt says on the subject. Some colleges are not very transparent and then we have no choice but to speculate more. But when a college actually opens up, that obviously trumps any such speculation.
IME it’s easier for students to ascertain whether their test score strengthens their app and if it doesn’t it can either be neutral or a disadvantage.
Vandy has a different nuance because they directly say a 33 will hurt an applicant, to stick with that example. There are plenty of kids (and their parents and/or their counselors) who believe a 33 will strengthen their Vandy app, hence the need to do one’s homework at every school on the list whether that’s via the website, an admissions session, a HS AO visit, or by directly reaching out to the student’s AO.
Yep. Yet here on CC and other places on the interwebs, you have some posters who advise not listening to the guidance the college gives. The hubris and leaps of illogic are mind numbing.
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This is an aside, but I think it will be interesting to watch Vandy navigate their return to requiring test scores for fall 2029 freshmen/class of 2033, with only around half the enrolled class submitting for fall 2025 freshmen/class of 2029. Vandy is relying heavily on the test optional policy to carry the reported range per the stated preference for not submitting under a threshold. While Vandy had high score ranges back when scores were required (1470-1570 per 20-21 CDS), I wonder if they are biting off more than they can chew at this point.
Yup. All those folks who claim that despite what Brown admissions told them, applying early is “clearly advantageous”. Or that Harvard wants to see a VERY long laundry list of activities, including being president of a club or founder of a 501C-3.
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IMO I expect leadership knows the test score range will come down when they revert to test required. The AO I spoke with expects ranges in line with pre-covid scores when they go back to test required.
I do think they would be surprised if it falls below pre-Covid levels, but of course they have control over that, at least at some level. Meaning, they can’t control the test scores of the pool of applicants they get, but they can control who they select. And I expect they will easily be able to fill the class with students who have test scores in the pre-Covid range. But who knows?!
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I’m sure they can come up with a range similar to pre-covid, though I have a hunch they might need to more heavily weigh high scores in their decision process than they do now vs other factors. As in, a 1550 applicant may have a somewhat higher chance at Vandy in two years when scores are required, than they might this current admission season, all other things equal.
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