I don’t think they attach name and score together in the student’s admissions file from the purchased lists…but I’m not sure.
Yes, students can choose to send up to 4(?) test scores to colleges for free when registering for ACT/SAT but students really shouldn’t be sending test scores blind like this…before they know the result. IMO.
Many schools (and it increases every month) now allow self-reporting of test scores, so students are spending much less $ sending the test scores than before. So sending test scores blind is all risk, with little upside.
Just got an email from CB re the September SAT… on 9/26! That seems late to me…
"Today we want to share that the new SAT administration will be on Saturday, September 26, 2020. This date will be for the SAT only, in the United States and internationally, with no SAT Subject Tests™ available. Sunday testing for religious reasons will be on September 27.
Registration for the 2020-21 SAT administrations will open in May. At that point, June registrants will be able to transfer their seat to a 2020-21 administration. All other students in the high school class of 2021 who don’t have SAT scores will also have early access to register for the August, September, and October administrations. This includes students who had registered for March or May and had their registrations canceled and refunded. We’ll email you again during the week of May 26 with the exact date that registration opens."
I never thought about it, but you are likely correct. My daughter has gotten a few of those “based on your strong test score” letters and she’s only taken one test (ACT), once. I didn’t actually think about it until I read your post. Hmmm…
@burghdad my understanding about colleges buying scores is that they buy them by ranges. So maybe Harvard, etc, buys PSAT scores or ACT scores over a certain score. S19 got those types of mailings after he took the PSAT and so did many of his friends so we think that was based on that test. He got letters that looked pretty personalized from all Ivies. They were ridiculous. No way they knew anything except that one score yet were written like they knew him and liked him. There were families in our town who thought those letters actually meant something and they do not.
I don’t think admissions has any idea who gets those letters. In fact, I remember reading that colleges hire other companies to get score info and they are the ones who reach out with the marketing info.
The September date is only for the SAT. CB said that they would not allow subject tests to be taken. So I’m wondering if students will have to take subject tests in October or even November. That seems a bit late for me.
^Almost no one recommends subject tests for this year. Duke, Rice, and Georgetown do still recommend them. Harvard and Princeton say “not disadvantaged” without them. All the rest say subject tests are now optional, at least for this fall, as far as I’ve looked.
Subject tests are being offered on August testing date. But I think we might just be done at this point. S21 has one done, and wanted to take two more, but the thought of studying for them in July/Aug and hoping they don’t get canceled is not good. I believe S21 will instead use that time to work on essays and applications, and get the whole application process completed (on his end) ASAP.
I listened in on a zoom meeting where Tulane explained their temporary test optional policy and other COVID related issues for the class of 2021. I’m guessing most schools will be similar. I think Tulane is maybe a bit more upfront about what they consider than many schools. A couple nuggets:
They are still are expecting engagement with the school, but counting virtual visits the same as on campus. If anything I think there is MORE consideration of demonstrated interest, because this year it doesn’t matter if you have the time or money to visit. If you have internet access, which virtually everyone does in some capacity, you can do an online visit or otherwise engage with the school.
They are not seeing an increase in gap year requests, which I found surprising. They usually grant around 40, and don’t plan on letting this class go much higher than that despite the fact that they may get more requests.
They are anticipating an increase in apps. I think this is based on what typically happens when a school goes test optional. Personally I don’t know that the effect from that will be as high this year since it is going to be a pretty common change. But I think the uncertainity factor especially at the newly test optional schools will increase the number of apps.
If you have a test score that isn’t clearly helpful or harmful, they suggested emailing your admissions counselor and asking whether you should submit.
For competive scholarships and the honors program, they anticipate accepting some students without test scores. However, the scholarships are much more likely to go to students with scores, since everyone at that level is tip top caliber and it gives them a way to differentiate.
All of this is of course subject to change. But that is how admissions saw it a couple nights ago when I was on the meeting.
On a different online meeting an admissions officer (from Pitt I think but there were a few so I’m not sure who said it) said PLEASE don’t write about COVID in your personal statement. I think they are anticipating reading several thousand stories about lessons learned this spring due to the pandemic.
Now that makes me nervous. If a student emails their admissions officer and writes, “I have x score and I don’t know if I should submit it or not,” then doesn’t the admissions office now know what that score is, regardless of whether it is officially sent or not? Don’t they now have knowledge that may be used, consciously or subconsciously, in the admissions decision? Especially if it is in writing (via email)?
So, if a. student has taken the SAT once (and was registered for the June test) then the August test will NOT be available for that student?
That’s not great news for us. Was so hoping for an August test (if it’s safe to do so by then) as my D is crazy-busy with marching season and will have had little to no time to prep since July , as band camp starts the end of July (again, assuming there will even be a band season). I was hoping there would be more than one August test date so that every student that needs one will have the opportunity. I wonder… if the August test doesn’t fill up in any given location, if it would then be available for students who have already tested.
@JanieWalker - some of these schools will get upwards of 40,000 apps a year. I honestly think that they will not even remember to tie an email and name and a score to the full application that s/he will have in front of them (which would consist of their essay(s), LORs, test scores, supplemental essays (if any), and application. The AOs are BUSY. They’re reading hundreds of applications.
That’s not how I’m reading it. “Registration for the 2020-21 SAT administrations will open in May. At that point, June registrants will be able to transfer their seat to a 2020-21 administration. All other students in the high school class of 2021 who don’t have SAT scores will also have early access to register for the August, September, and October administrations.”
To me that means June registrations can transfer their seat (early access registration) and all others in the class of '21 who don’t have SAT scores also get early access.
Since you said your D was registered for the June test, she should have early access to register for Aug,Sept, or Oct.
S21, like your D, has one test score already and was registered for June. I’m expecting to be able to get him a seat for Aug or Sep during the early access registration.
Hi everyone! I am new here but have been lurking since lockdown. Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself (apologies if I interrupted a thread or seem confused about the whole college application process–because I am actually very much confused!).
I have a current junior. He is a pretty good student (B+) with decent ECs but nothing stellar, as many kids on here. He is interested in going to a California college (we live in California).
Not really looking for advice right now, but I admit I am pretty lost about the whole college process. Thankfully there are a lot of knowledgeable people on here, so eventually by osmosis I hope to figure things out with your help! I am a college graduate myself but I don’t remember STRESSING so much about what to do, how to do it, and how expensive it all is.