Should my daughter submit SAT score to test optional SLAC

Applying to College
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Hi all— my daughter is getting conflicting advice about whether she should submit her SAT score to test optional SLACs. I’m hoping someone here can offer guidance? She has been told not to submit if her score is below the midrange of scores of applicants to whichever college she is applying to. However, she was also recently told that the college assesses test scores within the context of her high school’s median scores, so she should submit if her score is higher than average for her high school?

To be a little more specific: she got a 1400 (730 verbal, 670 math); the average at her high school (large public urban school in Houston) is 900. The 25th percentile at the SLAC she’s interested in seems to be well above 1400, somewhere north of 1470?

Any insights would be very much appreciated! She wants to apply ED!

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What does her HS counselor recommend?

Based on this limited info, I would say she should submit.

She should only apply ED if this school is her top choice and the NPC shows it will be affordable (and you don’t want to compare financial aid offers.)

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Thank you for responding. Her high school class has over 570 kids. Only 2 college counselors. She’s trying to get advice but I think the counselors don’t really have much experience with competitive colleges?

Her rank is 3rd out of 575. Her AP and IB test scores so far have been strong, and she’s doing well in AP calc BC. But she’s worried about her math SAT score (670) because she wants to go into some kind of biology/environmental studies and thinks this will be held against her?

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It would help to know the LAC. If you aren’t comfortable sharing that, what proportion of matriculating students submitted test scores per the most recent CDS? Do you know if the LAC has a do no harm policy with regard to test scores?

With that said, I don’t think there are many schools where the math score would be ‘held against her’, again she will be evaluated in the context of her school cohort. If she doesn’t submit, the risk is that schools may assume she has a lower score than she does…and her score in context of the HS is very strong.

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I think about a third of first year students submitted SAT scores and another small percentage (about 15%) submitted ACT scores. So in total I guess under 50% submitted some kind of standardized test score?

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I don’t think we’ve heard of a do no harm policy? What we’ve heard from the schools my daughter “toured” (several only virtually) is that they consider the score if it is submitted.

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Some schools publicize they have a do no harm test policy. For example, University of Chicago does.

Even with this additional info I would still encourage your student to submit her score.

Good luck to her!

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So from the data I have seen, there typically appears to be a pretty long range below the 25th where even if submitting a score isn’t helping, it isn’t hurting either. As another poster suggested, the simplest explanation for this is just that if you don’t submit, they assume you scored somewhere around there anyway.

In fact, Dartmouth’s released data suggested for advantaged applicants, it basically didn’t make a difference what you decided in any range. One interpretation of that is with advantaged applications, Dartmouth is so good at essentially predicting your score range from your other credentials plus your don’t submit decision, it basically adds little new information if you do submit.

With disadvantaged applicants, though, there was definitely a range well below their normal standards in which it appeared disadvantaged applicants WOULD benefit from submitting. In fact, it seemed to start right around 1400. Again, one interpreation is that Dartmouth just isn’t as good at predicting the scores of such applicants if they don’t submit, such that a disadvanted applicant submitting a sufficiently high score could in fact “surprise” them (note this regrettably makes sense because 1400+ test scores are way more rare among disadvantaged applicants).

Anyway, that data was too sparse to really rely on fully, but I suspect it is true that for the vast majority of colleges, and for the vast majority of applicants in the 1400+ range, it is a pretty good bet that is just not going to be low enough to be “surprisingly low”. And then for some disadvantaged applicants, it might be “surprisingly high”.

Edit: Oh, and I meant to note I think what this means is your daughter can basically just go with whatever SHE feels is her strongest application. If she is proud of her score (and it is very high!) and thinks it strengthens her application, then great, submit. If she thinks it doesn’t really represent her academic abilities and weakens her application, then don’t submit.

The virtue of doing it this way is then whatever happens, it will happen with the application you felt was strongest. Which is all you can really ask. Like if you are not accepted, it almost surely was not because of this. But still, if you feel like your application could have been stronger with the other decision, then that may still not feel great. So why do that to yourself?

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Thank you, mwfan1921!

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Thank you for your advice! I think what I’m struggling with is that the high school is a Title I school but we are not a Title I family. (The school zone covers a great cross section of Houston very close to downtown.) We did not qualify for any financial aid with our first child so we are assuming we will not qualify with our second child. So how will my child be read in terms of her score? I hate that we even have to think in these terms. I’ll try to stop worrying and just let our child, as you said, decide what her strongest application looks like. Thank you!

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1400 coming from your kid’s HS at the very least will not hurt her. If she goes TO, the assumption will probably be that she scored even lower. 1400 certainly validates her grades/academic record.

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To me, it all depends on the average scores of the ED college. If the 1400 is above the average, then definitely submit. If that 1400 is say, bottom quartile, do not submit.

Sounds nice in theory, but test scores can matter in the rankings. A Regional Rep pitching an app that will lower teh college’s test scores is a harder sell.

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Yes, that is the conflict— my daughter has read online that she should not submit since her score is below the 25th percentile for this college. But then she was also told recently during a virtual info session that if her score is relatively high within the context of her high school, she should submit! We are just not sure which context outweighs the other here especially given our non title I status within a title I school. Thank you for taking the time to reply!

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Thank you BKsquared!

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The “bad” news is I think colleges will likely not give her much “credit” for her school context when it comes to test scores, given her family context. It may affect things like how they evaluate, say, her number of college-level courses however.

But the “good” news is I think this just places her score in the “probably just doesn’t matter” category.

One other thought that may help–I think sometimes applicants think in terms of perfect candidates, and comparisons to such a candidate. Like a perfect candidate would score a 100, and the more imperfections you have, the farther from 100 your score gets, until it is too low for being admitted.

To the extent it ever works like this, it is really only at formulaic admissions colleges. In contrast, every AO for a selective holistic review college I have ever seen discuss this has basically rejected this view, or at least it is more complicated.

What might be true is you need to meet some basic standards for academic preparation. But since test optional people are being admitted, we know you don’t NEED a score for that.

There may also be some other basics–active in school, good character, that sort of thing.

But once they have that pool of kids who meet their basic standards, they change to looking for reasons to say yes. Like, what about you could really help contribute to our student body in a way we value. And there is no one perfect candidate, just lots of different kids who they end up wanting to admit for lots of different reasons.

OK, so I think from what you are describing, it is very, very unlikely that whether or not they consider her academically well-prepared will depend on submitting or not submitting.

Assuming she is deemed academically well-prepared, then it will become all about those other basics, and finally about in some way standing out as someone they want for some reason specific to her.

And that can be stressful since it is so unpredictable. But stressing about this test score doesn’t have to be part of that. She can make her best pitch for why this college should see her in particular as someone they should want, and then she has done her best.

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Has she asked admissions ?

Many people report on here the college itself will give you a thumbs up or down. We weren’t that lucky but it was years ago and times have changed.

I’d say heck no but the difference vs the hs avg is compelling.

I’d flat out ask and point out the hs avg!!

If the school is need aware and you ED, that will help too. Full pay at need aware can’t hurt.

Btw with her scores and grades, one can get crazy merit at many LACs if that might become a consideration, like half for potentially a similar experience.

Good luck.

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Yes thank you for that advice. She’s a quirky kid. A leader in the marching band (160+ kids—marching bands in TX require a ridiculous amount of time and energy), also plays sax in jazz and concert bands. But also loves barrel racing (not in competitions though because of the cost and the time— she does not have her own horse!) and helps lead trail rides for beginner riders. And rehabs dogs with behavioral problems. None of these are interests that come from us, the rest of her family— if I had had it my way she would be doing some indoor sport and playing the piano and staying away from large animals! Ha!

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Thank you for the suggestion. I didn’t realize she could just ask point blank!

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Okay yes this helps! Thank you! We will try to shift our thinking away from this “demerits” system.

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One can ask anything. I think BU and others flat out tell you.

Often you’ll get the generic - if you think it helps your overall app - but maybe you’ll get lucky.

It’s an interesting situation. You hurt their stats and I don’t think anyone wants that. But who are the kids late the bottom - they exist. Athletes ? Legacies ? Kids from less economically advantaged situations ?

This is the oddity. You’re not that family but attend school where those kids attend.

I’d lean against but I would ask.

Good luck.

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