<p>Hijacking the thread a bit, I hope the AU admissions person is still around and can explain the rationale behind “test optional”. Obviously anyone applying on that basis will have scores that are less attractive than their GPA, so wouldn’t these applications simply be considered on the same basis as those with lower-range scores? So then what’s the advantage to AU in encouraging these applications? Are they concerned they would otherwise lose lots of great applicants who happen to be “bad testers”, or is it simply a way to boost the number of applicants and lower the acceptance rate? AU is free to overlook low scores anytime it wants, so I don’t see the point in not seeing them at all. College applicants have enough to worry about without having to make some arcane calculation, as OP is doing, as to whether it is more or less advantageous to submit scores.</p>