Hello everyone.
I see test optional policies being discussed on various threads, so I’ve created this thread to get everyone’s inputs in one place.
How do you interpret “test optional” policies? Are tests truly optional for all applicants, or does it depend on context?
(Please note: this thread is not meant to discuss the merits of standardized tests and/or whether schools should be test optional, test blind or test required).
Right now, I think the answer varies by school. I suspect in another five years things will have settled out so that the schools that are currently test optional in name only will shift to “test preferred” or something, and/or will spell out more clearly the context in which not submitting scores is acceptable. Brown seemed to be experimenting with this in their admissions information sessions this year (“if your test scores are significantly higher than average for your HS, please submit them”).
But I believe the vast majority currently are and will remain truly test optional, for all students.
They are optional for all applicants.
But how the student will be evaluated will differ school by school.
You bring up because of the UMD parent - and it’s simply a guess that it impacted.
But UMD admitted TOs as did Michigan, Wisconsin, etc.
Many seek answers on why a kid wasn’t admitted - and we won’t know.
But many schools in the CDS, show a far majority of kids submitting. We don’t know if TO is being used just by hooked kids and athletes.
So I’m not sure we can really say.
But in this day and age, everyone can test - some states require it.
And if you can’t submit a somewhat decent score, well based on prior history some schools will say that it’s the best marker of a student’s readiness.
But I do think TO means exactly that - apply - optionally - and yes, you have a chance. The same or less - just depends on the school.
I posted on another thread that my interpretation of “test optional” is that it gives universities/colleges more flexibility to craft the incoming class that they want, and meet their institutional priorities. And from the university perspective, if drives up applications, that’s more $ for them and they end up looking more selective.
From a student perspective, if the tests are easily accessible in your area and your peers are submitting but you don’t, I think that’s a red flag for the application.
I agree with this assessment completely! TO can hurt you in a region where test sites are easily accessible and your peers are submitting scores.
My own observations at our HS where tests are completely accessible and have been for a while is that this isn’t true.
Example from just last week: our public HS has 50+ applicants to Michigan every year (OOS), and I’m guessing hundreds more from our local area. Many/most are submitting scores. My kid’s friend got in TO, no hooks or anything. Michigan has no dearth of options from this area and chose this kid.
My own TO kid has gotten into every school but a T10 with a single-digit acceptance rate so far. The friend mentioned above has yet to get rejected from a single school.
What major(s)?
Humanities/social sciences
Ok, got it. So not for competitive majors.
Valid question and raises the point if submitting scores matters more for certain majors than others. We’re already seeing some STEM focused schools moving back to test required.
I agree with this.
As for state schools, what I am observing in my area that has had a population explosion over the years is that all schools are a notch harder to get into than they once were and what was once a safer bet isn’t anymore. TO definitely seems to hurt in resourced areas/schools for popular majors especially during the early round. I don’t believe they have time or resources to do a holistic review with application numbers.
Are you saying getting into Michigan as a humanities/social sciences major isn’t competitive?
It is not as competitive as business, CS, engineering, etc. Fewer students (relative to space available) want to study humanities/social science.
Correct. That’s why I’m saying, especially in terms of applying test optional. Doesn’t mean it’s easy to get in, but with fewer applicants, schools will be more willing to overlook tests.
Yes totally see your point but for engineering, business, cs, scores are weighed more heavily by admissions, I was told this by counselors.
And tons of kids apply for humanities/social sciences majors. So hopefully my anecdotes are helpful to them.
Or perhaps the thread should be retitled, “What does TO really mean for non-humanities/social sciences majors?”
I ferk that this is the 653rd “What does test optional really mean?” thread. This may end up getting merged, but until then, let’s limit the responses to the main question asked. Which means no off-topic discussion about whether a particular major is competitive at Michigan, as just one example.
Off-topic posts are subject to deletion without comment.
I just saw this, exactly my reaction.
Test optional means colleges are no longer worried about lawsuits over their admissions practices, which are as arbitrary as they like.
I think the term “test preferred” is such an accurate description of some schools and I agree, I hope in the name of transparency (and making students’ lives easier in navigating what to choose) I hope colleges that are test preferred start making that clearer.