Holistic college application review has gained increased attention in a post-pandemic college admissions world. In a nutshell, with holistic review, admissions officers consider applicants beyond quantitative data (i.e., high school transcripts & test scores). Without a doubt, assessing students holistically—considering factors such as teacher recommendations, activity lists, honors, essays, and a student’s unique circumstances—is a superior approach to college admissions. However, it is important to understand that a holistic review process will almost never overcome a weak transcript (i.e., course rigor & grades) and, if applicable, test scores. Make no mistake, in most scenarios, the numbers will continue to drive admissions decisions.
Unlike institutions that have Test-Free/Test-Blind admissions policies (i.e., will not consider an ACT or SAT score, even if submitted), those practicing Test-Optional or Test Flexible admissions will consider a submitted test score as a component of the holistic review process. Note: some institutions have returned to pre-pandemic test requirements (e.g., MIT, Georgetown, UGA, Georgia Tech, Florida, FSU, & Tennessee).
Having spoken to College Admissions Officers about the role of standardized test scores in the holistic admissions process and taken a close look at the data, we recommend that students hoping to gain admittance into competitive institutions consider their context when deciding whether or not to submit a test score.
Should I Submit a Test Score?
Three Critical Questions College Applicants Should Ask Themselves
ONE: Will your test score add value to—or weaken—your application?
Whether or not a test score adds value to a college application depends on what a score says about an applicant as a whole. Furthermore, the extent to which test scores add value may vary by institution.
For example, if an applicant has a 4.2 GPA and an SAT score of 1110 or an ACT score of 24, submitting a test score would not add value to an application; it would weaken the application. Conflicting data points may cause college admissions officers to question the role of grade inflation in that 4.2 GPA.
Assuming adequate course rigor and AP scores, as a rule of thumb, we suggest submitting scores that fall within the average range. If you are applying for a particularly competitive program at an institution, you should aim higher. Obviously, the higher the better.
TWO: Will others in your context submit test scores to colleges you hope to attend?
Colleges may be more likely to expect test scores from well-resourced students, such as those attending certain high schools or living in particular zip codes. Being a relative outlier–not submitting test scores–while vying for admission to an elite/highly rejective institution will not strengthen your chances.
THREE: How many accepted applicants submitted test scores?
Most colleges publish data on their websites as part of the Common Data Set Initiative. Included in the Common Data Set are data related to standardized testing, including what percentage of, and how many, freshmen enrolled in a given year submitted ACT and SAT scores.
When working with clients, we go directly to the data to get answers to important questions regarding college admissions, including whether or not a student should submit a test score as part of a holistic college admissions review.
Conceivably, the data may include students who submitted both an ACT and an SAT score, thus we can’t calculate how many admitted students submitted test scores. That said, understanding the raw data helps us help clients decide what role a test score should or should not play in a strategic college admissions process.
Follow the link for a summary of data published by several institutions our Class of 2025 students are considering. We hope you will find it helpful!
Number/Percent of Degree-seeking, First-time, First-year Students who Submitted SAT & ACT Scores.
Bottom line: Data and knowledge–not emotion, what the neighbor says, etc.–drive a quality and successful college admissions process.
Still not sure whether or not to submit a test score? We can help. Reach out today at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com to schedule a free consultation. Together we can create a strategic plan that is right for you.
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