#test optional

With an increasing number of selective schools no longer requiring the SAT/ACT as a part of their admissions requirements — and with the University of California temporarily suspending its SAT/ACT requirement in the wake of COVID-19 — students and families are left with many questions about the future of college admissions: 

Is the SAT really optional?

How will colleges make admissions decisions without standardized test scores? 

Will other parts of the application will be worth more as a result?

Is it better to submit an average SAT score or no score at all? 

Hi! I’ve talked with Deb Shaver, our Director of Admissions about this before, actually! That is a large part of why Smith is now a test-optional school. Not sending them will not make you look bad at all! I didn’t send any test scores in - I didn’t think they reflected who I am as a student, and I didn’t have enough money to take them again. My advice is to do what feels right! If you don’t want to send your scores in, you won’t hinder yourself.

With an increasing number of selective schools no longer requiring the SAT/ACT as a part of their admissions requirements—and with the University of California temporarily suspending its SAT/ACT requirement in the wake of COVID-19—students and families are left with many questions about the future of college admissions: 

Is the SAT really optional? 

How will colleges make admissions decisions without standardized test scores? 

Will other parts of the application will be worth more as a result? • Is it better to submit an average SAT score or no score at all? 

With an increasing number of selective schools no longer requiring the SAT/ACT as a part of their admissions requirements—and with the University of California temporarily suspending its SAT/ACT requirement in the wake of COVID-19—students and families are left with many questions about the future of college admissions: 

Is the SAT really optional?

How will colleges make admissions decisions without standardized test scores? 

Will other parts of the application will be worth more as a result?

Is it better to submit an average SAT score or no score at all? 

Hey! I applied to Smith without using my test scores and fortunately, I got in! Smith looks at students holistically, so test scores aren’t the be all and end all.