Think Twice Before Deciding on “Test Optional”

What do the eight Ivy League schools have in common with M.I.T., Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins, and University of Southern California? Yes, they are all extremely competitive institutions. They are also “test optional,” meaning students are not required to submit SAT (or ACT) scores with their applications.  But before students toss their SAT prep book, there are a few points that need to be considered. 

The term “test optional” does not mean that a college will not look at SAT or ACT scores.  It just means that test scores are not required.  It’s notable that some colleges reporting to be test optional actually ask students, on their application, why they are not submitting test scores.

Applicants who submit impressive SAT or ACT scores obviously stand out. Those who don’t, and hope to gain admission to an elite university, need to have stellar grades in an extremely rigorous curriculum (perhaps 10 to 15 AP courses) and a remarkable “passion project.” One of my former students, for example, developed a medical app that was featured at a White House Science Fair.  She was accepted to MIT and seven Ivy League Institutions.

How Many College Applications Should Students Submit?

College bound students often wonder how many applications they should submit.  The answer is: it depends.  There’s certainly no need to submit a dozen or more applications if students are being realistic as to their qualifications and likelihood of acceptance.

Some students apply to all eight Ivy League schools, thinking it increases their chances of getting accepted to at least one. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The acceptance rate to Ivy League schools for the most recent graduating class was lower than ever, according to statistics from CBS News: Harvard 3.4%, Columbia 3.7%, Princeton 4%, Yale 4.6%, Brown 5.4%, University of Pennsylvania 5.7%, Dartmouth 6.2%, Cornell did not disclose statistics.  Even students with perfect SAT scores and a multitude of AP courses (with a perfect “5” on each exam) should consider the likelihood of acceptance to these schools a long shot.  They should apply to one Ivy “early decision,” guaranteeing that they will attend if accepted, and submit applications to other schools that offer a competitive program in their intended major.

Students Get a Second Chance at “Early Decision”

Many college bound students aim to avoid the stress of waiting all senior year to find out which colleges will accept them.  They apply Early Decision I, meeting a November 1st or November 15th application deadline, and then typically hear back from their college of choice prior to the December holiday break.  If they are accepted, the holidays are a joyful time as they and their families can celebrate that the anxiety-ridden college application process is over.

But, for those students who are turned down by their Early Decision I college, or those who failed to meet the November deadline, all hope is not lost.  Many colleges offer Early Decision II, with a January application deadline and notification in February – close to two months prior to the typical April 1st college response date.

The main advantage of applying early decision, in addition to getting an early response, is that colleges usually accept a much higher percentage of early decision applicants.  Because early decision is binding, colleges know that any students they accept will definitely attend – increasing their “yield” (percentage of accepted students who enroll).

Strategies to Boost Prospect of College Admission

The best way to get “Your Accepted” letters (or emails) is to present yourself as an ideal candidate for each college to which you apply.  If you’re a legacy, let them know.  Many colleges strongly favor applicants whose parents are alumni – especially if they’ve been donating over the years.  If you’re the first in your family to seek a college education, let them know.  Most colleges favor students whose parents are not college educated.  If your family can afford to pay the full sticker price and not seek financial aid, let them know.  Some colleges are “need blind,” and admit students regardless of whether or not they are applying for financial aid.  Other colleges are “need-aware” or “need-sensitive,” and may consider financial need when deciding whether or not to admit an applicant.  

Aside from the factors outside of your control, there are several things you can do in advance to help your applications stand out.  The first is to develop leadership skills, and then emphasize these skills on college applications. Graduates of elite universities often talk about having started a club during their high school years, having initiated a community event, or having launched a non-profit in some area of passion. They believe these leadership experiences helped to secure their acceptances to the nation’s top colleges and universities.

The Impact of “Legacy” on College Acceptance Rate

The recent announcement by Amherst College that it would end “legacy admissions preference” has made this a hot topic.  Legacy admissions is the practice of favoring the children (and often the grandchildren and siblings) of alumni in the college admissions process.  Its use is widespread.  

According to a Wall Street Journal report, as of 2020, more than half of the nation’s top 250 universities reported taking legacy status into consideration during their application review process.  All eight Ivy League institutions were included in this number, as were Georgetown, Duke, Swarthmore, Middlebury, Tufts, and scores of other elite colleges and universities.  

A small number of highly selective schools openly oppose favoring legacy students, including MIT, California Institute of Technology, Cooper Union, Johns Hopkins, Texas A & M, and now Amherst College.