How Colleges Are Using Test Scores in the Test-Optional Landscape

When colleges started to implement test-optional policies for the 2020-21 admissions cycle, many released statements that these policies would not hurt applicants who chose not to submit scores and would instead only help the applicants who did. Unfortunately, colleges have kept students mostly in the dark as to how exactly they will follow through with this plan.

However, during their ongoing legal battle this past fall, the UC’s released information on how they had planned to compare applicants with and without scores in admissions. The UC Admissions Office had planned to hold a two-pronged review process. In the first review, they would evaluate all applicants without looking at test scores. In the second review, applicants who were rejected in the first review but chose to submit test scores would be evaluated again, with test scores now considered. This would give students who submitted test scores an additional opportunity to be accepted if their test scores could mediate the weaker aspects of their application. 

While this does not apply across the board to all test-optional schools, it’s important to note that many selective colleges look to the UC’s as a blueprint for their own policies and admissions-related decisions. Therefore, it’s likely that many other test-optional colleges are using a similar model to differentiate between applicants with and without scores.

Separate from admissions, some test-optional colleges also use test scores to offer merit scholarships to specific applicants. Some schools, such as Hofstra University, offer merit scholarships to all incoming students regardless of their submission of scores but only offer their highest merit aid awards to students who do submit test scores. As the amount of aid you receive is a big factor in determining college choice, you may risk losing the opportunity for higher aid packages by choosing not to submit scores. While scores won’t impact your actual admissions decision for these colleges, it may impact that college’s merit aid offer to you that accompanies their admissions decision.

While it’s true that these actions taken to compare test score and no test score applicants by admissions departments doesn’t necessarily hinder the non-test-score students, it’s clear that applicants with test scores are provided with more opportunities during the admissions process: a second chance of admissions at some schools and high-ranking merit scholarships at others.