What Test Optional Actually Means
Over the past few years, a common question I receive from families is:
“How important is the ACT/SAT these days?”
The answer, as with most things in college admissions, is: it depends.
At a test-optional college, students can choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores. If they do not submit scores, their application will still be fully reviewed.
Many well-known institutions have been test optional for decades and remain test optional, including:
University of Chicago
Wake Forest University
New York University
However, some highly selective institutions have recently reinstated testing requirements, such as:
Princeton University
University of Alabama
Policies continue to evolve each year, which is why I review requirements carefully with every family as we build a college list.
What Test-Optional Does Not Mean
Test-optional does not mean:
Testing doesn’t matter.
Colleges don’t value strong scores.
Submitting scores won’t help.
In many cases, strong test scores can still enhance an application. They can:
Reinforce academic readiness
Strengthen an application at highly selective schools
Help with merit scholarship consideration
At some institutions, scores may still play a role in honors programs or merit aid, even if they’re not required for admission.
There is no blanket rule about whether to send test scores when applying to college.
When I evaluate whether a student should submit scores, I consider:
The student’s GPA and course rigor
The high school’s grading context
The college’s middle 50% testing range
The student’s overall narrative and strengths
Scholarship goals
Generally speaking:
We submit scores when they strengthen the application.
We withhold scores when they do not.
It’s a strategic choice, not an emotional one.
As always, if you have questions about testing timelines, score strategy, or college-specific policies, reach out. These decisions are nuanced and you don’t have to navigate them alone!
