In this blog, we continue our discussion of the test-optional policy many colleges instituted during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic years. Like it or not (as we discuss in Part I of this blog), colleges will continue this policy for the 2022-23 admissions cycle, despite the increased anxiety and headaches it causes many applicants.

Blue Stars wants to help parents and students navigate the bumpy terrain in this open-ended landscape. In short, how does an applicant decide when to submit scores to test-optional schools vs. when not to?

Here’s our advice: if an applicant’s score is at or above the 50th percentile for a college, we advise our students to submit scores.

Read on for more Blue Stars insights!

When publishing their admissions data, colleges report the 25th and 75th percentile SAT and ACT scores for their admitted students. The what?! Let’s look at an example; here is a table of SAT scores for Boston College students in 2020.

What do all these numbers mean? Colleges categorize each admitted class into four groups of students, with an equal number of students in each quartile:

For the visual learners among us, here is how this can be depicted:

While the specific “50th percentile numerical score” itself – indicated by the dotted line on the graphic – is not indicated on a college’s “quartile chart,” it can be easily calculated as the midpoint of the 25th and 75th percentile scores for each subtest score and for the total score.

How? Add the 25th and 75th percentile scores and then divide by 2.

Here’s how to calculate the 50% numerical scores for Boston College:

• 660+730 = 1390 and 1390/2 = 695, the actual 50% numerical score for the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score
• the 50% numerical score for the Math section would be 725
• the 50% total score would be 1420

If the student’s scores are below the 50th percentile numerical score (orange and yellow areas to the left of the dotted line), they should not submit.

Any student who scores above the 50th percentile score (the blue and yellow areas to the right of the dotted line) should submit.

If we were working with a student applying to Boston College who scored a 1450 on the SAT, we’d advise this student to send their scores. Why? Because 50% of all admitted students scored at or above this level. Of course, admissions officers look at so much more than test scores. Our point is that a score that sits at or above 50% will help an applicant’s chances.

So far so good? What about all the other schools on an applicant’s target list?

Deciding whether to send standardized test scores in a test-optional environment is best handled through a systematic, yet simple process.

Some colleges may have this data on their website (go to a college’s website search and plug in “Common Data Set”), but it is frequently hard to locate. Blue Stars offers two alternative sources:

1. ThoughtCo. This website provides valuable information about colleges, including SAT/ACT scores for admitted students. Type the college’s name and “SAT” or “ACT” in the Search function. The next page will display a link to that college’s dedicated page. Scroll down on the page to a table that looks like the one above. There will be one table for the SAT and one for the ACT.
2. Common Data Set (CDS). The Common Data Set is a set of standardized statistics as defined by The College Board, U.S. News & World Report (USN&WR), and Petersen’s, and compiled by most colleges. To find the CDS for a specific college, enter “Common Data Set Name-of-College” into a search engine. Standardized test score data can be found in Section C9 within this data set.

Blue Stars recommends creating a simple chart like the one below to keep track of the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile scores at all potential schools. Applicants may also want to add their Reading & Writing and Math subscores, too.

Great, got the school test data. Now what? Is it really as simple as it seems?

Yes! Let’s walk through different scenarios for one representative Blue Stars student, Shelley: a well-rounded, high-achieving student whose composite SAT score is 1450.

Here are the schools Shelley wants to attend, including the 25th, 75th and 50th percentile SAT scores at each school:

According to the Blue Stars 50th Percentile Guideline, Shelley’s score of 1450 would support their candidacy at Boston University, Boston College, and Emory, where their score is at or above the 50th Percentile. Does this mean that Shelley shouldn’t apply to Duke, Yale, or Harvard, or should rethink Amherst? No, not necessarily. Remember, 50% of the students at these other schools have scores below Shelley’s level.

Instead, Shelley should utilize their application to emphasize other strengths: leadership, initiative, extracurricular activities, and excellent performance in rigorous academic classes either in school or during summer programs. This might also be an opportunity for Shelley to acknowledge any challenges or hardships they have encountered.

Remember, students are more than just a test score and colleges seek to enroll a class with diverse interests and backgrounds.

Blue Stars can help students position their experience in a way that optimizes their admission chances at each school.

Blue Stars offers the 50th Percentile guideline to help parents and students make smart decisions in this non-rules-based environment, but we know that questions will arise:

• Are there any exceptions to this rule?
• How should parents and students consider the Reading & Writing and Math subscores?
• What specifically should parents and students highlight if the SAT score is below the cutoff?

Blue Stars can provide expert explanations, advice, and resources to help navigate the test optional college admissions landscape – including letting parents and students know which schools are returning to mandatory standardized testing in the 2022-23 Admissions year.