Test-Optional College Admissions
As things are moving quickly in the world of college admissions, we’re hearing a lot about colleges deciding to go test-optional, even if it’s just a temporary move. What do colleges mean when they say they are test-optional, and who benefits from a test-optional admission process?
Why do colleges go test-optional?
Colleges decide to go test-optional for different reasons. There are studies showing different data about what the SAT and ACT actually indicate, whether or not they correlate to students’ ability to succeed in college. Additionally, some studies indicate that the tests discriminate against different types of students. You may believe the tests show intelligence, and that a higher score means you’re smarter than someone who has a lower score, but that’s not necessarily how colleges interpret test scores.
When colleges announce a new test-optional policy, they may be attempting to level the playing field, to attract more students who don’t necessarily ...more
What Kind of Prep Will Raise My 34 ACT Composite to a 36?
Your prep should include deep analysis of what types of questions you’re missing and then practice of those, particularly in your “lower” sections. I find the ACT Black Book to be very helpful in this kind of analysis. It’s a companion to the Red Book, so you need to have them both.
That said, I have a question for you: why do you want to raise your 34? If you’re thinking a 36 will make you more competitive for college admissions, as others have mentioned, it won’t. Even those top 20 name brand colleges don’t make a distinction between 34, 35 and 36. You will not be more of an automatic admit anywhere, simply because you have a 36 instead of a 34.
However, spending several months prepping unnecessarily can give the colleges a bad impression, particularly at those name brand schools. A student who only cares about his numbers—grades and test scores—and not his development as a whole person is not going to impress an Ivy-type school. As listed on Big Future.o...more
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