To Send or Not to Send (SAT Edition)

We break down when SAT/ACT scores help, when they hurt, and how to decide whether to go test-optional for East Coast colleges. Clear rules, real cases, and practical steps to match your strengths to each school’s policy and priorities.

• what test-optional means versus test-blind
• how officers use scores as confidence signals
• rule of thumb using the middle 50 per cent
• two student case studies with different strategies
• differences among Ivies, liberal arts, and flagships
• scholarship considerations tied to submitted scores
• how to strengthen essays, recs, and activities when skipping tests
• final checklist to align numbers, narrative, and strategy

If you found today's episode helpful, please share it with a friend, a family member, a student, or a friend who is weighing the same decision
And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome & Framing the Question;
• 1:36 What Test Optional Really Means;
• 3:06 The Submit-or-Not Rule of Thumb;
• 4:46 Two Students, Two Winning Paths;
• 5:56 East Coast Colleges’ Different Policies;
• 6:56 How to Shine When Going Optional;
• 8:56 Final Guidance & Closing CTA

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 1:08

Hello and welcome back to the East Coast College Admissions podcast, the show where we break down the college admissions process, share strategies for success, and help students and families support the journey with confidence and clarity. I am your host, Cleopatra, and today we are tackling one of the biggest course things I've been getting from students and parents this season. Should I submit my test course or apply test optional? Now it's no secret that the admissions landscape has changed dramatically since 2020. Many East Coast colleges, including Ivy's and top liberal arts colleges, went test optional during the pandemic. But as we enter another admission cycle, families are still unsure how much these tests really matter. So today I'll break it all down. What does optional really mean? When submittance costs can help or hurt you, how East Coast colleges view standardized testing now, and how to make the right choice for your unique situation. Let's start with a little contest. Before 2020, most colleges, especially selected East Coast colleges, required SAT or ATT scores. Then came the pandemic. Test sites shut down. Some are test flexible and a few are quietly bringing scores back into the conversation. For example, MIT and Jottown have reinstated test requirements. Others like Harvard, Brown, and Columbia remain test optional at least for right now. The point is the landscape is constantly shifting. So understanding how colleges use these test scores, even in test optional world, is crucial. So what does test optional actually mean? Here's the biggest misunderstanding I see. Test optional doesn't mean test blind. Actually, test blind means a school literally doesn't consider scores at all, like the UC system in California. Test optional, on the other hand, means you can choose whether to submit your scores. If you submit them, they'll be considered. If you don't, your application will still be reviewed without penalty. But here is the catch. Admissions officers are human. If they have two applicants with very similar profiles and one has a strong test score, that score can still add confidence to their decision. It's not required, but it's reassuring. So how do you decide? Here is the general rule of thumb. If your test score is that or above the school's middle 50% range, please go ahead and submit it. If it's below the 25% out, don't. Unless there's strong contest or improvement. For example, if a college's SAT middle 50% is 1420 to 1540 and you have 1530, go ahead and submit it. It reinforces your academic readiness. But if you have a 1320 and the rest of your application is stellar, skip it. It won't add any value. This is where the strategy comes in. Let me paint a scenario of two students that I've worked with in the past, and both were very successful. Student A had a 1550 SAT and strong math and science coursework. He submitted his code to MIT and strengthened his already STEM-heavy profile. While student B had a 1360, but incredible essays, recommendations, and leadership. She applied test optional to Brown. And what's admitted, the key is knowing your strengths and using them wisely. Let's talk specifically about East Coast colleges because they each interpret test optional a little differently. I believe colleges mostly remain test optional, but internally, some still weighs scores more heavily than others. Harvard, for instance, says scores are optional, but when submitted, they can highlight economic strength. Liberal art colleges like Baldwin, Westland, and Smith have been test optional for years, even before COVID. They genuinely emphasize holistic review. Public flagships like UV are technically test optional, but test scores can affect merit scholarship eligibility. So here's my advice. If you're applying to East Coast colleges, look at their admitted student data, understand your percentile range, and make your decision from there. If you are going test optional, you need to make sure the rest of your application shines even brighter. Admissions officers will focus on your transcript, your essays, your recommendations, and extra carriages. Think of it like this removing test scores shifts the spotlight to everything else. So make sure that those other parts, your essays, your story, your growth are exceptional. So, should you submit your test scores? Here's my answer. It depends on your numbers, your narrative, and your strategy. If your score reflects your academic strength, submit it proudly. If it doesn't, trust the other parts of your application to do the talking. Colleges aren't looking for perfect numbers, they are looking for authentic, consistent stories of growth and potential. Thank you for tuning in for today's episode of the East Coast College Admissions Podcast. If you found today's episode helpful, please share it with a friend, a family member, a student, or a friend who is weighing the same decision. And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode. Until then, I'm Cleopatra, reminding you that numbers don't define you, but strategy absolutely can be a little bit more.