College Guidance: the Impact of Test-Optional Policies

For the past two years, the majority of colleges and universities have adopted test-optional policies for the SAT and ACT. In doing so, other parts of the application including essays, extracurricular activities, resume, and letters of recommendation have become increasingly important. The National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has just announced a study to examine the impact of new testing policies on college applications, admission, and enrollment. If you have wondered how this change may affect your student’s college admissions, you will be interested in this research: the effects of test-optional policies at 150 universities.

At Learning Associates, we utilize a holistic approach to college admissions and have always prioritized the subjective components (even when test scores were required) to strengthen each application and distinguish each applicant. If you have questions pertaining to college admissions or would like to learn more about our program, please contact Larry Blumenstyk at larry@learningassoc.com.

College Guidance Q & A

Larry receives numerous questions regarding college admissions from applicants and their families. Each week he will pick one question and share his response. This week's question about Advanced Placement test scores is timely as students will be taking their AP exams over the next 2 weeks.

Q: Do Advanced Placement exams help in enhancing your college application?

A: Advanced Placement courses are a prescribed curriculum leading to a required class examination plus the AP test administered by the College Board. Historically, the AP scores did not even go to the admission office, only to the registrar and only after acceptance. However, that has changed and admissions offices can now see the AP scores if they are sent and if they wish.

However, the student who gets an A in an AP course should get a 5 or a 4 in the AP exam. So a 5 on an AP test in which you received an A is confirmatory but not additive. It’s already “baked into the cake.” A 4 is ho hum. On the other hand, if the student got a C in the AP course but then received a 5 on the exam, well that’s not a feather in their cap, is it? What happened in class? Is the AP Test outcome valid? So AP tests are fine and all but not a revelation in themselves.

Good luck!

If you have questions pertaining to college admissions or would like to learn more about our program, please contact Larry Blumenstyk at larry@learningassoc.com.

College Guidance Q & A

Larry receives numerous questions regarding college admissions from applicants and their families. Each week he will pick one question and share his response. Although this question is specifically about Ivy League admissions, the response is more universal.

Q: What helps high school students get into Ivy League schools?

A: Initiative. Every qualified applicant has excellent credentials. It’s what the candidate has done on their own, or the ways they went above and beyond, that distinguish the successful applicant. It’s not formulaic.

If you have questions pertaining to college admissions or would like to learn more about our program, please contact Larry Blumenstyk at larry@learningassoc.com.