Test-optional: Not really….

A highly sophisticated high school student had studied Naviance findings at his school.  Naviance is a software program that can show which past students gained admission from past years of a particular school and the student’s GPA and test scores (if submitted.)

He was a math guy and interested enough that he went through the findings what he labeled top-tier schools and admission rates.  For those from his school who had submitted test scores and gained admission: 12%. For those from his school who had not submitted test scores: 1%.  And, he noted that he was at least aware of those from the past two years (he reviewed 4 years of findings) and knows that the admitted students from the latter batch had distinct hooks (high-level connections/athletes etc.).

“Basically, it’s nearly impossible for a suburban Connecticut kid to get into an elite college without strong SAT scores unless you have a hook of some sort.”  He declared.

That has been my observation.

I say this as directly as possible.  Grade inflation has made A averages common place. Grades still matter as the most significant factor.  But whereas having nearly straight As was unusual only a decade ago, I now see report cards with A/A-s as a prerequisite for admission to top schools. At least in relation to objective factors, the SAT seems to be the only other area that separates those admitted from those who are not admitted.

Different issue but this holds true for scholarships as well.