Georgetown Proves ACT & SAT Still Matter
Since universities began implementing test-optional policies due to COVID-19, there has been a lot of chatter about whether students “need” to take the ACT or SAT, and if students without scores will be at a disadvantage. Well, the numbers are in for Georgetown, and Ivy Link was not surprised to find that only 7.34% of students who applied in the Early round without test scores were accepted. As we continue to monitor admissions results from other top colleges, we expect to see similar statistics.
One might look at this figure and say, well 7.34% got in without test scores. My student could be one of those! First, zoom in on those numbers. The Early Action pool was 8,710 and an undisclosed fraction of those applicants applied without scores. Only 7.34% of that smaller pool were accepted. by definition, those students are incredibly exceptional. Be honest, how exceptional is your student? Really.
Without a doubt, the newly instated test-optional policies have created a false sense of security among students and parents. Think about it like this: technically, everything reported on a college application is “optional”. The courses a student takes, the extra-curriculars they choose to pursue, the summer programs they attend, and the story told via the personal statement are all optional. Given that so much of the application will be judged subjectively, why would a student pass on one of the few objective elements (a strong ACT or SAT score) offered to them?
The college admissions system is a game filled with loopholes and is by no means a meritocracy. However, there is one constant: having a high standardized test score helps. It doesn’t guarantee an acceptance letter, and if a good score is all a student has to show off, they won’t get one. But it’s one indicator of a student’s hard work and is quick and easy way for colleges to filter out “sub-par” applicants.
But…the 7.34%!!
Stop. For one, could you imagine a school reporting that they didn’t accept any students who didn’t have test scores after emphatically stating that students without test scores wouldn’t be disadvantaged? That would be absurd. Second, it is highly probable that those students had nearly zero access to either test due to cancellations and/or an inability to travel outside of town to a testing center. Assuming that is the case, those students’ difficult circumstances likely found their way into the personal statements in one way or another and provided a compelling reason to overlook the lack of scores.
But this is all speculation!
You are absolutely correct. We have no way of knowing the background of those students accepted without scores. What we do know is that the vast majority of students who were accepted had average ACT and SAT scores above the 98th percentile. As we stated at the top, we expect stats for the rest of the top colleges to be similar. Don’t bet against yourself or your student. Prepare for these tests, get a high score, and spend more time planning the personal statement.
