Hi everyone, so with everything going on, I decided to go test-optional when applying to colleges. Do you guys think it will hurt my chances? Would love some input, especially if you've gone test-optional yourself!
Hi there! The impact of going test-optional largely depends on the strength of the rest of your application. Many colleges have adopted test-optional policies in recent years, and they genuinely understand that some students may have been unable to take standardized tests due to the pandemic.
If your grades, course rigor, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and essays are strong, then not submitting test scores shouldn't hurt your chances too much. In fact, for some students, going test-optional might even help their application if their test scores aren't as strong as the rest of their profile.
However, if your application has some weaker areas, such as lower-than-average grades or limited extracurricular involvement, submitting a strong test score could have served to balance those out. In these cases, going test-optional might be a disadvantage, but it’s still important to focus on strengthening the other aspects of your application.
Remember, admissions committees are evaluating applicants holistically, meaning they take various factors into account when assessing candidates. So, as long as the rest of your application is well rounded and presents a compelling narrative of who you are and what you can contribute to the college community, going test-optional shouldn't have a negative impact.
Good luck with your applications!
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