Required. Optional. Flexible. Blind. Preferred. SAT or ACT? Submit the score or don't submit the score?

If you find today's college admissions testing landscape confusing, you are certainly not alone. Testing policies have changed dramatically over the past several years- and continue to change. The important thing for families to understand is that standardized testing still matters, but how much it matters depends on the college and the student.

SAT or ACT? Colleges accept both the SAT and ACT equally, so students should take the test that best suits their strengths. You can find comparison charts on the College Board (SAT) and The ACT website. My advice- if you're unsure, try a practice test of each before deciding.

Know the Testing Language:

Test-Optional: Students decide whether they want their SAT or ACT scores considered.

Test-Required: SAT or ACT scores must be submitted for admission.

Test-Flexible: Testing is required, but a college may accept alternatives to the SAT/ACT, such as AP or IB scores.

Test-Blind: The college does not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admission decision.

Sounds simple enough- until you begin looking at individual colleges.

While the majority of four-year colleges remain test-optional, a number of highly selective universities have reinstated testing requirements- such as University of Miami and Ohio State University. Other colleges remain technically test-optional but openly encourage or recommend scores. Boston College, for example, encourages applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores if available, while still giving full consideration to students who don't. Tulane encourages students with at least a 1300 SAT or 28 ACT to submit their scores.

And this is why families need to look beyond the words "test-optional."

Testing policies can also differ by institution, program, scholarship, or state university system. A student applying to a highly competitive business, engineering, or nursing program may need a different testing strategy than another applicant at the same university.

So, What Should Students Do?

First, take testing seriously. Unless you know that every college you're considering is test-blind, prepare for and take an SAT or ACT. Test prep can range from private tutoring and group classes to inexpensive self-guided programs (ex, www.eprep.com) and free resources such as Khan Academy for the SAT and the official SAT and ACT practice materials.

A strong test score can absolutely strengthen an application, but it is not the only path to admission. If you prepare, test more than once if needed, and your scores simply don't reflect your academic ability, don't panic. At test-optional colleges, move to Plan B and concentrate on making the rest of the application as strong as possible.

When Should You Submit Your Score?

This is where strategy comes in. Don't make one blanket decision for your entire college list. Make the decision college by college.

Look at each college's published SAT/ACT ranges for enrolled students. The middle 50% range shows the scores between the 25th and 75th percentiles. Because students with lower scores are more likely to withhold them at test-optional schools, these published ranges can be somewhat inflated. Then ask a simple question:

Does my test score strengthen the academic story my application is already telling? If the answer is yes, consider submitting it, even if it isn't in the 50% percentile of the college's published range. If the score significantly undercuts an otherwise strong academic record, test-optional may be the better strategy.

Finally, learn what each college actually values. Search for the specific college's Common Data Set and look at Section C7. You can see whether the institution considers GPA, course rigor, essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, demonstrated interest, and standardized test scores- and how much they consider it in the review process.

The testing landscape may be complicated, but your strategy doesn't have to be. Prepare, test, understand each college's policy, and then decide where your score strengthens your story. And remember: a test score is one piece of your college application- it is not the definition of you as a student.

Good luck and enjoy the journey!

College 101 Admissions Consultants LLC. Website: www.mycollege101.com. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 508-380-3845.

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