How Will Applying Without SAT or ACT Scores Affect My College Application?

As the pandemic continues, many universities are allowing students to apply without submitting their ACT/SAT, but many wonder how going test-optional will affect their application. Hopefully, I can help answer your questions and gain some understanding.

If you decide to not submit your test scores or cannot take the ACT or SAT, then colleges will look more closely at your GPA and your coursework. If you have a high GPA and have taken rigorous coursework then this shouldn’t be something that bothers you. For students that have taken AP courses, these will be something they will probably greatly take into consideration. AP test score exams will help them see where you are at compared to other AP students like an SAT does. If you had decided to take dual enrollment classes at a local university or online instead of AP, this will be something they will put some focus on. This will help admissions counselors see how well you will do in college just as the SAT measures. Don’t worry if you haven’t taken any AP tests or dual enrollment courses though. This just means schools will focus on the advanced classes you have taken and the grades you have received. To summarize, colleges will weigh your GPA and coursework higher if you decide to not submit test scores.

In case you haven’t heard this, there are two groups of students that many colleges will not allow to apply without SAT or ACT test scores, they are homeschooled students and international students. Many universities will require international students and homeschooled students to submit test scores even during the pandemic. Always check with the schools you are applying to as some have waived this requirement though most have not. Hopefully, you guys will be able to take either of these tests even during this time as I know many tests were canceled.

For those of you who cannot take the ACT/SAT for medical reasons, I personally think it is best to make sure you disclose that in your application. I have watched a few webinars from universities where they have unfortunately said that they will think that since you didn’t submit test scores that means your score was low. If you have a medical reason then hopefully this will cause the admissions counselor to not think this when looking at your application. Although the majority of schools don’t have this thinking, some do which is something those applying test-optional need to consider.

A few things colleges may also take into consideration more is your class ranking and academic awards. They may look at your class ranking to see where you place amongst other students in your grade sort of like how the SAT/ACT does. They may also look at if you have won academic awards like being on the honor roll or winning AP scholar. These two things are not going to be as heavily weighed as your GPA or coursework but they still could help your application especially if you do not submit test scores.

I hope you found this article helpful and good luck on your college applications.