The Truth About Test-Optional Admissions

SAT and ACT Prep Small Group Tutoring

Admissions results are a-rollin' in, and it's proving to be the bumpiest year I can recall.

I'm always trying to sift and sort through the data to make sense of it all, but it's not easy.

But one thing seems to stand out like a sore thumb:

SAT and ACT scores matter.

The higher your scores, the better your odds of admission.   Even in today's test-optional world.  

Yes, most colleges still let you APPLY test-optional.   But there's a difference between applying test-optional and getting in test-optional.

That’s the reality no one tells you during campus tours. They want EVERYONE to apply, because more applications means more rejections, and more rejections mean higher rankings.

That's how the College Admissions Matrix manipulates you.

But here’s the good news:

We specialize in helping students crush these tests.

Not just “do okay.” Not “get by.” We’re talking real improvement. Real confidence. Real results.

Like our client Dylan Briody, who just crushed his last SAT with a 1520.

He started working with with a 1330, and his goal was 1450!

So if your student wants an edge—we can help them get it.

Enroll in our next SAT/ACT prep program here.

Use the coupon code SPRING for an instant $125 off "scholarship" (discount).

This test could be the difference between getting in… and getting passed over.

Between paying full tuition… and unlocking thousands in merit aid.

Don’t let your child miss that chance.

The next SAT is May 3.  Our SAT Crusher Class starts tomorrow.   

And it's guaranteed, like all of our courses.

Learn more...

- Andy "Test Not Optional" Lockwood

P.S.  Even if you don't sign up with us, you still need to know how important the standardized tests are, if you want to give your kiddo the best shot at getting in where he or she wants to get in.  Consider these reaasons:

 20 Reasons Why SAT/ACT Scores Still Matter:

1. They level the playing field – Not every high school grades the same. Tests give colleges a different, perhaps more fair, means of comparison.
2.  They benchmark performance – Admissions officers know exactly what a 700 in Math means. Whereas rampant grade inflation has debased grade point averages across the country.
3.  They spot academic readiness – High scores say: “I’m can do college-level work.”
4.  They predict success – Studies show they correlate with first-year college GPA, more than high school GPA (see #2, above).
5.  They find hidden talent – A student with a weaker GPA but a strong score? Gold. Especially from an under-resourced community, but also from affluent zip codes.
6.  They show composure under pressure – Timed exams mirror real college exams.
7.  They support national rankings – Yes, schools still care how they look on U.S. News.
8.  They open scholarship doors – Many merit-based awards require or favor test scores.
9.  They help with class placement – Scores can keep your kid out of remedial classes.
10.  They fill in the blanks – Incomplete or inconsistent transcripts? Scores help clarify.
11.  They offer a tie-breaker – When two kids look the same on paper, test scores can tip the scale.
12.  They show initiative – Or neurosis.  Either way, you're covered. Submitting scores in a test-optional world says: “I went the extra mile.”
13.  They spotlight first-gen or rural students – Great scores can help a kid stand out like a diamond at a coal convention.
14.  They’re more accessible than ever – Free prep tools, fee waivers, and multiple test dates.
15.  They support holistic review – I hate that word, but scores actually are another piece of the puzzle in competitive applications.
16.  They help with recruitment – Schools look at scores when deciding who to court.  They love bragging about how many National Merit finalists they landed.
17.  They guide admissions strategy – Schools use them to shape well-balanced classes.
18.  They open honors and dual enrollment doors – Many elite programs still require them.
19.  They support internal research – Colleges study how score trends affect success (not sure who reads these studies, though :)
20.  They maintain academic standards – Good scores protect the "integrity" of admissions.  (Hah.)