One of the first things students do when they enter high school is prepare for the SAT or ACT, the two standard college admission tests. Now, due to Covid-19 and test-optional college applications, this foundational aspect of the application process is morphing into a completely new way of applying to college.
Many colleges became test-optional in 2020 when Covid-19 shut down schools and all non-essential activities. In 2021, standardized test dates were subject to sudden changes and cancellations due to continued outbreaks. In response to students’ inability to test, colleges continued their policy from the previous year. In 2022, more and more colleges have chosen to be test-optional, with the exception of scholarship applications and large universities with thousands of applications.
Foregoing the standardized tests may offer advantages to students who feel like their test score doesn’t reflect their academic performance. Andrea Thompson, an incoming Rhodes freshman from Louisiana, recalls touring Tulane University in 2021. She remembers the students on the tour were “encouraged to not submit [standardized test scores] if they weren’t really confident in them.” Some universities, Thompson noted, had to maintain prestigious test scores, so an otherwise eligible application may be reconsidered if their test score was significantly lower than the competitive average.
Standardized tests have become subject to debate, with some feeling they are an arbitrary measurement of a student’s intelligence, while discriminating against students who don’t have access to the same resources that others can afford. While some students are able to raise
their scores through private tutoring, others lack the time or money to dedicate to the ACT or SAT. Instead of spending money on taking multiple tests, students can put that money towards funds to visit colleges and explore more options.
Piyush Kumar, assistant director of admissions at Rhodes College, explains that being test-optional has leveled the playing field. While ACT and SAT scores used to be a major data point for comparison, Rhodes has shifted its focus onto other aspects of a student’s high school career, such as class rigor, leadership positions, and the strength of the essays they submit alongside their college applications.
At Rhodes, Kumar assures, an application lacking a test score is not at a disadvantage in terms of admittance or scholarship opportunities. “If a student didn’t submit a test score, we don’t compare them to someone who submitted a score until the very end,” he says, adding that most students only submit scores that they feel display an additional level of dedication and hard work.
Instead of standardized tests, Kumar emphasizes the value of a good essay in the admissions process. Although 65 percent of students choosing to go to Rhodes last fall did not submit their test scores, examining other parts of the application has allowed the school to maintain the same level of intelligence and academic rigor in their accepted students. Kumar notes that “it really is eye-opening to see that [a test score] isn’t something we need to look at super deeply and still bring in an academically smart class.” Instead, essays offer a glimpse into a student’s personality and intelligence in writing.
A well-written essay doesn’t hinge on an interesting topic. Any subject, from scoring a winning touchdown to taking a hike on a local trail, can be impactful. Kumar recommends choosing a topic that sparks passion in the writer. When you write about something that you genuinely want to share, you’ll likely share more of your personality with the reader. “What separates the good essays from the great essays,” Kumar says, “is the ability to talk about something that makes me as a reader feel like I know who you are.” So, instead of spending lots of time brainstorming the most exciting essay ideas, try putting pen to paper and just writing.
But in the ever-changing realm of college applications, many students get lost in the maze of applications, financial aid, scholarships, and letters of recommendation. When you find yourself lost in this maze and the Minotaur of fast-approaching deadlines is chasing you, try reaching out to the college admissions department. They might provide information to guide you on your essays, offering suggestions of what to write and the best methods of writing it.
Kumar says that smaller schools such as Rhodes are often easier to approach due to the smaller classes and application pools. Reaching out to larger colleges couldn’t hurt, though. Admissions teams understand the stress of the changing application process, and are often willing to help when students ask. “It never hurts to ask,” Kumar says. “We’re humans, we’re here to help.”