Does SAT optional really mean optional?

                In recent years, there has been a trend toward SAT optional admissions at a multitude of colleges and universities across the country. This controversial topic can leave many alumni disgruntled, but the decision allows a lot of prospective students to breathe a sigh of relief. In the midst of all of the change and confusion, parents and prospective students alike are left wondering: is it better to submit scores regardless of the change?

                While a school may become SAT optional, admissions counselors review applicants based on all of the information that the students provide to the school. Therefore, if you submit the scores even though they are not mandatory, the scores will still be used when reviewing an application. Thus, if you are an excellent student who tends to freeze under pressure, and do not feel that your scores have or will represent your academic abilities well, then it might be best to leave the scores out of the equation. On the other hand, if you excel at tests and feel like your SAT score is a much better indication of your academic abilities, submit away.

                While this answer is obvious to many, it still leaves a huge problem staring college applicants in the face. Since the scores are not mandatory, the schools will be receiving the strong scores from their applicants, but not all of the weak scores, making SAT cutoffs more difficult to compete with. But does that admission counselor look down upon those who decline to submit their scores to a school completely rather than submitting the mediocre score? The answer is no, since the tests are optional, schools cannot discriminate against those students who do and do not submit the scores; however, in an increasingly competitive admissions process, having a test score may give an applicant the extra edge that they need. For those who do not excel in the face of standardized tests, the ACTs are always a strong option for those who do not feel comfortable leaving out any sort of standardized test score for the schools.

                While the standardized tests may be optional at a growing number of schools, SAT scores will still come in handy for jobs and internships, scholarships, or when transferring between colleges or universities. Thus, it is always a good idea to prepare to the best of your abilities. There is not blanket yes or no answer of whether a student should submit his or her scores. Therefore, it is always a good idea that when in doubt, ask the admissions counselors at the schools that you are applying to whether it would be best for you to submit your scores since each school might have a different preference or policy regarding the shift in admissions.