“The University System of Georgia (USG) will waive SAT and ACT test requirements at most of the system’s 26 institutions for another academic year.”
But should my student apply Test Optional? Well, that’s a tricky question. One that cannot be answered by any sort of blanket statement.
In MANY cases, schools really DO mean “test optional”. But in others, I wish they’d rebrand themselves as “test preferred” to better align with how they evaluate.
So how do we identify which schools actually NEED scores? Digging into the Common Data Sets, attending admission information meetings, watching yearly trends, and crowdsourcing experiences with other counselors is how we figure out which schools are closer to “test blind” than “test optional”, which then informs the guidance for each individual student.
If you have a junior, summer is the time to get those scores nailed down and finalized for where they best reflect your ability. Your student should have their “best” scores ready for those early Fall applications.
Sophomores, you’re up next! You should be working test prep this summer, and if you’ve finished Algebra 2 (or your rigor equivalent), you should plan to take your first test no later than Fall 2023.
As always, I’m here if you have questions.
Note: The waiver applies to all colleges and universities except UGA, Georgia Tech, and Georgia College & State University.
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