Test Optional Admissions: Understanding the Difference between Test Blind and Test Optional

In recent years, a growing number of colleges and universities have adopted test optional or test blind admission policies, which allow students to apply without submitting standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT. However, there is often confusion about the difference between test blind and test optional policies, and how they impact a student's chances of being admitted to a competitive college.

Test Blind vs. Test Optional

Test blind colleges do not consider SAT or ACT scores in their admission process at all. In other words, these colleges do not require students to submit standardized test scores, and do not factor in test scores even if they are submitted.

On the other hand, test optional colleges allow students to choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores. While these colleges do not require students to submit test scores, they may consider them in the admission process if they are submitted.

Impact on Admissions

Despite popular belief, research suggests that students who do not submit SAT or ACT scores to test optional colleges are not necessarily disadvantaged when it comes to being admitted (Ruhl, 2020). In many cases, students who do not submit test scores may be evaluated based on other factors such as high school GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations.

However, students who do not submit SAT or ACT scores to test optional colleges may miss out on the opportunity to showcase their strengths in these areas. Additionally, some test optional colleges may place more weight on test scores if they are submitted, as they provide a common measure of academic ability across applicants (Eddy, 2020).

Merit-Based Financial Aid

It is important to note that standardized test scores play a major role in determining eligibility for merit-based financial aid, which is awarded based on academic achievement rather than financial need. The majority of merit-based financial aid programs, such as the National Merit Scholarship Program, rely on scores from standardized tests such as the PSAT, SAT, and ACT to determine eligibility (National Merit Scholarship Corporation, 2021).

However, students do not have to score in the "elite scores" range to be eligible for merit-based financial aid. Many state scholarship programs, such as the Georgia HOPE Scholarship Program and the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, award scholarships to students based on their scores, regardless of whether or not they have "elite scores." Most state scholarship programs award money to students around the national average +/- (Georgia Student Finance Commission, 2021; Florida Department of Education, 2021).

The decision to attend a test optional or test blind college, and whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores, can have a significant impact on a student's admission chances and eligibility for merit-based financial aid. While students who do not submit SAT or ACT scores to test optional colleges are not necessarily disadvantaged when it comes to being admitted, they may miss out on the opportunity to showcase their strengths in other areas. It is always advisable to check the specific admission and eligibility criteria for each college or scholarship program, as they can vary widely.

References

Eddy, C. (2020). The Pros and Cons of Test-Optional Admissions. NACAC. Retrieved from https://www.nacacnet.org/news--publications/newsroom/news-releases/2020/the-pros-and-cons-of-test-optional-admissions/

Florida Department of Education. (2021). Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Retrieved from https://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/