To begin with, universities and colleges embraced the idea of a test-optional policy for admission to address the difficulty of sitting for the test during the COVID-19 pandemic and because the test was identified as a socioeconomic and racial discrimination process.

Now, let’s break down the differences between test-optional, test-blind, and test-mandatory.

• Test-optional: SAT is not required, but it is recommended that you send it.
• Test-blind colleges will NOT ACCEPT SAT scores, such as the UC Universities, California Institute of Technology (4% acceptance rate), Loyola University New Orleans, and Stonehill
• Test-mandatory universities are telling you the truth right from the start.

Why should you still send your SAT scores to SAT-optional schools?

Students from all over the world dream of getting admitted to one of the most well-known universities in the state; therefore, one can only imagine the number of applications sent to these universities.

If you do not send SAT scores:

• The universities will have one data less compared to other applicants. Moreover, they may think that the reason for lacking this information is poor score results, instantly weakening your profile voluntarily.

Even if you are under the 50th percentile on SAT, you should remember that plenty of students have not sent their scores, making you ultimately more competitive than them.

• If you do not have an excellent GPA at school and do not do many extracurricular, sending your SAT scores could prove that you have the potential to be college material.

The past application cycle showed that universities favoured applicants sending their SAT scores as universities such as Georgetown’s 90% admitted students had sent their test scores.

• Since it is not required, going above and beyond, putting in the effort, and achieving the grade proves to the admission officers that you are a hard worker and serious about your education.
• Even if the school is test-blind or test-optional, applying for a scholarship or financial aid may still ask you for the test scores.

So, what does “is NOT required but recommended that you send it” mean?

It is good for business as the application rate has spiked throughout the years of applying this policy, increasing the application revenue to colleges receiving applications.

This means that the universities applied a lucrative policy that will help them gain some pocket money and advertise themselves as more inclusive and socioeconomically friendly.

If the colleges truly wanted to make a change, they would have adopted a test-blind policy!

To answer your question about whether you should sit for the SAT examination…

Well, if you want to make it your top choice, then you must be competitive.

To be competitive, you need a complete profile.

To make your profile complete, YOU NEED the SAT scores.  

The CLC Consulting Team does not suggest but tell you to send SAT scores because we know that if you want to get into your dream school (unless your dream school is a UC), you must do well and sit for the SAT!