Is your GPA sufficient enough that using Test Optional for college admissions?

Early Admission Results for the 2023-24 Admissions Cycle

The winter break is about to begin. Many universities have been announcing the results of Early Action/Early Decision (EA/ED) since mid-December. Students may either be pleased with the desired results or disappointed with outcomes they did not want.

Students preparing for the Regular Decision (RD) of the 2023-2024 admissions cycle must make good use of this winter break. The deadlines for many Regular Decision applications are either on December 31st or early January. During the winter break, free from the burden of school classes, students should thoroughly prepare their applications for Regular Decision.

If a 12th-grade student did not achieve the desired results in early rounds like EA/ED or wants to apply to a better-fit college through Regular Decision after being admitted to an EA college, they should carefully analyze the results of the early rounds and address any shortcomings.

Particularly, students applying through Regular Decision should prepare well for the Common App Essay required by many universities and the Supplemental Essays, which are additional essays with specific topics for each university. In last week's Jay’s EDU column, we discussed topics and content to avoid in the Common App Essay.

Supplemental Essay

I have had the opportunity to review the application of a student who recently applied to a prestigious university. The Common App Application, which the student spent a considerable amount of time crafting, was well-written but had a few issues. The most noticeable problem was with the student's Common App Essay. Despite being labeled as an essay aided by professionals, the content seemed overly cliché and failed to showcase the student's personal strengths. In particular, it included some forbidden content in an Application Essay.

Therefore, when applying for Regular Admission, it is advisable to revise the Common App Essay and ensure that it effectively highlights the applicant's strengths, especially when writing Supplemental Essays.

Word of Mouth Among Parents

Many parents who have reached out to Jay's EDU recently have been asking two common questions:

1. Is it too late to take the SAT after the 11th grade is over, as advised by the school and other academies?
2. If universities no longer require SAT/ACT, should students continue to study for it, or has it been completely abolished?

The answer to the first question has been discussed in several Jay's EDU columns. It has been emphasized that taking the SAT/ACT for the first time in the second semester of the 11th grade leaves limited opportunities and time to retake the test if the desired score is not achieved, causing significant pressure on the college admissions schedule. Especially when schools in the past required all SAT or ACT scores taken before university applications, as was the case with the University of California System, preparing for this requirement was a specialized approach in California.

Therefore, it is crucial to take the actual test before it becomes too late, assess the student's accurate scores, and prepare for college admissions accordingly. The most ideal schedule is to achieve the desired SAT/ACT score before the first semester of the 11th grade and then focus on the remaining aspects of college preparation.

Taking the SAT/ACT After 12th Grade Summer Vacation

Recently, some tutors in the Chicago suburbs have suggested that students take the SAT/ACT exams after completing the 11th grade. Jay's EDU had numerous consultations with parents in early July after the start of the summer vacation. Students had taken SAT/ACT classes through other private tutors, focusing heavily on the grammar aspects of ACT/SAT.

The logic behind this approach was that once English grammar is mastered, the scores for SAT/ACT Reading (comprehension) also improve. Therefore, the suggestion was to study grammar for the SAT/ACT and take the exams starting from the summer vacation of the 12th grade.

Many students took the ACT or SAT for the first time during the summer vacation of the 12th grade, receiving scores that did not meet their expectations and causing them to contact our office in confusion.

Why Shouldn't SAT/ACT Be Delayed?

This SAT/ACT exam schedule, especially taking the exams for the first time during the summer vacation of the 12th grade, is a result of a lack of understanding of the U.S. college admissions system. It creates the worst possible schedule, unnecessarily burdening students with the pressures of college admissions.

Typically, students applying to top-tier universities select their target schools based on their GPA and SAT/ACT scores up to the end of the 11th grade. During the summer vacation, they work on the Common App Essay and the Supplemental Essays for the universities they want to apply to, often writing dozens of essays.

Therefore, if a student takes the SAT/ACT for the first time during the summer vacation of the 12th grade, they start the university selection process later than other students. Especially if the student fails to achieve the desired SAT/ACT scores, they face the dual challenge of catching up on test preparation and writing supplemental essays for university applications. As a result, they may fall behind by more than six months compared to other students or, in some cases, find it impossible to catch up, missing the opportunity to apply to their desired universities.

Should I Continue Studying for SAT/ACT if Universities Do Not Require Them?

Ultimately, many of these students opt for SAT/ACT Optional when applying to universities. This decision often stems from parents asking, "Since universities no longer require SAT/ACT, should my child continue studying for them?" or "If SAT/ACT has been abolished, should my child still study for them?"

The answer to these questions is that the ACT/SAT has not been abolished, and nearly two million high school students still take these exams. Moreover, many universities consider SAT/ACT scores as important factors in their admission decisions.

As mentioned earlier, both the ACT and SAT exams are still being administered. For 9th and 10th-grade students preparing for college admissions, the question is not whether to prepare for the ACT or SAT but rather to identify which exam aligns better with their strengths and begin preparations accordingly.

Is a High GPA Sufficient Without SAT/ACT Scores?

If SAT/ACT scores are not considered in college admissions, a student's GPA should be excellent, and their extracurricular activities should complement their GPA. For students applying to top 20-ranked universities, SAT/ACT scores should ideally be in the top 1%. Therefore, if a student chooses not to include SAT/ACT scores in their college applications, they must have a GPA and extracurricular activities that align with the university's ranking.

How to Prepare for SAT/ACT?

For students aiming for top-tier universities, particularly those in the top 1%, SAT/ACT preparation differs from general preparation. Differentiated instruction based on students' performance is crucial. For example, students in the top 1% preparing for the SAT may not need to focus extensively on math if they are already scoring close to perfect (780-800 points). In such cases, the emphasis should be on improving scores in the Reading section.

At Jay's EDU, we offer tailored SAT/ACT preparation classes based on students' target scores and current performance levels. Our approach ensures that students receive instruction at a level that allows them to reach their goals quickly and effectively.

For further information, you can contact Jay’s EDU at:

Jay’s EDU Northbrook & eLearning Phone: 224.213.7620 Website: www.jaysedu.com