Does “test optional” REALLY mean test optional?

The short answer: it depends. The important thing to note is that test OPTIONAL is different from test BLIND. Test Blind (Ex. University of California schools) means that a students' SAT or ACT scores will not be reviewed as part of the admissions process. This means that even if you submit your scores, they won't be reviewed . If a school is Test Optional (Ex. University of Chicago), then that means your scores will be seen by the college if you choose to submit them. Now the question is, do I submit my SAT scores? That’s where it gets a little tricky. This is JOLO advice, so take it or leave it: Test Optional implies that you should submit your test score if you believe it will help you. Especially for more selective colleges, if you have an SAT/ACT score that you are proud of and believe is an accurate representation of your abilities, you should submit it. As a general rule of thumb, the more selective the school, the more likely it is that they want to see a high test score from you. Test Optional means that your scores should help you, not hurt you. 

Some schools might also be Test Flexible (Ex. NYU), which is different and unique from school to school. Here’s what Prep Scholar Blog has to say about Test Flexible: “While a test-flexible policy requires you to send test scores, it might allow for different options in place of the SAT. For example, some schools might waive their test requirements if you meet a minimum GPA or are applying to a specific program, while others might let you send AP scores or IB scores in lieu of SAT scores.”

Curious as to which schools are Test Optional vs. Test Blind? Click here to view an article and list with more information.