Top Tier Admissions

DECEMBER 20, 2024

Renewed Interest in Test Scores For the first time since 2021, more applicants submitted test scores than did not, despite widespread test-optional policies. This trend signals a growing perception of the value of standardized testing, as students aim to bolster their applications.

Applications

Marks Education

APRIL 23, 2025

AP Exams are standardized tests administered by the College Board that measure your mastery of the college-level coursework youve been learning in your AP course. This means that colleges can evaluate your abilities on a standardized scale. What are AP exams, and why are AP courses valuable? How do colleges read AP scores?

Admissions

HelloCollege

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Teaching Methods and Approaches Classroom teaching typically involves various methods, including lectures, discussions, group activities, and multimedia presentations. Exam Preparation: Offering focused sessions to prepare for standardized tests, midterms, or final exams, ensuring students are well-equipped to succeed.

Academic Tutors

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 11, 2025

To boost your chances, focus on maintaining a strong GPA , engaging in extracurriculars, and showcasing what makes you unique. Keep up those grades, get involved in extracurriculars, and make your passion for what UC Davis offers stand out in your application. No need to worry about test scores and recommendation letters!

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 24, 2024

Stay organized, seek guidance when needed, and focus on presenting an authentic, well-rounded application. You can self-report test scores through the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir, and if admitted, you’ll need to send official reports. It’s about showing that you’ve tackled a tough course load and succeeded.

Early Decision

HelloCollege

OCTOBER 31, 2024

From academic performance to extracurricular involvement, each factors plays a vital role in shaping the perception of who you are as a prospective student. Standardized Test Scores While some colleges have adopted test-optional policies, standardized test scores, like the SAT and ACT , can still be a significant part of your application.

Admissions

HelloCollege

JANUARY 7, 2025

In this guide, we’ll explore the best undergraduate business schools, key criteria to evaluate, and how to present the best version of yourself on your business school applications. Once you have your list of schools, create a detailed timeline that includes deadlines for applications, scholarships, and standardized tests.

Mentorship

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

However, if your GPA isnt quite there, strong test scores and impressive extracurriculars can help balance things out. Target test scores Northwestern remains test-optional for the Class of 2029, meaning you are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores with your application. Extracurriculars.

Acceptance

The Koppelman Group

AUGUST 8, 2025

Rice believes in standardized tests, but they don’t require them. To use their own words , “Rice recommends first-year and transfer student applicants to undergraduate degree-seeking programs to submit SAT or ACT test scores, if available.” Once you’ve set up the supplement, you need to go into some detail.

Standardized Testing

Great College Advice

JANUARY 28, 2025

Extracurricular Exploration : Try various activities to discover genuine interests. 10th Grade: Gaining Momentum Sophomore year is about refining academic and extracurricular focus while beginning standardized test preparation. Standardized Testing : Take the PSAT for practice.

High School

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

To maximize your chances, focus on showcasing your achievements, extracurricular involvement, and personal experiences that make you a great fit for the university. Standardized test scores (optional). NYU is test-optional , meaning you can decide whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. of students had a perfect 4.0

Admissions

AdmissionSight

JULY 29, 2025

<p>Is Caltech test-optional? Applicants must submit standardized test scores as part of the admissions process. </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="#Is Is &lt;yoastmark class=">Caltech Test-Optional in 2025? </a></li> The short answer is no.

Testing

AdmissionSight

MARCH 1, 2025

Standardized test scores. UC Berkeley is test-free, meaning SAT and ACT scores are not considered in the application review process. Extracurricular activities. Extracurriculars matter too, whether its sports, leadership, or volunteer work. Show how youll contribute to campus life with your extracurriculars.

Admissions

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

Extracurricular activities. Standardized test scores (optional). Harvey Mudd is test-optional for students applying through Fall 2026. Beyond academics, they care about your extracurricular activities, talents, and the qualities that make you who you are. If standardized tests arent your strong suit, dont sweat it.

Admissions

AdmissionSight

DECEMBER 20, 2024

For example, lower-level transfers might need to submit high school transcripts and standardized test scores, while upper-level transfers often dont. Are there extracurricular activities or research opportunities that excite me? Does it meet my academic expectations in terms of rigor and challenge?

Transfer

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 16, 2025

Standardized test scores. Unlike test-optional schools , Georgetown requires either the SAT or ACT. Extracurriculars. They care about the rigor of your school record, your GPA, and your test scores. Outside of academics, Georgetown values extracurricular activities , special talents, and personal qualities.

Admissions

HelloCollege

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Section 1: When to Start Thinking About the SAT and ACT It bares repeating: It’s never too early to start thinking about standardized testing, even if the test dates seem far off. In essence, the journey toward standardized test readiness begins not in the months leading up to the test but in the years preceding it.

Test Prep

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 16, 2025

The university isnt just looking for students with perfect grades and test scores, and it prioritizes well-rounded applicants with standout extracurriculars, leadership experience, and compelling personal stories. Strong extracurriculars, compelling essays, and a well-rounded application are a must.

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

JUNE 4, 2025

Note: YSPA explicitly says they wont consider standardized tests. By the end of YSPA, youll have produced a research paper of your findings and a presentation delivered to professors and peers. After YSPA, you can still work on your research project and improve it for a science fair or senior capstone project at high school.

Programs

Admissions.Blog

JUNE 20, 2025

The process of applying to colleges often resembles piecing together an intricate puzzle: standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, personal statements, comparison among institutions, and GPAs all play a role. Did you balance tough classes with meaningful extracurriculars? Did your GPA trend upward?

Admissions

College Essay Guy

JANUARY 23, 2025

For example, if you maintain a high GPA, score well on standardized tests, or demonstrate exceptional talent in music or sports, you might qualify for a merit scholarship. In other words, they determine your aid based on your familys financial situation, not your academic or extracurricular achievements. GPA, but you have a 3.2.

Scholarships

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Standardized test scores (optional). Pomona is test-optional , so you dont have to submit SAT or ACT scores. Outside of academics, Pomona puts a lot of weight on extracurricular activities, personal qualities, and talents. If your SAT scores are close but not quite there, consider retaking the test to boost your chances.

Admissions

AdmissionSight

MARCH 12, 2025

Standardized test scores (optional). Wellesley is test-optional , so submitting SAT or ACT scores is up to you. Extracurricular activities. Wellesleys art, music, and theatre departments accept electronic submissions of portfolios, recordings, or presentations. Your senior year matters.

Admissions

The Koppelman Group

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

It could include an internship with a local expert in a field youre interested in (either an academic or a business leader), or even independent research with the goal of publication or presentation. For this reason, we dont recommend stressing about standardized tests if they arent your thing. But what about the SAT or ACT?

Internship

AdmissionSight

APRIL 21, 2025

While the daily schedule varies, a typical day could involve: Lecture by a guest speaker or in the classroom Recitation or small group activity Simulations Youll also attend the Wharton Global Youth Speaker Series, where youll listen to presentations and interact with Wharton faculty. Standardized test scores (optional).

Transcripts

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 23, 2025

Extracurricular activities. Beyond academics, UCLA looks at extracurriculars and achievements, whether thats sports, music, volunteer work , leadership roles, or other passions. Show how youll contribute to campus life with your extracurriculars. Your extracurricular involvement is a key way to demonstrate this.

Admissions

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Standardized test scores (optional). Vanderbilt is test-optional , but strong scores can add a little sparkle to your application. But heres the thing: Vanderbilt knows youre more than just a collection of grades and test scores. Extracurricular activities and personal qualities matter just as much. No problem.

Admissions

AdmissionSight

JULY 24, 2025

.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Understanding Harvard’s testing policy is essential to building a strong application. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about superscoring and how standardized test scores are reviewed.</span></p>

SAT

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 16, 2025

Standardized test scores (optional). Swarthmore has a test-optional policy , meaning you can choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. Extracurricular activities and personal qualities also carry significant weight. This could work to your advantage if youve tested more than once. Does Swarthmore require SAT?

Admissions

AdmissionSight

JULY 28, 2025

.</strong> An unofficial transcript showing your grades and courses from 9th grade through 11th grade (at least through the first semester of junior year, if available)</li> <li><strong>Extracurricular activities list.</strong> </li> <li><strong>Short essays.</strong>

Programs

The Koppelman Group

APRIL 20, 2025

Ultimately, you want to be present. Strong standardized test scores are a great way to spotlight focus and dedication. For the Class of 2028 and Class of 2027, strong test scores were a 1500 or above on the SAT or a 34 or above on the ACT. Attend alumni events, and look for opportunities to engage on campus.

Policies

HelloCollege

APRIL 3, 2025

Thats important, because, up until your Admissions Readers digs into your college essays, youre just words and numbers on a screen: an SAT score, a GPA, a zip code, a list of extracurriculars. The opening of your college essay is the point at which you want to turn into something more than that in their minds. This is dead wrong.

Minor

AdmissionSight

AUGUST 2, 2025

</p> <p>Standardized test scores are required. <strong>Caltech <strong> They look at where you live, what kind of high school you attend, what extracurriculars are available to you, and what resources you’ve had access to.</strong></p> </p> <h3>3.

Letters of Recommendation

The Koppelman Group

JULY 2, 2025

We are taking for granted here that you have super strong grades and that your standardized test scores will be wildly impressive. Yes, you are only a sophomore, but this is actually the perfect time to be building up your extracurriculars. So, what are you up to? If you’re at a loss on where to start, though, we can help.

Extracurricular

The Koppelman Group

JUNE 8, 2025

This means amazing standardized test scores and exceptional grades, but it also requires that an applicant stand out for what’s happening outside of the classroom. That’s where activities and extracurriculars come in. Contact us to learn how you can present your best self to your dream schools.

Extracurricular

AdmissionSight

JULY 31, 2025

</h2> <p><a href="[link] superscores the SAT/ACT</a>, meaning they consider your highest section scores across multiple test dates. If you’ve taken the SAT more than once, for example, Caltech will combine your best Math and EBRW scores, even if they’re from different test sittings.

SAT

Spark Admissions

APRIL 11, 2023

According to Columbia, this move was prompted by a growing recognition of the flaws in standardized testing and the school’s desire to make the admissions process more equitable and accessible to a broader range of students. For decades, standardized tests have been central to the college admissions process.

ACT