In today’s episode, I address the fast-changing “test-optional” policies being adopted by colleges and universities across the country - particularly in light of COVID-19. Why are so many colleges going “test-optional”? What are their motivations? How should this affect your child’s test-taking strategy, if at all? How will this affect admissions? Will this affect who gets merit scholarships? Is it a smart idea to skip the SAT or ACT this year?
0:03:04 Why are so many colleges going test-optional?
0:04:00 What does test-optional mean?
0:04:35 Do test-optional schools consider test scores?
0:05:44 Not all test-optional policies are created equal
0:06:30 Various types of test-optional policies
0:09:00 When you should skip the SAT and ACT
0:11:00 Why colleges would choose to go test-optional?
0:14:44 Which students win in a test-optional world?
0:16:50 No SAT or ACT score, no merit scholarship
0:17:35 What should a student do?
0:18:30 Exact next steps
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Podcast Host: PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil Black, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank, etc.
Inside PrepWell Academy, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade]. My specialties include military service academies, ROTC scholarships, Ivy League, and student-athletes.
