“It’s clear that there is a reason such highly educated and prominent schools have gone this direction. Maybe the thought that bubbling in         a scantron shouldn’t determine whether you should get into a school or not crossed their mind?”

    Your hands are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy… it’s almost like if the Eminem song was a person, it’d be you. Your heart is racing and it feels like this is the test that determines the course of the rest of your life… which, unfortunately, it is. Although this might sound a little dramatic, most colleges, especially Florida schools, require submission of an ACT or SAT test score. The 2 hour and 55 minute ACT might make the last 12 years of your life meaningless if you don’t achieve that prestigious 30 or above to compliment it. Most of you have likely already thought about these things, and for some seniors, this article might hit a little too close to home. This is why I recommend you keep reading.  

    Though it may sound like a FOYSYMAPDD (fall-of-your-senior-year-mid-application 

    -process-day-dream) there are a handful of schools out there that are test optional. In fact, the Ivy League schools went test optional as of 2022. This means that they don’t require applicants to submit a test score. For students with high GPAs and lots of extracurriculars, but won’t be held back from attending a great school if they chose not to submit their “non-impressive” SAT or ACT score. One of the main contributing factors is the repercussions of COVID-19 on students. Questions of how long these schools will remain test optional after the year 2026 remain uncertain. What we do know is that the Ivies switching to this method has made other highly competitive non-Ivy League colleges also consider this application method as well. UVA, Duke, and Stanford are just a few universities that have also followed the trend.  

   It’s clear that there is a reason such highly educated and prominent schools have gone this direction. Maybe the thought that bubbling in a scantron shouldn’t determine whether you should get into a school or not crossed their mind? Who knows! I do know that, as a well-rounded student, enrolled in competitive classes, and balancing multiple extracurriculars, I am incredibly discouraged when receiving a low test score. It makes me feel as if the rest of my time racing to and from practices, work, clubs, study groups, tutors, donation drives, and “unique social experiences” like the school advisors- and my mother- have preached to me all my adolescent life to get into my dream school, was all for nothing. This should not be the case.  

    If you are struggling with your test score and do not plan on applying to a test optional school, the GBHS school website under “Guidance” provides links to free SAT/ACT prep.