Jon Burdick writes the second part of a four-part series (part 1) (part 3) (part 4) on Rochester’s new “test flexible” stance for undergraduate admissions.
Q: How many test results should I send?
A: Last year, applicants who sent three or more results (e.g., an SAT and two AP scores) were more likely to be admitted than those who sent “only” one or two. Exactly 400 applicants last year sent 10 or more test results, and Rochester admitted 90% of them. However, Rochester also admitted 29% of the applicants who sent “just one” test (e.g., an ACT score), vs. an overall admit rate of 33%, so if you send only one best test result, you are not hurting your chances too much. If you want to send only subject tests (AP, IB, A-levels and/or SAT Subject Tests), it’s worth noting that applicants sending two or more of them were much more often admitted than those who sent just one.
Q: What scores will I need?
A: Rochester’s process is holistic, so no score will guarantee admission (or rejection). For transparency, the rough guideline chart shows how test results correlated with admission offers to Rochester last year.
- Each row lists a type of test and the results in ranges.
- For standardized or comprehensive tests, readers evaluate the best of one or more sittings.
- For subject tests readers review each result; I’m listing the average of one or more.
- Each column describes the chances that someone sending this score earned admission.
|
Chances: |
Well below average |
Below average |
Above average |
Really high |
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|
Best of one or more submissions |
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|
SAT-CR |
200 – 570 |
580 – 630 |
640 – 760 |
770-800 |
||
|
SAT-M |
200 – 590 |
600 – 710 |
720 – 800 |
—- |
||
|
SAT-W |
200 – 550 |
560 – 660 |
670 – 760 |
770-800 |
||
|
ACT-C |
01 – 25 |
26 – 28 |
29 – 32 |
33 – 36 |
||
|
IBDP |
<=28 |
29 – 34 |
35 – 38 |
39 – 45 |
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|
Average of one or more submissions in any subjects |
||||||
|
AP |
1 – 1.75 |
1.76 – 2.84 |
2.85 – 3.64 |
3.65 – 5.00 |
||
|
SAT-2 |
200 – 607 |
608 – 673 |
674 – 800 |
—- |
||
|
IB-SL |
1 – 4.19 |
4.2 – 6.29 |
6.3 – 7 |
—- |
||
|
IB-HL |
1 – 4.51 |
4.52 – 5.79 |
5.8 – 6.59 |
6.6 – 7 |
||
|
AS-level |
<=B |
B+ or A- |
A |
—- |
||
|
A-level |
<=C- |
C, C+, B-, B |
B+ or A- |
A |
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This chart can help if you remember that Rochester admits zero applicants based on test scores alone. Rochester readers look for 15 aspects of each applicant’s file. I’ll describe those in a separate blog.
What do you think of the new test-flexible policy? Be sure to leave your comments below.