The headlines among the college counseling community is that most colleges have gone test optional, which means they will not be requiring standardized tests scores such as the SATs or ACTs for admission. Many students cast a sigh of relief! Few students enjoy these high-stakes tests. Starting in March 2020, the College Board and ETS cancelled the testing dates and closed testing sites due to the fear of spreading the Covid-19 virus. Students are fearful of sitting for the three-and-one-half hours in a potentially crowded, unventilated room to take these tests. As a result, many colleges have gone test optional or “test flexible”. Most schools will accept whatever SAT/ACTs are available from whichever test administration.
Test scores from the first administration are typically lower, because students take them at the beginning of junior year. Typically, they score higher toward the end of the year after they have more reading, math and writing under their belts. If students have half decent scores as required for one of the SC state scholarships, they should submit them. This goes for any AP test results and IB exam results. Absent these, colleges will likely weigh the transcript more heavily. Grades may be put under a microscope to decipher the strength of the student’s classes and potential for success at their college. It’s all good anyway, because studies by the journal “Educational Researcher” show that grades are a better predictor of success than standardized test scores. However, without those scores, the amount of merit scholarships will likely decrease.
The State of South Carolina is working on changing the regulations for the lottery-funded scholarships, but these changes involve SC state law. The legislature will have to take up those changes. SC students can receive three levels of scholarships, by meeting two out of three criteria.
- HOPE: $2500/year award just needs a SC Uniform GPA of a 3.00+
- LIFE: $5000/year (replaces HOPE) must have a 3.00+ GPA and one of the following:
- : Rank in the Top 30% of their HS Class
- Have 1100 + SAT or 24+ ACT
- Palmetto Fellows: (replaces LIFE)
- . must rank in Top 6% of HS Class and have a 1200+ SAT or 27+ ACT
- Have a 4.00+ SC Uniform GPA and a 1400+ SAT or 32+ ACT
The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is $6700 in the first year, but changes to $7,500 in Sophomore, Junior and Senior years.
There’s also a Science Enhancement Scholarship that adds $2500 to both LIFE and Palmetto Fellows from Sophomore to Senior years if students are enrolled in certain Science majors.
The lack of SAT/ACT scores may hurt students who would have qualified for the LIFE scholarship if they could have re-taken the SATs or ACTs. It’s easier to bring up one standardized test than to redo an entire four years of grades. Hopefully, students will be able to re-take them.
These standardized scores will be even more critical for Palmetto Fellows. This is a more valuable scholarship. Students who rank in the top 6% of their class can get this if they can retake these tests and bringing them up to 1200 on the SAT or 27 on the ACT. If students get a chance to re-test they could fetch more money and help their parents to pay for public and private colleges in South Carolina. If they leave the state, the scholarships go bye bye.
There are plans to change the state regulations for this year, so as to make the scholarships available even without standardized tests. The legislature during COVID-19 has not made these changes a high priority on their calendars. Colleges will try to make decisions as best as they can, with the information that students and high schools provide. What counts more than ever this year are teachers and guidance counselor recommendations, well-prepared applications, essays and personal statements.
Claire Law is a nationally recognized college consultant who helps students find their educational path where they can grow and thrive. Some students have learning disabilities. Others may need therapeutic interventions before they enter the gates of higher education. Visit wwww.eduave.com
