Self Reporting Scores? What Does That Mean?

A New Trend in the Right Direction

As seniors across the country open their Common Application, they will notice on the Testing section of the Common Application, there may be an opportunity for them to self-report their standardized test scores.  This is something new. In the past, students were required to go through the College Board or the ACT to have their scores sent to the various schools that they were applying to. The rising costs of the college application process has pushed some schools to allow their applicants to self-report their scores via the Common Application at no charge. However, once a student is admitted and decides to enroll, official scores must then be sent to the school. This is under no uncertain terms an invitation to lie about your scores as you self report!

Here is what it looks like on the Common Application.

It is up to the applicant to check the website of each college that they are applying to find out whether the school accepts self-reported scores. If they do accept self-reported scores, do not pay to have your scores sent- it does not give you any leg up; it is just a waste of money and time. For schools that do not accept self-reported scores, you must still have your scores sent from SAT/ACT, and you must request it a month in advance of the deadline.  There is a fee to send official scores, but if colleges want them that way, that’s what you need to do.

Never hesitate to pick up the phone and call the admissions office at any school to ask questions about this new policy. That is what they are there for- to answer your questions and to guide you through this labyrinth of information.