One question we are constantly asked is how to send scores to colleges when FILLING OUT THE COMMON APPLICATION. Here are a few quick answers:
Check to see if the specific college will accept SELF-REPORTED scores. If yes, you simply report what you received, and then, once you are accepted, you prove the scores by sending official score reports from the scoring agency: College Board/ACT. THIS IS THE EASIEST!!!!
If a college does require official scores, you can do that through the scoring agency. If a school SUPERSCORES, the system will automatically take the best from each section to report.
For AP/IB scores you do NOT need to send official score reports to the colleges now. You will ONLY send one official score report to your final college after you matriculate. AP/IB scores are only self-reported in the application.
If you plan to apply to some colleges with test scores and some without, OR if you plan to submit AP/IB scores to colleges where you are test-optional, read on:
SENDING SCORES:
Some colleges require official score reports for SAT or ACT if you are applying with test scores. If the college will accept self-reported scores (you just enter them in the Common App). Please double-check this for each of your colleges! If the college requires an official score report, you need to go to the College Board or ACT website and pay to have the scores sent directly to the college(s). It can take several weeks for the scores to get to the colleges, so you can go ahead and send them now if necessary. You do not need to wait until you’ve submitted your application.
For AP/IB scores you do NOT need to send official score reports to the colleges now. You will ONLY send one official score report to your final college after you matriculate. AP/IB scores are only self-reported in the application.
When you complete the Common App, you will get to the testing section. This is where you report SAT, ACT, AP, and/or IB scores. Find your situation below and follow the instructions:
- I plan to apply test optional (no SAT/ACT scores) to all of my colleges BUT I want to share AP/IB scores:
- Do not enter any scores in the “testing” section.
- In the “additional information” section, add a note like this: I am applying test optional; however, I do have some AP (or IB) scores that I would like to share with you. I received (list the subject and score).
- I plan to apply test optional to some schools and provide test scores to other schools AND I want to share AP/IB scores:
- Enter all of your scores in the “testing” section
- For colleges you are applying to with test scores, you don’t need to do anything further.
- Here’s where it gets tricky. For schools that you are applying to test-optional, you need to go back to the “testing” section and change the answer to the first question to “no.” If/when you change it back to “yes” the information you entered will show up again (you are not deleting the information, just suppressing it).
- I know this is silly. You are telling the college that you are test optional and they should not look at your scores. BUT this system is not perfect and it is possible that a college will see your scores even if you say you are test optional on the college’s page. They won’t “consider” them in their admission review, but once seen, they can’t be “unseen.”
- And here’s tricky bit #2 – if you want to share your AP or IB scores, you need to go to the “additional information” section and add a note like this: I am applying test optional; however, I do have some AP (or IB) scores that I would like to share with you. I received (list the subject and score).
- Note that you do NOT want this language to appear for the colleges you are applying to with SAT/ACT scores.
- I plan to apply test optional to some schools and provide test scores to other schools BUT I will not share any AP/IB scores:
- Follow instructions 2a – 2c above.