USNA goes "Test Flexible"

[AF-AR MA]

I wonder why I didn’t get this email.

Maybe check other email folders? My DS received the email this morning, but not in his "inbox." It wasn't in the spam folder either. It was in the "promotions" folder. He has learned to check all folders during this process!

 

[UnitedStatesAircraft5]

Maybe check other email folders? My DS received the email this morning, but not in his "inbox." It wasn't in the spam folder either. It was in the "promotions" folder. He has learned to check all folders during this process!

Thanks, I found it in my promotions folder too! Doesn’t really affect me though, I still want to be able to submit high SAT scores but I like knowing I’m in the loop for USNA admissions updates.

 

[USNAhopeful2025]

As stated, students will have to support why they were unable to test. It will be a bit subjective, imo. For certain, there will be those who CANNOT. But, for most, I do believe there is still “find a way, or make one”. My point about MOC’s, is that simply bc USNA has stated this, doesn’t mean your MOC has/will. Make sure and check! As stated, the two processes are unrelated. Be prepared!

yes!!! our's is still requesting test scores but did bump the date they are due a little....my DD has 1 score and is taking again at school in October and they sure should not cancel that!

 

[Hopeful2025]

Im curious how this may affect candidates who have submitted test scores, but are on the lower end and trying to retest. Of course those with no score in at all can't be viewed in any sense because there isn't a score. But what about someone with (just an example) an 1180 or so who is hoping to retake for a 1400+?

 

[NavyHoops]

Keep trying to retake the test through the app deadline. That is 5.5 months from now. It’s what you have at the moment with nearly half a year still to possibly improve it. That is the part you can control at the moment.

 

[WT Door]

While the MOC precept to his/her nomination selection committee may be to take into consideration a candidate with no test scores, I think that nomination interviewers, many being veterans and BGOs, would look more favorably on candidates that carried “A Message to Garcia” and found a way to test. When the Admissions Office starts “shaping” the Class of ’25, I think those with competitive college board scores and a matching GPA will trump those with only a high GPA application input. @MidCakePa touches on this in his earlier post. Board scores, this admissions cycle, just might be the tie breaker for an appointment. Put me down with the previous posters that encourage finding a way to test.

 

[NavyHoops]

It actually spurred me to take a look in my area and see if they are testing. They definitely are where I live. So if a candidate uses this as an excuse... it won’t fly.

 

[@therealexodia]

I wonder why I didn’t get this email.

Check in your "promotions" or "updates" folder. Mine didn't show up in my inbox.

 

[UnitedStatesAircraft5]

It actually spurred me to take a look in my area and see if they are testing. They definitely are where I live. So if a candidate uses this as an excuse... it won’t fly.

That’s an interesting point. I wonder how much admissions will try investigating the legitimacy of someone’s “I couldn’t test” claim.

 

[NavyHoops]

Well the bottom line is USNA has extended the app deadline. By the time late Feb comes around there could possibly be very few places that haven’t had the opportunity to test. If that is the case, someone without scores come March would stand out. If I was a candidate I wouldn’t leave it to chance even if you complete the the entire this month, pursue every opportunity in your area through Feb.

 

[UnitedStatesAircraft5]

Well the bottom line is USNA has extended the app deadline. By the time late Feb comes around there could possibly be very few places that haven’t had the opportunity to test. If that is the case, someone without scores come March would stand out. If I was a candidate I wouldn’t leave it to chance even if you complete the the entire this month, pursue every opportunity in your area through Feb.

I agree, I already found a way to take the test. I had to reschedule three times and ended up travelling +4 hours to get it done. I was just curious.

 

[NavyHoops]

I think that shows initiative and is a good thing. Does USNA have time to research every candidate... probably not. But come the end of Feb there might not be a reason to have not taken the test. 5.5 months ago, the world looked very different. 5.5 months from now we might be much closer to normal and nationwide testing has resumed and no candidate will have an excuse.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Im curious how this may affect candidates who have submitted test scores, but are on the lower end and trying to retest. Of course those with no score in at all can't be viewed in any sense because there isn't a score. But what about someone with (just an example) an 1180 or so who is hoping to retake for a 1400+?

BGO's haven't received any guidance on this issue --but I would expect that USNA will use all available information. In other words, if you have an 1180 , they aren't going to disregard that because someone tells them they want to retake it because they hope to get a 1400.

That’s an interesting point. I wonder how much admissions will try investigating the legitimacy of someone’s “I couldn’t test” claim.

.

"A Midshipman does not lie...." Seriously, it is unlikely that not taking the SAT/ACT is going to help a candidate. This is merely a recognition that USNA isn't going to DQ a good candidate because they can't take the SAT/ACT. USNA has Admissons Counselors assigned to each Region, and I would expect those representatives to be monitoring what's happening re: COVID in their area area.

Bottom Line -- don't try to game the system, thinking that you will benefit from not taking the SAT/ACT. This is simply a recognition that some very strong candidates would be excluded if they weren't able to take the tests. The formula for success hasn't changed -- strong grades, strong SAT/ACT, leadership , athletics, and community service will make you competitive; and having all of those factors > the rest of the candidates (and of course, having a Nomination , passing the CFA and medically qualified) will (usually) get the Appointment.

 

[birdwatcher4125]

There’s a lot of excellent BGO advice on this thread.

My DS is home-schooled, so this SAT/ACT problem is of a much greater magnitude for him. Therefore, we absolutely, positively had to do something about it.

This is how my DS and I are looking at this: The greater the effort, the more valuable the achievement. As frustrating as this situation has been for my DS, he no longer sees it as a roadblock to success, but as an opportunity to stand out.

DS took both tests back in December and got OK scores (1330 SAT / 28 ACT), but then had eight tests (four of each) cancelled on him through August. His proctored-practice tests were scoring much higher than his December scores, but he was being denied his chance to prove it. With all of the effort he’d put out prepping for these tests he was becoming apoplectic. But then he decided to distil all of that exasperation into positive energy, and start attacking this problem with a new strategy.

After securing my support for his plan, he set out to find the closest place that was still testing, and had seats available. He spent hours searching zip-codes in a circular pattern starting at a 75-mile radius and working outward. It took a while, but eventually he found a tiny HS in a very rural area, across the state line, several hours away, that had a seat still available. He grabbed the seat, and I reserved him a cheap hotel room nearby. After the test, he jumped back across the state-line and spent the rest of the day smashing smallmouth bass on a river running through a state park.

It is obvious that USNA is doing this out of both fairness and necessity. They want as large a pool of top-notch young people to choose from as they can get, and COVID-19 is throwing all kinds of anchors at the process. But, I believe that those who and are willing to take this adversity and flop it over to an advantage by adjusting their perspective to see this as an occasion to glow in the dark, will have an even greater advantage than they would have had if the coronavirus had never been.

I know it’s not easy……but that’s kind of the point.

 

[Heatherg21]

I know testing is happening in our state, our high school is hosting for our PSAT and SAT for juniors and seniors. I would heartily suggest trying rural areas and districts. In all states, they are the most likely to open up for testing. Heck, ours is back to in-person school (albeit with masks).

+1 @birdwatcher4125 and your kiddo for finding a way to take the test, and smashing smallmouth bass sounds like a great way to decompress post those heinous test sessions.

Our son took the test multiple times to improve his scores. Luckily it wasn't during COVID. If he were applying this cycle, I would think he would do everything in his power to get that test taken. If the test were out of state, I bet he would have sold his guitars to pay for the trip. When you want something this badly, you will sacrifice to get a shot at it and find a way to get it done. With so many exceptional candidates, you can leave nothing to chance. Keep trying to get the test taken until the cycle closes.

As others have said, finding a way, persevering, problem-solving are all traits that are needed in officers. This is a perfect way to exhibit those traits.

 

[A6E Dad]

to put this another way, and to amplify what OldNavyBGO said,

Do not confuse "Test Flexible" with "Test Optional".

Test flexible only means that admissions will still consider a candidate that, for reasons out of his/her control, was not able to complete the SAT/ACT.

It doesn't mean that you get to choose whether or not to take the test. You are expected to exhaust all means available to you to find a way to complete the test and submit the scores. For some people, there will not be sufficient means and opportunity to get that done. And for those candidates, this exception will be made.

For those candidates, USNA will do the best they can to fairly evaluate them against the competition. Part of that will be evaluating the info submitted by the candidate concerning why the test was not possible.

 

[ArmySon-NavyFan]

I don't plan on even telling DS that I saw this. He has been working hard to improve on his Dec '19 score for a Sep SAT date. We are lucky that our State is still having tests, so he needs to keep grinding away to get everything done. This would be a distraction and may be tempted to re-focus his priorities. Don't you just miss precedented times??

 

[bopper]

Also this is pretty much what all colleges are doing this year...being flexible on SAT/ACT. I am not sure if they are making you show you tried though.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

I don't plan on even telling DS that I saw this. He has been working hard to improve on his Dec '19 score for a Sep SAT date. We are lucky that our State is still having tests, so he needs to keep grinding away to get everything done. This would be a distraction and may be tempted to re-focus his priorities. Don't you just miss precedented times??

I believe the Notice was sent to all Candidates.

 

[UnitedStatesAircraft5]

BGO's haven't received any guidance on this issue --but I would expect that USNA will use all available information. In other words, if you have an 1180 , they aren't going to disregard that because someone tells them they want to retake it because they hope to get a 1400.

.

"A Midshipman does not lie...." Seriously, it is unlikely that not taking the SAT/ACT is going to help a candidate. This is merely a recognition that USNA isn't going to DQ a good candidate because they can't take the SAT/ACT. USNA has Admissons Counselors assigned to each Region, and I would expect those representatives to be monitoring what's happening re: COVID in their area area.

Bottom Line -- don't try to game the system, thinking that you will benefit from not taking the SAT/ACT. This is simply a recognition that some very strong candidates would be excluded if they weren't able to take the tests. The formula for success hasn't changed -- strong grades, strong SAT/ACT, leadership , athletics, and community service will make you competitive; and having all of those factors > the rest of the candidates (and of course, having a Nomination , passing the CFA and medically qualified) will (usually) get the Appointment.

I wasn’t implying there is a good reason NOT to take the SAT. As I previously stated, I have already taken the test, I was purely curious about how the admissions folks would work through a scenario where someone claims they couldn’t test.
That’s all.