In the age of test-optional admissions, it might seem like a no-brainer: if your SAT score isn’t perfect (or even close), why submit it? After all, if colleges don’t require a test score, skipping it can’t hurt your chances—right?

Not so fast.

While test-optional policies were designed to reduce barriers and level the playing field, there’s a hidden cost to opting out of sending your scores—and it's a cost most applicants don't realize until it's too late. Here’s what you need to know.

1. "Optional" Doesn’t Mean "Irrelevant"

Let’s clear something up: test-optional doesn’t mean test-blind. Most colleges will still consider your SAT or ACT score if you send it—and for many applicants, that can be a good thing.

Even a score that’s just slightly above a school’s average can give your application a boost. Why? Because it's another data point that helps prove you're ready for college-level work. In a world of grade inflation and wildly different high school rigor, standardized tests can offer one of the few consistent comparisons admissions officers have.

Not submitting it could mean missing out on a competitive edge.

2. Merit Scholarships Often Do Require Scores

Here’s a little-known truth: many colleges, especially public universities, tie their merit-based scholarships directly to SAT/ACT scores—even if they’re test-optional for admission.

So while you might get in without submitting a score, you could be leaving thousands of dollars in scholarship money on the table by not sending it.

Check the fine print: some schools automatically award money based on a GPA + test score matrix. Without that score, you might still be considered—but not at the same funding level.

3. You’re Competing With Those Who Do Submit

At selective schools, many applicants still send their scores—and that can subtly shift the playing field.

Imagine two students with similar GPAs, extracurriculars, and essays. One submits a 1400 SAT; the other doesn’t submit a score at all. Admissions officers may assume the second student scored lower than the one who submitted, even if that's not fair or intentional.

Of course, colleges claim they don’t penalize students for not submitting—but let’s be real: any optional piece of information that makes you look stronger will almost always work in your favor.

If others are submitting solid scores and you’re not, you could be at a quiet disadvantage.

4. You Might Regret It Later

Here’s a scenario we’ve seen too many times: a student decides not to send their score, gets into a college, but then finds out they would’ve qualified for a scholarship or honors program—if only they’d submitted.

Once deadlines pass, there's no going back.

And even if you're applying to a school that’s test-blind today, policies can shift, especially as the test-optional trend evolves. Better to have the score ready than to wish you did.

Your future self will thank you for keeping your options open.

Should I Submit My Test Score?

Ask yourself:

• Is your SAT or ACT score at or above the middle 50% range for the school?
  
  

• Could submitting your score make you eligible for scholarships or honors programs?
  
  

• Are you applying to competitive programs where every piece of your application counts?
  
  

If the answer to any of these is yes, you should seriously consider sending it.

Even if your score was not initially very good, you are better off retaking the test and getting a higher score to submit than not submitting anything at all. Tutors such as The College Review offer individual help for those who need to study for their upcoming exam.

Final Thought: Test-Optional Isn’t a Free Pass

Test-optional policies have opened doors for many students—but they also come with trade-offs. Not submitting a score might make sense in some cases, especially if your score is well below the school’s average. But if your score is solid—or even just “good enough”—choosing not to submit it could quietly hurt your chances or cost you financially.

Before you make the call, do the research. Look up each school’s test score range, scholarship criteria, and admissions patterns.

Because in the end, the cost of not submitting your score might be more than just points—it could be dollars, opportunities, or even an acceptance letter