Here is a current list of colleges requiring test scores and those that prefer students who submit scores:

Colleges That Require Test Scores
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Georgetown University (DC)
University of Florida
Georgia Institute of Technology
Purdue University--Main Campus (IN)
University of Georgia
Florida State University
University of South Florida
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Florida International University
United States Naval Academy (MD)
United States Air Force Academy (CO)
United States Military Academy at West Point (NY)
Thomas Aquinas College (CA)
New College of Florida

There are also schools where most admits submitted test scores, even though they were not required. These schools include:

Clemson
Wellesley
Washington St. Louis
Wesleyan
Notre Dame
Tufts
Tulane
Pomona
Emory
Bowdoin
Barnard
I expect more colleges will start requiring test scores in the future, although the UCs and Cal States will not. I strongly recommend taking the SAT or ACT to keep as many options open as possible. 

Melissa

The picture above is of UCSB, my alma mater. There have been a lot of changes since my 3.65 GPA got me admitted. Every year admission to the UCs becomes more selective, the uncapped GPA for UCSB is now a staggering 4.5.  As I endeavor to explain the new reality, parents look at me in disbelief, thinking I must be exaggerating. Nowadays, GPA is only one consideration. Rigor comes next. Is the student challenging themselves in the context of their school, is the way the UCs phrase it. To get into Berkeley or UCLA, most students need around 28 semesters of honors or AP classes. Another factor in the comprehensive review is whether a student has demonstrated outstanding performance in one or more areas. However, not all UCs are equally selective. UC Merced is still accessible to most students, with an average GPA of  3.48 - 4.08 and a 88.3% acceptance rate.

I just received this announcement today. The CTCLs are a group of liberal arts that offer a transformative education to undergraduate students.


2023 marks the 25th year that CTCL has offered a national series of information sessions and college fairs for students, parents and counselors featuring the colleges and universities that inspired the book, Colleges That Change Lives.Each program opens with a 30-minute presentation on the student-centered college search, the value of the liberal arts, and an overview of what makes this collection of schools distinctly different.
After the opening presentation, attendees are invited to attend a 30-minute financial aid workshop and a 90-minute college fair. The fair provides students, families, and college access professionals with an opportunity to connect directly with admission officers from the CTCL member schools.
Join us for the 2023 programs:
March 11 | Boston, MA
March 12 | New York City, NY
March 13 | Washington, DC
Charter Schools Program
March 13 | Washington, DC
Counselors Roundtable
March 13 | Washington, DC
March 14 | Charlotte, NC
March 15 | Atlanta, GA
July 29 | San Diego, CA
July 30| Los Angeles, CA
July 31 | San Jose, CA
August 1 | San Francisco, CA
August 2 | Seattle, WA
August 3 | Seattle, WA
Counselors Roundtable
August 3 | Portland, OR
August 12 | Houston, TX
August 12 | Austin, TX
August 13 | Dallas, TX
August 14 | Chicago, IL
August 15 | St. Paul, MN
August 16 | Denver, CO
August 17 | Nashville, TN

The teenage years are known for their emotional volatility, but it feels like it's getting worse. This month, several students have come into my office, and, as we discuss topics for their Common Application essay, tears begin to slowly roll down their faces. These  students are not crying because of college application pressures, those are still to come, they are weeping because they eat lunch alone everyday, they aren't accomplishing what they hoped to academically, they have sacrificed too much to excel at a sport, their mom and sister fight a lot, they feel alienated from their friends, their parents, their world.

I do my best to prop them up, assure them that life will get better. We talk about their dreams and all the wonderful times ahead. But my heart aches for everyone of them, why is life so difficult for these students?

We have all read about the mental health crisis our teens are experiencing. The Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy issued a warning in February that social media is a main contributor to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems, according to an NBC News report. We know about Congress' attempts to regulate social media, which have failed repeatedly. According to Senator Amy Klobuchar, the only way things are going to change with social media is when Americans decide they have had enough.  Recently the American Psychological Association issued recommendations for guiding teen's use of social media. I wish it had had the courage to recommend that parents prohibit social media use completely. Then perhaps students could reconnect, leave their bedrooms, and participate in life fully and joyously. 

Hello Parents!
IT IS TIME to pay the tuition bill!
If you want to pay via payment plan - look on the college website ASAP! Most college payment plans will begin in July. This is a great option if you are paying the semester in full or in part with cash.
If you are paying via 529 funds- once you receive the bill and know the exact amount, you can request the funds from your 529 company. You can have the funds sent to you or directly to the school. If you receive the funds, remember to pay the college with the exact amount you received and keep all documentation. If paying for a computer, books, etc., keep the receipts. Requests usually take two weeks.
Most of the time your student should take their federal student loan - if concerned about this please reach out to me for a discussion. Your student needs to ‘accept’ (check the box) that they want the loan(s) subsidized (no interest) and unsubsidized (interest accrues). They then need to complete Financial Literacy and sign the MPN (master promissory note). Once completed the loans will be applied to the tuition bill, so compete ASAP. The Financial Literacy and MPN are all set for four years. Each semester the student will need to accept the loans. Freshman year will be $5500 (less fees) or $2750 per semester, sophomore year $6500, jr & sr years $7500 each.
If there is a need for an education loan for this year, the options are a Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan or a private lender loan. The current fixed interest rate for the PPL is 8.05% with a fee of 4.23%. You can apply for the loan with your FSA ID on the studentaid.gov website. If you are interested in applying for a private loan, your interest rate will be determined by your credit score, debt-income ratio and other factors. Here are the lenders I recommend;
Try starting with SPARROW - a broker of student loans - remember the rate is not official until completion of the application. Also:
Juno Ascent Funding LendKey
For more information please schedule a free conversation with me at www.calendly.com/collegedollar or book the one-hour consultation for my 11-point Tuition Bill Review Package where I cover optional costs, FERPA, waivers, loans, and more!
Liane Crane, CFSLA - College Funding & Student Loan Advisor Read my recommendations on Financial Aid Packages in FORBES www.TheCollegeDollar.com