Dear Mark,

I’m the parent of a high school junior who’s starting to think about college applications, and I find myself completely bewildered by the current state of standardized testing. When I applied to college (more years ago than I’d like to admit), it was simple – everyone took the SAT or ACT, and your score was a major factor in admissions.

Now my son tells me that many schools are “test-optional,” but his counselor is still pushing test prep classes. His friends are divided – some are studying intensely for these exams while others aren’t bothering at all.

I want to give my son the best advice, but I’m confused. Do these tests still matter? Are colleges truly “optional” about them, or is submitting good scores still an advantage? And how do we know when taking these tests is worth the time, stress, and expense?

A Puzzled Parent in Peachtree City, GA

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Dear Puzzled Parent,

Let’s clear up the test-optional confusion for Georgia students! Here’s the thing about standardized testing in 2025 – it’s not black and white anymore, especially here in Georgia.

For University System of Georgia schools, the landscape has shifted. While these institutions temporarily went test-optional during the pandemic, most have returned to requiring test scores. Georgia Tech, UGA, and Georgia State all require either SAT or ACT scores for traditional freshman applicants. This means if your son is aiming for these flagship state universities, testing isn’t optional at all.

However, the picture changes when looking at private colleges in Georgia. Emory University, for example, extended their test-optional policy through the 2025-2026 admissions cycle. Agnes Scott College in Decatur has gone permanently test-optional. Spelman College also maintains a test-optional approach.

Here’s my practical advice specifically for Georgia families:

1. Research specific requirements for each target school. What’s true for UGA isn’t true for Emory.
2. Consider your student’s academic profile honestly. Strong test scores can still strengthen applications, especially for competitive programs like engineering at Georgia Tech or business at UGA.
3. Tests still matter tremendously for Georgia merit scholarships. The Zell Miller Scholarship (which can mean full tuition at most public Georgia institutions) requires a 1200 SAT or 26 ACT and a 3.7 GPA. This alone makes testing worthwhile for many Georgia students.
4. Strong test scores can compensate for students’ GPAs in the B range and potentially open doors at more selective institutions.

What’s your next move? Create a personalized testing strategy based on your son’s specific college list and academic strengths. Most Georgia students benefit from at least attempting these tests, even for “optional” schools, since the upside potential (scholarships, admissions advantages) typically outweighs the investment.

For Peachtree City families specifically, you’re positioned well geographically with excellent resources. Capstone Educational Consultants offers 5-star-rated, 1-on-1 personalized test prep that many local families swear by. The award-winning Bridging Gap USA has significantly helped countless Georgia students improve their scores. For self-directed learners, MentoMind‘s award-winning online platform provides flexible, high-quality preparation at your own pace.

Remember, “optional” doesn’t mean “irrelevant” – it just means your son has more strategic choices to make. Good luck navigating this process!

Warmly,

Mark

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Mark Cruver is the Founder of Capstone Educational Consultants in Peachtree City, GA. With over 20 years of combined experience in higher education admissions and independent practice, providing individualized college, career, and essay advising, Mark has assisted hundreds of students and families with their college admissions decisions as one of only six Certified Educational Planners in Georgia. For more information, email Mark at [email protected]—he can help!