your experience with high gpa/low sat/act at test optional schools?

Hi, My D did very well on the act but her four best friends, all high gpa (92-94 with aps) kids, are struggling. A lot of schools are test optional now but I'm wondering if unhooked kids are really able to gain admission to top schools (bates, bowdoin, middlebury, wake, etc) without submitting test scores or if, as some have speculated, test optional is a way in for hooked candidates while allowing colleges to not report their stats. so please reply below with your experience if your s/d didn't submit scores. tia!