Admissions teams at the nation’s most selective institutions are facing uncharted territory this year as they attempt to review a record number of applications—many without test scores—to shape the Class of 2025.
Topics: Standardized testing
Test-optional policies here to stay, ACT report suggests
Enrollment officials responding to an ACT survey indicated that they’re unlikely to return to test-required policies in the near term, although institutions whose test-optional policies were COVID-driven said the next few application cycles will be telling.
Digital recruitment, test-optional policies: Stopgaps for COVID-19 or lasting change?
Many colleges and universities pivoted to digital recruitment tactics and test-optional admissions policies out of necessity this past year. But some admissions experts expect the changes to persist well beyond the pandemic.
College Board says goodbye to SAT essay, subject tests
As more colleges and universities adopt test-optional admission policies, and the pandemic continues to limit testing sessions, the College Board has announced it is eliminating the essay and subject tests from its SAT exam.
Latest U.S. News rankings factor in graduate indebtedness, test-blind schools
U.S. News & World Report recently published its annual college rankings list, adjusting its methodology to include graduate indebtedness and to slightly reduce the emphasis on SAT/ACT scores, high school class standing, and alumni giving rates.
Report urges colleges, universities to re-examine SAT/ACT policies
A new report on standardized testing’s role in admissions decisions urges colleges and universities to use this moment of disruption as an opportunity to reconsider their SAT/ACT requirements for the long term.
Most U.S. colleges have dropped ACT/SAT requirement for fall 2021 admission
More than 1,240 of the nation’s 2,330 bachelor’s degree-granting schools have said they will not require students to submit ACT/SAT scores when they apply for fall 2021 admission.
UC board votes to drop SAT/ACT requirement in ‘landmark decision’
The University of California has decided to phase out the system’s use of SAT and ACT test scores when evaluating candidates for admission—a change expected to have ripple effects across the nation.
UC president urges system to drop SAT/ACT requirement
University of California President Janet Napolitano this week shared a plan to phase out use of the ACT and SAT in admission decisions—the latest installment in a closely watched debate over the system’s testing requirements.
SAT/ACT prep for at-home exams as more colleges go test-optional
If COVID-19 continues to derail SAT and ACT testing, will high school students take the exams at home—and will that be equitable? Will the disruption prompt even more colleges to go test-optional?
What’s ahead for law students unable to take the bar or attend summer jobs?
Whether they’re graduating this spring, preparing for a summer program, or just starting their legal education, students at the nation’s law schools are facing unique challenges and an uncertain future in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
UC system goes test-optional, relaxes admissions process amid COVID-19
The University of California and California State University systems this week announced that they would temporarily suspend several admissions requirements to reduce stress on students during the coronavirus crisis.