How has test-optional affected college admissions?

Impact of Test-Optional Admissions Public institutions saw the greatest gains. For all groups, the increases were greater for applications than for actually enrolling students. In terms of what colleges used instead of test scores, the survey also found gaps between public and private institutions.

How does the ACT affect college admission?

Colleges and universities use your ACT score as a factor in determining whether to admit you, and your advisor uses it to decide which courses you should take. If your first score does not reflect what you think is your level of achievement, redouble your efforts at studying and take the test again when next offered.

Are colleges requiring SAT for fall 2021?

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the college entrance exam testing industry, which resulted in a number of colleges shifting to test-optional admissions process for the 2020-21 admissions cycle. In fact, 75\% of four-year colleges and universities will not require SAT or ACT scores for the 2021-22 admissions cycle.

Will more colleges go test-optional?

More California colleges remove SAT, ACT requirements during application process. University of California regents unanimously voted in May 2020 to suspend SAT and ACT testing requirements through 2024 and eliminate them for California students by 2025.

Is test optional a disadvantage?

The Disadvantages Institutions with test-optional policies can often attract (and reject) more applicants, which lowers their acceptance rates and makes them appear more selective. A University of Georgia study found that schools receive 200 more applications on average after adopting test-optional policies.

Do test scores matter in college admissions?

Test Scores Are Not the Most Important Factor When they use scores in admission decisions, different colleges weight the scores differently. But no matter which college you’re applying to, test scores are not the most important factor. Colleges give the most weight to your grades and the rigor of your classes.

How important is the ACT test in college admissions?

indicating students’ level of college readiness, how else does the ACT help within the admissions process? ACT scores are also widely used by colleges in course placement, student guidance and scholarships decisions—critical components to ensuring that students succeed on campus.

Are colleges requiring ACT for class of 2021?

In light of widespread test date cancellations and students’ increasingly limited access to both test preparation and testing centers as a result of the coronavirus, many American colleges and universities are eliminating their standardized testing requirement, including making the SAT and ACT optional, for the high …

Does test-optional hurt your chances?

If the college does not require the test, then generally NO, it will not hurt your application. But know that without test scores other parts of your application will become more important. This includes your GPA, your college essay, awards and achievements, references, and any extracurricular activities you include.

How many colleges have gone test-optional?

According to FairTest, over 1,700 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. currently have test-optional policies.

Is it good to go test optional?

During COVID-19, the policies have greatly expanded and colleges did indeed take great numbers of test-optional applicants in the 2020-21 cycle. Research also suggests that test-optional admits ultimately perform every bit as well in their college careers as their test-armed peers.

Do test-optional policies increase admission rates?

Other research shows test-optional policies can – at least temporarily – increase the numbers of freshman applications. However, it does not increase diversity among enrolled students. Test-optional policies do not seem to change the academic caliber of students that universities admit.

Should college admissions be test-optional?

Research also suggests that test-optional admits ultimately perform every bit as well in their college careers as their test-armed peers. An internal study conducted by Bates College which went test-optional back in the mid-’80s suggests exactly this.

What percentage of Boston College students apply test optional?

At Boston College, 39\% of accepted students submitted scores; at UVA 42\% of applicants applied test-optional, but only 28\% of those accepted did not include standardized test results in their application. At Brown University, 42\% of those accepted applied as test-optional applicants.

Do test-optional colleges do more good than harm?

It shows that test-optional colleges achieve much greater diversity when they provide a no-SAT/ACT option and back it up with sufficient financial aid. The study also reports that students admitted without tests tend to have slightly lower GPAs in their first two years at college.