I've heard that some colleges have decided not to use standardized tests in their admission process. Does anyone have more recent info on this? Thanks for any help you can give.
As of the 2024-2025 application cycle, many colleges have altered their test policies in response to the changing landscape of standardized testing. However, the way each institution treats standardized tests may vary. Here are a few examples:
1. The University of California system (which includes UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz) as well as the California State University system are test-blind. This means they do not consider the SAT or ACT scores at all in their admissions process.
2. Other schools like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Michigan, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Washington, and Drexel University have opted to remain test-optional for now. In a test-optional environment, you have the choice whether or not to submit your SAT or ACT scores as part of your application.
3. Contrastingly, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Purdue University, Brown University, Yale University, The University of Texas at Austin, and California Institute of Technology have ended their test-optional policies and require all applicants to submit an SAT or ACT score.
4. Finally, keep in mind that Cornell University is test-optional for the 2024-2025 application cycle, but is planning to require standardized test scores again for the 2025-2026 application cycle.
These policies are subject to change, so it's crucial to stay updated by frequently visiting the admissions websites of the colleges you're interested in.
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