Berkeley² Academy

MARCH 8, 2025

Changes to standardized testing requirements Some colleges that have maintained test-optional policies include Princeton, the University of Maryland, and Texas A&M. However, many of the most competitive schoolsincluding Caltech, Stanford, and Cornellhave reinstated testing requirements.

Admissions

Peterson's Blog

AUGUST 5, 2025

History of Standardized Tests in the United States Since 1926, the SAT has been the go-to test for assessing college readiness. In 1959, the ACT was introduced to the standardized testing sphere for college admissions. Since then, this test has expanded and has been adopted by many schools.

ACT

Peterson's Blog

JANUARY 7, 2025

Standardized test scores, like the SAT and ACT, determine academic readiness and skills for entering university. While it may be beneficial to take both tests, this blog will answer the question, “Do you need both ACT and SAT for college? While both are standardized tests, there are a few key differences between them.

ACT

Top Tier Admissions

MARCH 18, 2025

In August 2023, ACT released their findings from a twelve year study (2010-2022), concluding that average grades for U.S. This occurred even though ACT subject tests remained relatively stagnant. In recent years, many of the most selective colleges have returned to relying on standardized testing.

Admissions

AdmissionSight

JUNE 7, 2025

2023 32,804 5.8% 2023 27,469 4.2% 2023 5,335 13.9% To get there, take plenty of practice tests and zero in on your weak spots. Let’s dig into how these numbers have shifted over the years: Princeton Class Total Applications Overall Acceptance Rate 2028 40,468 4.6% 2027 39,644 4.5% 2026 38,019 5.7% 2025 37,601 4.4%

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

APRIL 13, 2025

2022-2023 14,577 9.4% 2022-2023 13,607 10.5% Standardized test scores (if required). In the 20242025 academic cycle alone, nearly 20,000 students applied and only about 7.4% were accepted. 2021-2022 14,343 8.8% 2020-2021 12,533 10.6% Letters of recommendation.

Bachelor's Degree

AdmissionSight

AUGUST 13, 2025

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Standing out to colleges means showing who you are, beyond grades and test scores.</strong> NACAC’s 2023 report shows that <strong>77% consider high school grades in college prep courses of considerable importance</strong>, making it the top factor in admission decisions.

Admissions

Princeton College Consulting

JUNE 23, 2025

All Rights Reserved. None of the Trademark holders are affiliated with Princeton College Consulting, LLC.

Transition

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

2023 40,585 9.1% 2023 36,528 7.2% 2023 4057 26.6% Target GPA While Northwestern doesnt officially set a minimum GPA, the standards are high. Moreover, according to Northwesterns 2023-2024 Common Data Set , nearly 94% of those accepted are ranked in the top 10% of their class. 2027 52,233 7.2% 2026 51,558 7.2%

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

DECEMBER 29, 2024

2023 8,367 537 6.4% Target test scores Caltech is back to requiring standardized tests for first-year applicants, and high scores can set you apart. Take a look at Caltechs admissions data : Caltech Class Total Applications Total Admitted Students Overall Acceptance Rate 2028 13,863 315 2.3% 2027 13,136 412 3.1%

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 20, 2025

2023 47,498 4.3% Standardized test scores (optional). They accept both, but standardized test scores are optional. Even though its hard to get into Stanford with or without test scores, submitting your best results can only help. 2026 56,378 3.7% 2025 55,471 3.9% 2024 45,227 5.2% 2022 47,451 4.4%

Admissions

AdmissionSight

MAY 8, 2025

How to Register for the SAT How to Practice for the Digital SAT Top 5 Test-Taking Tips for the Digital SAT Frequently Asked Questions Takeaways What Is the Digital SAT? following the successful rollout of the digital SAT for international students in spring 2023.

SAT

AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 24, 2024

You can self-report test scores through the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir, and if admitted, you’ll need to send official reports. Keep in mind that this test-optional policy is temporary—standardized testing will be required again starting with the 2025–2026 cycle.

Early Decision

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 11, 2025

That means you can skip stressing over standardized test prep and tracking down teachers for letters. UC Davis Waitlist Acceptance Rate The latest waitlist acceptance rate for UC Davis in 2024 hasnt been officially released yet, but in 2023, more than 4,400 students were admitted off the waitlist.

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 5, 2025

In Fall 2023, 3,254 students applied to transfer, but only 187 were admitted. Historical transfer acceptance rates Lets dig into the numbers from the past three years to get some context: Year Applicants Admitted Acceptance Rate 2023 3,254 187 5.75% 2022 3,008 341 11.34% 2021 3,039 448 14.74% Whats the trend? Okay, heres the deal.

Transfer

The Koppelman Group

MAY 14, 2025

CMU also has a strong international student community and a big one with 23% of undergrads qualifying as international students as of the fall of 2023. For the Fall of 2023, CMU received 4,515 Early Decision applications and accepted 13.6%. CMU likes Early Decision applicants to have completed all standardized testing by November 1.

Early Decision

Marks Education

APRIL 25, 2025

Skip to content Enrollment is now open for the 2025-26 Academic Year Summer Tutoring Programs College Counseling Packages Contact Us Search Instagram-square Facebook Linkedin Youtube Yelp Why Marks?

Academic Tutors

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Standardized test scores (optional). UT Austin remains test-optional for Spring 2025 applicants. According to UT Austins Common Data Set for 2023-2024 , the school requires 14 units and recommends 20 units: English. UT Austin wants to know about the quality of your involvement. Show them how youve made a difference.

Admissions

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 23, 2025

This huge jump is mainly because of factors shaped by COVID-19, particularly colleges implementing test-optional policies , which made it easier for students to apply without standardized test scores. How does Ivy Day 2025 compare to previous dates?

Ivy League

Top Tier Admissions

JANUARY 17, 2025

Socioeconomic diversity, especially in the wake of the Supreme Courts 2023 decision on affirmative action , appears to have been a recruitment focus for Duke. With application numbers rising, particularly at the Southern Ivies , strong test scores can help set you apart from other talented applicants.

Acceptance

Top Tier Admissions

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

While Stanford remains test-optional for those applying this cycle, applicants to the Class of 2030 will once again be required to submit a standardized test score. Stanford has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,049 students and an acceptance rate of less than 4%. Interested in reading more about Stanford?

University

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Standardized test scores (optional). NYU is test-optional , meaning you can decide whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. NYU average GPA According to NYUs Common Data Set for 2023-2024 , the average GPA for admitted students is 3.81. NYU ACT Scores NYU doesnt require ACT scores since it follows a test-optional policy.

Admissions

The Koppelman Group

APRIL 12, 2025

The idea that legacy students are held to the same standard should be a given we see this at most other top colleges but its not because Vanderbilt believes in creating a more equitable process. In Vanderbilts Class of 2023, Christiansen claims that 14.3% of students were legacy and says thats on the low end. Submit scores.

Policies

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

Looking at Rices Common Data Set for 2023-2024 , its clear that academics matter: 91.4% While Rice is test-optional, strong scores can help your application stand out and show that youre ready for the schools challenging academics. While Rice doesnt publicly share its average GPA, most admitted students are top achievers.

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

2024 21,253 19% 2023 22,200 15.8% The number of applicants has skyrocketed, especially since Notre Dame went test-optional during the pandemic. 2023 14,866 13.3% 2023 7,334 20.9% According to Notre Dame’s Common Data Set for 2023-2024 , the average GPA for admitted students is an impressive 4.2 The takeaway?

Acceptance

The Koppelman Group

APRIL 9, 2025

Heres what he said at a Yale College Family Weekend panel in 2023: We are trying to ask, Is [legacy admissions] getting in the way of diversifying our applicant pool, or is it not? Scores Yale requires test scores from all applicants, and while the policy is test flexible , that doesnt apply to you, legacy. So, we will see.

Policies

AdmissionSight

JUNE 6, 2025

Northwestern, while slightly lower, has stayed competitive, ranked #26 in 2023, #28 in 2024, and #31 in 2025. In 2023, Northwestern came in at #32 while Cornell remained at #20. It ranked #6 in 2025, #9 in 2024, and #8 in 2023. Cornell followed closely behind, coming in at #11 in 2025, #12 in 2024, and #17 in 2023.

Financial Aid

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 16, 2025

2023 27,634 15.4% Applications have surged, especially since the university went test-optional during the pandemic. 2023 25,774 15.1% 2023 1,860 18.8% According to Carnegie Mellons 2023-2024 Common Data Set , the average GPA for admitted students is an impressive 3.91 2027 33,707 11.4% 2026 34,261 11.3%

Acceptance

Top Tier Admissions

MARCH 13, 2025

In 2023, the NY Times highlighted Tulanes incoming freshman class, which was nearly 64% women. By 1992, they accounted for more than 53% of college students, and by 2023 that number was 58%. At Brown University, about 12,000 more women than men applied for admission in 2023, but 14 more men than women were admitted.

Admissions

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 7, 2025

Good news for those of you who cringe at the thought of standardized tests: Northwestern has been test-optional since 2020, and theyre keeping it that way for students applying for fall 2025. the previous year), and the average SAT was 1440 (up from 1418 in 2023). For UIUCs Class of 2028 , the average ACT was 32.1 (up

SAT

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 5, 2025

Like most of the schools on this list, Oakland is test-optional, so you can showcase your other talents if standardized tests arent your thing. While thats 9.78% cheaper than the national average for private schools , tuition has still risen by over 3% in 2023.

Financial Aid

Top Tier Admissions

APRIL 16, 2025

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center Survey and Report Is College Worth It? The College Boards move into career prep courses comes during a period of growing skepticism in some arenas about the value of a traditional four-year college degree. nearly half of U.S.

Transition

AdmissionSight

MARCH 6, 2025

Standardized test scores (optional). Boston University is test-optional , so SAT and ACT scores are not required. Boston University average GPA According to Boston Universitys Common Data Set for 2023-2024 , the average GPA of admitted students is 3.89. That said, if standardized tests arent your strength, dont stress.

Admissions

The Koppelman Group

JANUARY 22, 2025

For the fall of 2023, Yale received 1,479 applications for transfer. If you experienced a significant challenge associated with preparing for or completing the standardized test(s) you selected, you may provide details here. They accepted 18. acceptance rate. That is, objectively, absurd. 100 word limit).

Transfer

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Standardized test scores (optional). Northeastern is test-optional , so SAT and ACT scores are not required. Northeastern average GPA Although the university doesnt provide an official average GPA, data from Northeasterns Common Data Set for 2023-2024 shows: 86.8% Northeastern does not favor one test over the other.

Admissions

AdmissionSight

JULY 27, 2025

</strong> From 2023 to 2025, Princeton moved from #7 to #4, showing strong global performance and prestige. .</p> </strong> From 2023 to 2025, Princeton moved from #7 to #4, showing strong global performance and prestige. .</p> In 2024, Cornell placed at #13, while Princeton landed at #17.

Ivy League

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Standardized test scores (optional). Rice University has a test-optional policy, but if you do submit, aim for competitive scores. Moreover, according to Rice Universitys Common Data Set for 2023-2024 : 91.4% Retake the test if necessary to maximize your scores. And if standardized tests arent your thing?

Admissions