PrepScholar

MAY 15, 2023

Many colleges have adopted test optional admissions policies over the past several years…but what about top schools? Is Harvard test optional? Are Ivy League schools test optional? In this article, we’ll walk you through Harvard’s current testing policies and the testing policies at top 25 universities.

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ACM College Consulting

MAY 3, 2024

In 2024, we have already seen several selective universities, including MIT, Cornell, Yale and Brown announce that they will once again require test scores of some sort (each policy is frustratingly different or vague) for the next application year. Students should research the admissions policies and data of the schools on their list.

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BestColleges

FEBRUARY 7, 2024

The lack of standardized testing places more weight on nonacademic factors like guidance counselor recommendations and nonacademic ratings by admissions officers, which are biased toward higher-income students, according to the study. Students from a U.S.

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BestColleges

MARCH 8, 2024

Brown becomes the third Ivy League school, following Yale and Dartmouth, to reinstate standardized testing requirements. Brown University has become the latest highly selective institution — and third Ivy, following Dartmouth College and Yale University — to reinstate standardized testing requirements, beginning next fall.

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BestColleges

MARCH 20, 2024

It's also important to remember that your standardized test score is just one factor that schools will consider in your overall application. However, a recent study conducted by Harvard University-based research group Opportunity Insights has administrators rethinking their test-optional policies.

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Top Tier Admissions

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

This morning, Dartmouth College announced that they are reactivating the standardized testing requirement for undergraduate admission, effective with the Class of 2029. Test scores are more reliable than high school grades, partly because of grade inflation in recent years.”

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Top Tier Admissions

APRIL 19, 2024

BROWN’S CHANGING ADMISSIONS POLICIES Brown University announced in early March that it would once again require students applying for fall 2025 admission to submit either a SAT or ACT score. Brown followed the lead of Dartmouth College and Yale University who will also require standardized test scores , effective for the Class of 2029.

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Solomon Admissions

DECEMBER 8, 2023

According to Forbes , many of these schools did so to help combat the effects of COVID, but as COVID cases have been on a drastic decline schools are standing by this policy for a multitude of reasons. These universities recognize that standardized tests alone do not fully represent a student’s abilities, talents, and/or potential.

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Top Tier Admissions

APRIL 12, 2024

Other Ivy League institutions, including Dartmouth College , Yale University , and Brown University , announced recently they would require standardized test scores again, effective for the Class of 2029. START NOW Harvard will accept alternative forms of testing, such as AP exam results , only in exceptional circumstances.

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Top Tier Admissions

MAY 3, 2024

Set your child up for college admissions success today Schedule A Consultation Get Our Brochure DARTMOUTH ADMISSIONS UPDATES Dartmouth College was the first Ivy League to announce it would reinstate standardized testing requirements , effective for the Class of 2029.

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Simply Admissions

AUGUST 13, 2020

This month, we’ll go over post-COVID standardized testing changes and FAQs. The majority of colleges have changed their testing requirements recently, which seems like it’s only caused more confusion! Below is a handy cheat sheet I’ve created that summarizes the different testing policies.

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Next Admit College Admissions Blog

APRIL 24, 2024

Duke University, renowned for its academic rigor and vibrant campus community , holds its applicants to high standards, including in their SAT scores and requirements. In this article, we’ll delve into the average SAT scores at Duke University and the nuances of their admissions policies.

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DC College Counseling

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

YALE UNIVERSITY REVERSES COURSE TO BEGIN REQUIRING STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES AGAIN Yale announced the results of an internal study which demonstrated that standardized test scores are the best predictor of undergraduate student success on their campus. If you can’t keep these policies straight, you aren’t alone!

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Next Admit College Admissions Blog

APRIL 24, 2024

Duke University sets high standards for its applicants, and standardized testing is a crucial aspect of the college application process. Duke University maintains a test-optional policy for applicants. Duke evaluates applications comprehensively, considering various factors beyond standardized test scores.

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Spark Admissions

JUNE 9, 2023

In addition to being administered completely digitally, the test will have some new features that could make it a better or worse option for you, particularly in the context of extended test-optional admissions policies. The older paper test took 3 hours to complete, while the new SAT exam takes 2 hours and 14 minutes.

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Next Admit College Admissions Blog

MARCH 17, 2024

For the 2023-2024 admission cycle, Brown University will maintain a test-optional policy for all first-year, transfer, and Resumed Undergraduate Education applicants. If students choose to submit test scores, they may self-report them or send them officially to Brown. Should I go test-optional?

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Inside Emory Admission

JANUARY 25, 2024

Updated January, 2024 Emory University has extended its test optional policy for applicants who plan to enroll as first-year students in Fall 2025. In addition, transfer applicants for Fall 2025 can also take advantage of this test optional policy. WHO DOES THE POLICY APPLY TO?

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BestColleges

OCTOBER 4, 2023

Participation in the SAT rose by roughly 200,000 students from the class of 2022 to the class of 2023, although universities have increasingly embraced test-optional policies and moved away from requiring standardized test scores from incoming students.

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Admitted

JUNE 28, 2023

iStock One of the most significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the college admission ecosystem was the relatively rapid and nearly wholesale adoption of test-optional (or test-free, in some cases) admission policies by colleges and universities.

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Inside Emory Admission

MARCH 29, 2023

>> Updated March, 2023 Emory University has extended its test optional policy for applicants who plan to enroll as first-year students in Fall 2024. In addition, transfer applicants for Fall 2024 can also take advantage of this test optional policy. WHO DOES THE POLICY APPLY TO?

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Enrollify

MARCH 20, 2024

In the latest episode of the EduData Podcast , Jamie Boggs and Timothy Davis dive into the evolving landscape of standardized testing in higher education, focusing on the implications of fluctuating ACT scores and the broader debate over test-optional policies.

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DC College Counseling

MARCH 12, 2024

BROWN, PENN, AND UT AUSTIN ANNOUNCE TESTING POLICY UPDATES Last week, Brown announced that they will reinstate the standardized testing requirement for the Class of 2029 (current high school juniors). I’m so glad it went well!

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Admitted

JUNE 28, 2023

iStock One of the most significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the college admission ecosystem was the relatively rapid and nearly wholesale adoption of test-optional (or test-free, in some cases) admission policies by colleges and universities.

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Next Admit College Admissions Blog

MARCH 13, 2024

Cornell University, known for its academic rigor and diverse community, sets high standards for its applicants. Among the various elements of the college application process, standardized testing plays a significant role. 37% submitted SAT scores, and 49% omitted standardized test scores from their application.

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Next Admit College Admissions Blog

MAY 4, 2024

For the admissions cycle spanning 2024–25, Northwestern University maintains a test-optional policy. However, applicants may choose to submit these scores along with other optional forms of testing, such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate scores. What are Northwestern’s SAT requirements?

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AHM Advising

MARCH 6, 2023

As if the conversation around standardized testing isn't confusing enough, we can soon add another layer of complication as the Digital PSAT rolls out this fall, followed by the Digital SAT in the spring. If you are a student that is just not going to be a successful test-taker, there will be plenty of options for you.

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Spark Admissions

JANUARY 28, 2022

When the pandemic began, nearly all colleges and universities in the United States dropped their testing requirements when it became impossible for students in some areas of the country to find a test center and date reliably. Then, as the pandemic continued, many colleges extended their policies for another year or longer.

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SSA Online College Prep

JULY 3, 2023

Schools go test-optional in an attempt to increase diversity and be less reliant on standardized test scores in admissions decisions. But many top schools still require standardized tests. By 2019, more than 1000 schools were test-optional, and by 2023 that number has grown to over 1900. I'm confused!

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BestColleges

MARCH 13, 2024

Test scores will help the university sort applicants according to major preferences. Adding to the growing list of top schools reinstating standardized test requirements, the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) will require students to submit SAT or ACT scores beginning next fall. So what purposes will the scores serve?

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Solomon Admissions

MAY 4, 2023

However, in recent years, there has been debate about whether these standardized tests are still relevant in today's college admissions landscape. Here's what you need to know: Pros of the SAT and ACT: Standardized Comparison: The SAT and ACT provide a standardized comparison of students across the country.

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Next Admit College Admissions Blog

MARCH 13, 2024

Applicants to Cornell’s schools for Agriculture and Life Sciences; Architecture, Art, and Planning; and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business are not expected to submit standardized test scores. Brooks School of Public Policy; and the School of Industrial and Labor Relations may optionally submit standardized test scores.

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Solomon Admissions

JUNE 29, 2023

In addition to the usual application materials, like transcripts, letters of recommendation, and essays, students are often asked to submit standardized test scores from either the SAT or ACT exam when applying to college. Top schools do not recommend one test over the other; students are allowed to submit whichever one they prefer.

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Top Tier Admissions

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

DARTMOUTH REINSTATES STANDARDIZED TESTING Just a few days ago, Dartmouth announced that it would be reinstating its standardized testing requirements , beginning with next year’s Class of 2029. She also noted that top schools such as MIT and Georgetown have recently reinstated their testing policies as well.

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Top Tier Admissions

APRIL 3, 2023

ENROLL NOW The increases in selectivity are due in part to test-optional policies, which many colleges implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic for the class of 2025 as students struggled to find open standardized testing sites and faced other barriers to taking exams.

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BestColleges

OCTOBER 12, 2023

ACT CEO Janet Godwin said not enough is being done to ensure graduates are ready for college and these problems require action and support at the policy level. High school students' ACT test scores have dropped to their lowest level in more than 30 years, according to the nonprofit organization that administers the test.

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The Koppelman Group

MAY 1, 2024

Standardized Tests The University of Chicago is test optional, meaning that you aren’t required to submit an ACT or SAT score. They also have an interesting policy called the “ No Harm ” testing policy. For the class of 2027 , the ACT score range for admitted students was 21-36.

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BestColleges

JULY 7, 2023

The vast majority of merit scholarships do not require ACT or SAT scores, according to a new report by the National Center for Fair & Open Testing. Those scholarships that do require standardized test scores create barriers for historically underserved students, according to the report.

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