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Will Colleges Waive Standardized Test Scores for Classes 2020 & 2021?
April 10, 2020
Preparing for the ACT or SAT is stressful to students. Waiting to learn your scores on the ACT or SAT tests is even more stressful to students (and parents, and advisors too!) Imagine not needing those scores as a part of your college admissions portfolio? This is what the Covid-19 crisis is stirring up in the college admissions world. To waive the need for test scores or not? To waive for class 2020 and 2021? Or just 2021?
Many colleges or college systems are considering it, or have announced they will waive the ACT/SAT test requirements for at least the incoming class of 2021. Tufts has announced they are adopting a 'let's try it" for 3 years approach, starting with the class of 2021. What other schools have announced a change in testing requirements for the class of 2021, or beyond? I turned to one of the best test preparation companies I know to see if they had started a list of colleges already. Applerouth Test Preparation did not disappoint! Check out their ongoing list of colleges that are waiving standardized tests, modifying the requirements, or throwing in the towel and becoming test optional for the foreseeable future. If you learn of a school changing their policies, send a note to me at cyndy@cyndymcdonald.com I took this list, added categories, and started research. Below is the list so far! This is an ongoing article. It will be updated as news comes in.
Who Might be Next?
I included a 'watch list'. These are larger university systems to watch. Decisions by these large systems, with flagship universities, such as the University of California system, with flagship institutions such as UCLA and UC Berkeley, will set the path for other systems and universities to follow. I am expecting a domino effect over the next few weeks. Let's see how many of these large, state university systems follow University of California and University of Georgia's lead?
Are There More Colleges?
This is list will be evolving over the next few weeks. Please feel free to share news/updates. Together we can keep an ongoing list. As colleges add to the list, the date and the college/university will be added.
April 10, 2020
These colleges/universities have announced test waiver policies for upcoming class of 2021 (and some are beyond). Check individual university websites for details.
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
Large State University Systems
California State University System (23 campuses)
University of California (9 campuses)
University of North Carolina System (17 campuses)
University System of Georgia (26 campuses)
Public Universities (Individual)
Many colleges or college systems are considering it, or have announced they will waive the ACT/SAT test requirements for at least the incoming class of 2021. Tufts has announced they are adopting a 'let's try it" for 3 years approach, starting with the class of 2021. What other schools have announced a change in testing requirements for the class of 2021, or beyond? I turned to one of the best test preparation companies I know to see if they had started a list of colleges already. Applerouth Test Preparation did not disappoint! Check out their ongoing list of colleges that are waiving standardized tests, modifying the requirements, or throwing in the towel and becoming test optional for the foreseeable future. If you learn of a school changing their policies, send a note to me at cyndy@cyndymcdonald.com I took this list, added categories, and started research. Below is the list so far! This is an ongoing article. It will be updated as news comes in.
Who Might be Next?
I included a 'watch list'. These are larger university systems to watch. Decisions by these large systems, with flagship universities, such as the University of California system, with flagship institutions such as UCLA and UC Berkeley, will set the path for other systems and universities to follow. I am expecting a domino effect over the next few weeks. Let's see how many of these large, state university systems follow University of California and University of Georgia's lead?
Are There More Colleges?
This is list will be evolving over the next few weeks. Please feel free to share news/updates. Together we can keep an ongoing list. As colleges add to the list, the date and the college/university will be added.
April 10, 2020
These colleges/universities have announced test waiver policies for upcoming class of 2021 (and some are beyond). Check individual university websites for details.
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
Large State University Systems
California State University System (23 campuses)
University of California (9 campuses)
University of North Carolina System (17 campuses)
University System of Georgia (26 campuses)
Public Universities (Individual)
Indiana
Indiana University
Northwest
Northwest
Ohio
Bowling Green State University
University of Toledo
University of Toledo
Pennsylvania
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University
Millersville University
Oregon
Oregon State University
University of Oregon
University of Oregon
PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES
Ivy League
Harvard
Highly Competitive (0-30% Acceptance Rates)
Tufts
Case Western
Boston College
Scripps College
Davidson College
Boston University
Pomona College
Vassar College
Williams College
Case Western
Boston College
Scripps College
Davidson College
Boston University
Pomona College
Vassar College
Williams College
Private Universities (50-100% Acceptance Rates)
California
Santa Clara University
Georgia
Mercer University
Indiana
Franklin College
Iowa
Briar Cliff University
Kentucky
University of the Cumberlands
Missouri
Drury University
Southwest Baptist University
Michigan
Albion College
Pennsylvania
Westminster College
Texas
Concordia University Texas
McMurry
Texas Christian University
Trinity University
South Carolina
Limestone College
ON THE WATCH LIST
State of Florida System
University of Texas System
SUNY System
Other Ivy League universities
CTCL Colleges
University of Texas System
SUNY System
Other Ivy League universities
CTCL Colleges
Currently the total the public university system colleges offering test waivers is 75 campuses. This is 75% of all the universities reporting class 2021 test waivers. Just over 20 other campuses have announced test waivers for next year's class. This puts the total number of waivers at just under 100 now. If another large public university system, such as SUNY (64), Florida (16), or Texas (14) announced test waivers, the number could easily double pretty quickly. This is a developing story- so bookmark this and check for updates frequently.