This past week, three more U.S. News & World Report top #25 universities Georgetown University, Stanford University and Princeton University suspended the requirement of SAT or ACT scores for Fall 2021 first year applicants. One Stanford student, amongst others, were frustrated by the policy changes, as for many years, they believed (and were taught) that test scores were essential components of their eventual college applications.
Yet, now with test-optional policies suddenly enacted, students generally believe admissions officers message to be: “Nah, just kidding, the test scores weren’t that valuable.” One college student emoted crossly, “Why did I need to torture myself to prepare and take the ACT? And, multiple times?!?”
The dismay of current college students over their perceived unfair admissions policy changes may have a lasting impact which may need to be mitigated. Yet, for potential applicants in the next six months to three years, they are unsure of how the test optional policies may affect their admissions’ opportunities given standardized test scores have been utilized in college admissions for nearly 100 years. Thus, college admissions officers may need to issue greater guidance to all students about not only the forecasted impact of their policy decisions, but how their evaluations may change.
