In what may be the first of many, Cornell University has announced that it will be suspending the SAT/ACT requirement for both the classes of 2021 and 2022 applicants. And last week Penn State announced that it will extend its test-optional policies through 2023.
The number of colleges requiring standardized test scores for admissions has been on the decline. But the pandemic and the difficulties it created over the administration of the exam forced the hand of many schools.
Schools who make early announcements help high school juniors who may be having trouble sitting a test this spring because of Covid related cancellations.
In explaining its decision the Cornell Admissions Office explains,
Many teens have gone to extraordinary lengths to take the SAT/ACT this year, traveling to other states and locations far from home. Some have done so in situations that may have been risky for their health.
Cornell Admissions
Cornell Admissions is asking members of the class of 2022 not to take such risks and urges students to, “Please do not feel you need to take exams unless you are able to take the exam locally near your home and you feel safe in doing so.
Cornell made it clear that they are not, at this time, adopting a test-optional admissions policy on a permanent basis. Students may still submit their exam scores if they have them and are satisfied with their result. They further explained that prospective athletes will be subject to the rules about testing set by the Ivy League and that has yet to be determined.
This year’s high school juniors have been hard hit by the pandemic with their sophomore and junior years disrupted. Many would have taken SAT/ACT exams over the course of this academic year but have been unable to find an open testing site.
Recently the University of California Board of Regents amended an earlier press release saying, “Subsequent events have changed how the University of California will evaluate applications for Fall 2021 admissions. UC will not consider SAT or ACT test scores when making admissions decisions or awarding Regents and Chancellor’s scholarships.”
These test-optional announcements are a welcome acknowledgment of the challenges these teens have faced. One unsurprising result of the test optional applications to selective universities was that applications skyrocketed this year.
Questions remain over whether or not test-optional college admissions are here to stay or just a band-aid for a temporary problem. Is this a 2 to 3 year phenomenon or something much more permanent?
More to Read:
Breaking News: Selective Colleges Push Back Decision Day Due to Soaring Applications
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