What are the odds of getting into college test-optional?

It is important to note that many selective universities did welcome a large number of test-optional applicants into the Class of 2026. After all, only around 50% of applicants last year submitted SAT/ACT scores compared to 77% two years prior. At Boston College, 33% of accepted students chose not to submit scores.

Do colleges care if you go test-optional?

Schools care about their reputations, which are based in part on the statistics of their incoming classes, including SAT/ACT scores. Because those scores are no longer required, applicants are likely only submitting them if they did exceptionally well, which boosts admissions statistics.

What percent of colleges are test-optional?

College admission tests are becoming a thing of the past. More than 80 percent of U.S. colleges and universities do not require applicants to take standardized tests like the SAT or the ACT.

Does applying test-optional lower your chances?

If the college does not require the test, then generally NO, it will not hurt your application. But know that without test scores other parts of your application will become more important.

Is there a disadvantage to applying test-optional?

Test Scores Might Be Required for Merit Scholarships. Many test-optional colleges look at test scores when awarding merit scholarships, so not submitting them might put you at a disadvantage.

Best Bets for Test Optional 2023-2024 in College Admissions. When to submit SAT / ACT scores!

Is test-optional a trick?

You might be wondering whether the test-optional option is a trick of some kind. Maybe you're thinking that you'll be less likely to be admitted if you don't submit your scores even though the university says they're not required. Rest assured: it's not a trick.

Will colleges be test-optional in 2025?

While most colleges haven't announced their testing policy for the Class of 2025 and beyond, it appears that many that adopted test-optional policies during the pandemic continue to be test-optional.

Will most colleges remain test optional?

According to FairTest, that number represents 83% of four-year U.S. schools. In addition to the fall 2023 tally, FairTest also reported that 1,783 institutions- equal to about 78% of four-year colleges and universities - have already extended their test-optional/test-blind policies at least through fall 2024.

How many students go test-optional?

As the college application process picks up steam for the upcoming academic year, a new survey shows that more than 80% of U.S. bachelor-degree granting institutions will not require students seeking fall 2023 admission to submit either ACT or SAT standardized exam scores.

What does it mean when a college is test-optional?

When a university states that it is test-optional, it means that students are not required to submit their SAT or ACT test results to support their undergraduate application. In fact, students may not need to take the test at all if they aren't planning to submit their final score.

How long will colleges be test-optional?

Recently, more schools have adopted test-optional or test-blind admissions policies. In fact, more than 1,900 schools will not require applicants to submit scores for fall 2024 admission, according to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, a nonprofit advocacy group commonly known as FairTest.

Why are colleges staying test-optional?

One of the biggest benefits of a college adopting a test-optional admissions policy is the same benefit that these policies were adopted in the first place: they allow students who cannot or do not feel safe taking a standardized test in a public space to still have a complete college application and be considered for ...

What are the benefits of test-optional?

The goal of test-optional admission is to open the doors to students who are otherwise challenged by standardized academic tests. This gives more people the opportunity to apply, but more applications means more pressure on registrar offices who need to read and assess them.

Should I submit a bad SAT score or go test-optional?

Consider your schools' average scores

However, if you received a score below your school's 25th percentile for either the SAT or ACT, we might recommend not sending this score to test-optional schools – as it may lower your chances of admission.

How many colleges are test optional 2023?

The 1,835 colleges not requiring admissions tests for fall 2023 is roughly in line with the number on FairTest's list last year, which was more than 1,800.

Will colleges be test optional for 2023?

The University of California system as well as the California State University system are officially now test-blind. This means that you do not have the opportunity to submit SAT/ACT scores for consideration with your UC application.

Why are colleges getting rid of SAT?

In an October 2022 webinar called “Preparing for a Supreme Court Decision Involving Race-Conscious Admissions,” NACAC officials similarly advised college admissions officers to “eliminate consideration of applicants' ACT and SAT scores because they reflect a variety of biases related to race and ethnicity” as well as “ ...

Are SATS required for college 2024?

More than 1,900 U.S. colleges and universities are not requiring SAT or ACT scores for admissions for fall 2024, continuing the proliferation of test-optional and test-free practices.

Will 2024 be test-optional?

With test cancelations and administrative closures due to Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021, many top colleges adopted test-optional or test-free admissions policies — and, with the 2023-2024 college admissions cycle now underway, few have gone back.

Is class of 2029 test-optional?

UC will eliminate altogether its standardized testing requirement for California freshman admissions.

How important are sats in 2023?

Current figures estimate around 80% of four-year colleges won't require standardized tests for fall 2023 admissions, so the burning question remains: are SAT/ACT scores still important? The shorter answer is: yes. Just because scores are optional, it doesn't mean they aren't still important.

What does test optional actually mean?

The term “test optional” refers to schools where students do not have to submit SAT or ACT test scores as part of the application for admission. Students themselves can choose whether or not to submit scores, and deciding not to submit a score does not negatively reflect on the student's application.

How many colleges have gone test optional?

According to FairTest's website, there are 1,843 colleges in the US that offer test-optional or test-free policies. We present the top 100 colleges that are test-optional/free for this admission cycle.

When did colleges become test optional?

The test-optional movement began at Bowdoin College in Maine in 1970 and spread through academia, gaining traction in the 2000s amid concerns about equity.

What is the difference between test blind and test optional?

As opposed to test optional, where you can send them in but you don't have to. With test blind, schools will not accept any scores at all. There's just a handful of schools that are going test blind, such as the University of California system in several years.