What Is Testing Optional

More and more colleges are offering a ‘Testing Optional’ option in their college admission process.  Colleges are placing less weight on standardized test scores such as SAT and ACT.  This practice follows along with those colleges seeking to pursue a holistic approach to their student selection process.  The student as a whole is considered rather than their scores on a standardized test that offers no individualized attention.

Where do you find a list of the ‘Testing Optional’ colleges?  Fair Test, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, is a website that list colleges that offer ‘Testing Optional’; specifically, “Schools That Do Not Use SAT or ACT Scores for Admitting Substantial Numbers of Students Into Bachelor Degree Programs”.

Fair Test also posts a disclaimer, “As the internal school listing notes indicate, some schools exempt students who meet grade-point average or class rank criteria while others require SAT or ACT scores but use them only for placement purposes or to conduct research studies.  Please check with the school's admissions office to learn more about specific admissions requirements, particularly for international or non-traditional students.”

Just because a college does not require you to submit a standardized test score does not mean it is easier to gain admission than other colleges who do.  Testing optional colleges are now individualizing what the applicant can submit in order to gain entrance.  In lieu of standardized test scores, students must satisfy some or all of the following other requirements.

• Be in the top 10% of their graduating class
• Have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale
• Submit two graded papers
• Submit SAT Subject Matter Tests
• On-campus interview

Testing optional is considered more of a tradeoff rather than a total waive.  Students are subjected to no less scrutiny than if they did submit standardized test scores.

Last Word –

If you have taken the SAT or the ACT and scored sufficiently high for your target school, then by all means, submit your scores.  If you do not have a sufficiently high standardized test score; which for the SAT means at least 1800 combined, or for the ACT, 28 or higher; you are not locked out of highly ranked colleges.  There are universities and colleges who will consider other aspects of your personality and achievements as part of their admission criteria.  Colleges such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Union College, Fairfield University, and 800 more have all opted for the ‘Testing Optional’ designation.  Visiting the school’s website and planning ahead will allow you to increase your odds of getting into a school that ‘fits’ you.