UChicago is test optional (but this was announced well before COVID19)
Chicago went test optional in 2018, so have had two full applications cycles as a TO school
Amherst also test optional just for the class of '21. It is on the Admissions page of its website.
I think the UNC system is actually changing some rules around the MINIMUM ACT requirement but has yet to go test optional
https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2020/03/new-sat-policy-0401
I wonder if they’ll exclude homeschoolers (most test optional schools do).
Northeastern announced test-optional today.
https://news.northeastern.edu/2020/04/07/northeastern-adopts-test-optional-policy-for-students-applying-for-the-2021-22-academic-year-due-to-uncertainty-caused-by-covid-19/
The California State University “is evaluating its admission process for entering first year students in 2021” in the context of suspension of ACT, SAT, and state exams, according to https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/Pages/first-time-freshman-guidance.aspx . “A final decision on how CSU will adapt its admissions process for the fall 2021 term will be made soon. At that time, the CSU will immediately communicate its decision publicly.”
Note: CSU was already test optional for those with sufficiently high HS GPA applying to non-impacted majors at non-impacted campuses, but most campuses are impacted (meaning that threshold for admission is competitively determined and usually higher than baseline admission eligibility), so test optional only applied to a minority of applicants.
Haverford is going test option for a three year period before a re-evaluation of the policy.
Hamilton College went from Test Flexible to Test-Optional
Trinity University.
I’m seriously wondering how necessary testing is going to be in the future. My S22 is not going to an elite college and I can see him just not taking it all and picking only from TO schools.
@murray93 It will be interesting to see how many kids apply to each school TO if they release that info. Even if kids can test by Aug or Sept, it’s kind of late. Our D will take a test if offered Sept or earlier but not even sure if she will use it depending on the score. I imagine lots of kids will be in that boat.
I’m curious to see if the schools that go test optional this cycle will keep it that way. I wonder if the test optional schools will receive more applications. Also, the schools that still require tests may have lower averages. It will be very interesting. It’s been frustrating since my S21 has been studying very hard for the ACT and his practice tests are within the range he needs. But, if the tests are all cancelled until fall, should he continue to study?
@kanfly so far, other than the UCs, it looks like state schools are still looking for grades. That could affect which schools kids apply to. D21 wasn’t really looking at big universities but she still had Wisconsin as a possible “safety” but without an SAT, I don’t even think she can apply. She took the ACT and I don’t think that superscore is high enough for her to get in. Now, we are re-assessing her safeties and looking for schools that have moved TO.
I’ve seen a lot of your posts and my son is looking at a lot of the same colleges. Wake, Richmond, etc… He is keeping his grades up and still studying for his ACT. It’s just really frustrating with so many unknowns! I think he needs to continue moving forward as if everything is going to still be on in the Fall, but then again, nothing will be the same!
Hang in there…
I am trying to advise my D. She has one solid (although always possibility of improvement since she only took ACT once) and no SAT. I’m wondering if she should take again if offered this summer/fall. I think she is good for admit to all the colleges that she is targeting…all public’s/one private so far, but we are chasing merit. If test scores are not used, then do the colleges consider gpa/course rigor? ECs? Anything else?
I think schools are going to be more flexible and take everything into consideration. If you need merit, you will likely need strong test scores. I would check the websites and see if she is already in the range for the merit scholarships.
I agree that many schools may still require test scores for merit aid. I would ask the AO this question via email…the sooner you know the better. Of course, some schools may not yet have made final decisions.
Tulane just announced they will be test optional for next year only.