MIT reinstates ACT/SAT test requirement

Data10
Sun, 03 Apr 2022 18:19:16 +0000

mtnsun13:

Does anyone think other colleges will follow MIT in reinstating a test requirement?

I think it depends on their original motivations leading to the test optional switch and what has changed since then. For example, the hundreds of colleges that chose to switch to test optional prior to COVID had a variety of different motivations. Those motivations probably are still largely present, so I’d expect their decision to go test optional to be unlikely to change. I’d make a similar comment about colleges that were considering switching to test optional, and the pandemic gave them an additional push in that direction.

The colleges that are most likely to switch back to test required are colleges that had mot been considering test optional and instead primarily switched due to many students being unable to safely take the test, with the COVID-19 pandemic. When those colleges believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is well enough under control that students can safely take the test, then some will switch back to test required.

It’s “some” rather than all because there are also additional factors that may have changed. For example, some colleges may like the increase in applications from test optional kids and find it undesirable to lose that; some colleges may fear negative publicity from such a change; some colleges may change their mind after experiencing the forced trial; etc.