Test-optional admissions standards have increased in popularity since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Some colleges are beginning to reverse this standard, while others plan to make the change permanent. Still, other colleges have plans to extend test-optional standards for another year or two.
That said, which colleges are test-optional for 2023?
In this article, we will provide two lists to help you stay organized. The first list is composed of permanently test-optional colleges. The second list is composed of colleges that are extending their test-optional admissions standards for at least one more year. So if you’re wondering what schools are test-optional for 2023, read on for further facts and insights.
During this time of shifting admissions standards, many students find themselves pondering the following questions: What colleges are test-optional? How many colleges are test-optional? And what percent of colleges are test-optional? If you’ve been asking yourself any of these questions, we’re here to clear things up for you.
While test-optional admissions standards help encourage greater accessibility, it’s important to realize that if you don’t submit standardized test scores, the rest of your college application will have to be that much more compelling. Thankfully, many colleges embrace holistic college admissions standards so there are plenty of ways to put together a competitive college application without submitting test scores.
If you don’t submit test scores, make sure you give extra care and attention to your:
“Test-optional” means that students can choose whether or not to submit standardized test scores as a part of their college application. Students who choose not to submit test scores will not be penalized, but students who submit test scores (especially if these scores are impressive) may receive an advantage.
“Test-flexible” means that students don’t have to submit test scores, as long as they meet a qualifying GPA. Likewise, some schools require test scores for students applying to particular academic programs, as well as those who are interested in being considered for merit-based scholarships. Homeschooled students are often required to submit standardized test scores as well.
“Test-blind” means that a college will not look at standardized test scores, even if they are submitted. Test scores are simply not an admissions factor.
At the beginning of the pandemic, all of the Ivy League colleges adopted test-optional admissions policies, but is this still the case? Let’s take a look at each of the Ivy Leagues and what their current testing admissions policies are:
To get into an Ivy League college, you need a comprehensive college application strategy. This is why it’s important to be aware of the latest policies and trends. That said, it is worth noting that MIT now requires standardized test scores; many believe that this could cause other highly-selective colleges to follow suit in the near future.
If you’re interested in applying to 2023 test-optional colleges, peruse the following list. Remember, these colleges are permanently test-optional. (The colleges included in the next list are extending their test-optional admissions standards for a minimum of one year).
Source: https://fairtest.org/test-optional-list/
*These schools are permanently “test-flexible.” Generally, this means that you don’t have to submit test scores, as long as you meet a qualifying GPA.
Are colleges test-optional for the class of 2023? Review the following 2023 test-optional schools for your college planning needs.
Source: https://fairtest.org/test-optional-list/
*These schools are permanently “test-flexible.” Generally, this means that you don’t have to submit test scores, as long as you meet a qualifying GPA.
After reviewing these two lists, you may want to review upcoming SAT and ACT test dates, especially if you’re interested in applying to a college that isn’t test-optional. There are lots of ways to prepare for the SAT and ACT, so if testing doesn’t necessarily come naturally to you, review our SAT study plan and schedule for guidance. Remember, submitting standardized test scores can help provide further depth to your overall application and can help you stand out from your peers if you test well. If you need help preparing for your standardized tests, or you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance during this college application season, reach out to learn more about our services. Here at Prepory, we have the tools to help you meet all of your college goals.
More and more colleges are adopting test-optional admissions standards for the 2023 school year. These colleges include Ivy League schools, as well as other well-known institutions. If you’re considering applying to test-optional schools, be sure to review our lists of permanently test-optional and test-optional for 2023 colleges.
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Stay informed on the latest developments in college admissions. Learn about the Supreme Court's affirmative action cases, currently being considered by the court, and how it may potentially overturn precedent for affirmative action.
Two affirmative action cases are currently being considered by the Supreme Court. Since the beginning, affirmative action has been highly contested and remains a controversial discussion today. Although many affirmative action cases have been brought to the Supreme Court in the past, people speculate that the 2022 affirmative action Supreme Court case may overturn our country’s precedent for affirmative action, on account of the court’s conservative majority.
Affirmative action is a complicated and sensitive concept and holistic college admission standards may be affected. In this article, we will provide a basic summary of the cases, followed by a brief explanation of affirmative action. At the end of the article, we will discuss the possibility of affirmative action being overturned and what that could mean for today’s college admissions standards.
On October 31st, 2022, the Supreme Court held a hearing for two cases concerning the role of affirmative action within the context of college admissions. The two schools currently under scrutiny are Harvard and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Both of these cases were brought to the court by the Students for Fair Admissions, led by Edward Blum, a legal activist concerned with the constitutionality of “race-conscious” decision-making.
Although these two cases are being discussed simultaneously, there are some key differences between the cases. The main difference is that Harvard is a private institution and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill is a publicly-funded institution. Because UNC is a public institution, it is subjected to more restrictions on account of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination by institutions that receive federal funding.
In summary, plaintiffs in the UNC case claim that the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill discriminates against white and Asian-American applicants, by favoring Black, Latino, and Native American applicants. Similarly, plaintiffs in the Harvard case claim that the college discriminates against Asian-American students by prioritizing subjective admissions standards such as kindness and likability.
The Supreme Court will most likely make its decision regarding these two cases in June 2023. In the meantime, colleges and students are left wondering how admissions practices may be affected if affirmative action is overturned by a conservative majority.
Affirmative action policies are mostly used at highly-selective colleges, primarily Ivy League institutions. Proponents of affirmative action believe that considering an applicant’s race and gender helps colleges create culturally diverse learning environments while increasing opportunities for underserved populations. This principle plays a large role in holistic college admission standards.
Nine states currently prohibit the use of affirmative action for college admissions: California (1996), Washington (1998), Florida (1999), Michigan (2006), Nebraska (2008), Arizona (2010), New Hampshire (2012), Oklahoma (2012), and Idaho (2020).
Although the majority of affirmative action cases have been deemed constitutional, there have been some restrictions placed on these policies. Namely, colleges are banned from using racial quotas. This policy went into effect after the affirmative action Supreme Court case presented in 1978.
During this case, Allan Bakke, a white man who was rejected from UC Davis’ medical school, despite his high test scores, filed a lawsuit after learning that 16 out of 100 spots were reserved for students of color.
It’s difficult to anticipate how this case could affect college admissions standards if affirmative action is overturned. Likely, colleges will experience a dip in diversity. That said, college admissions standards are often so subjective, it’s difficult to anticipate what the effect of this case may be, especially on minority students. The best we can do at this point is to continue to monitor the case and hopefully gain some insights from the various arguments presented in court.
