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| Wesleyan University now offers test optional admissions |
In the run-up to the 2014-15 admissions season, five well
respected colleges are making major changes in the way they will consider test
scores.
As veterans of the process well know, early summer is a
typical time for schools to announce new testing policies—between enrollment
decisions for the coming fall’s entering class and the beginning of a new
recruitment season for rising seniors.
But this year has been exceptional, as an impressive number
of colleges and universities, representing different sizes, types and
selectivity are expressing a loud vote of “no confidence” in the way
standardized tests are being used in admissions.
While the College Board and the ACT bicker over which test
most accurately forecasts college success, Emmanuel
College, Hampshire
College, Hofstra
University, Old
Dominion University (ODU), and Wesleyan
University all announced they are taking steps to reduce the importance of
test scores in how they go about admitting students to their institutions.
“The strong pace of test-optional announcements this year
shows that many schools are unimpressed by the upcoming changes in the SAT and
ACT,” explained Bob Schaeffer, public education director for the National
Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest). “ More than 100 colleges and universities
have de-emphasized admissions exams since the last ‘major overhaul’ of the SAT
and ACT, and others recognize that the next round of revisions will also do
nothing to improve the exams' predictive validity, fairness or susceptibility
to high-priced coaching.”
And well over 800 colleges across the country agree, including
Emmanuel College
After
studying national research and past experiences, Emmanuel announced that
beginning with the class entering in the fall of 2015, applicants will not be
required to submit standardized test scores (SAT I, SAT II and ACT). Students who feel their high school record
alone is a better indicator of their achievement and ability may choose to
exclude scores from their application without penalty. And there is no supplemental application component
in lieu of test scores.
“This
test-optional policy reinforces the College's commitment to understand a
student's overall academic experience, regardless of performance on a single
test, according to the Emmanuel website.
“The admission application review process will not change significantly,
as Emmanuel has always completed a holistic review of each admission applicant.”
Hampshire College, MA
As one of
the first schools in the country to be test optional, Hampshire College has never
required SAT’s or ACT’s , but admissions would consider them if submitted. To underscore campus “concern for fairness in
access to educational opportunity,” Hampshire will now be “test blind” and will
no longer consider standardized test scores in any way as part of admissions
and financial aid decisions.
“It is no
secret that many colleges base financial aid awards largely or partly on test
scores,” said Meredith Twombly, dean of admissions and financial aid. “Financial aid should be used to support
students who most need assistance, not to reward those who are good test takers.”
Hofstra University
Starting for
the class entering fall of 2015, Hofstra will no longer require applicants to
submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their applications. The high school transcript will be the
primary focus of application review—with or without standardized test
scores. The only exceptions to the new
policy will be for international and home-schooled applicants.
“[W]e have
concluded that standardized tests are not the most important predictors of
academic success at Hofstra,” explained a statement from the university. “rather, our studies show that the best
predictor of success in college is a student’s high school academic record and
the performance of day-to-day work in the classroom.”
Old Dominion
University
Taking a
more conservative route, ODU recently announced a two-year pilot project
offering students with strong academic records in high school a way to be
admitted without submitting standardized test scores. Applicants with a GPA of 3.3 or higher may
apply for admission without having taken the SAT or ACT. ODU’s test-flexible policy mirrors similar
policies at other Virginia colleges including George Mason
University (requires a 3.5 GPA , challenging academic curriculum, and an
actual or estimated class rank in the top 20 percent), Hampton University (requires
a GPA of 3.3 or rank in top ten percent), Christopher Newport University
(requires a 3.5 GPA or rank in the top 10 percent), and Virginia
Wesleyan (requires a 3.5 GPA and strong college preparatory curriculum).
“ODU’s pilot
program is intended to widen the university’s applicant pool,” said Ellen
Neufeldt, vice president for student engagement and enrollment services. “Standardized
test scores are not as strong a predictor of success in college as high school
GPA’s.”
Wesleyan University
Taking effect
during the 2014-14 application cycle (including transfers entering in Spring
and Fall 2015), Wesleyan will not require applicants from the U.S. and Canada
to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of an application for admission. For those who choose to submit them, test
scores will be reviewed in a “holistic manner,” in context of other application
materials.
“We’ve
always been most concerned about the day-to-day work of our applicants, in a
rigorous academic program,” said Nancy Hargrave -Meislahn, Wesleyan’s dean of
admission and financial aid. “This option provides students more control over
their applications, how best to present themselves to the admission committee.”
For a searchable
database of all test-optional, test-blind, or test-flexible colleges and
universities, visit the FairTest
website.
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