Test-blind colleges 2023
Unlike test-optional colleges, which give students the choice of whether or not to include SAT/ACT scores as part of their application for admission, test-blind colleges will not accept standardized test score submissions from any applicant to their school. You read correctly—a “test-blind” policy is exactly what the name implies and no matter how well (or poorly) you scored, your test results will have no bearing on a school’s admission decision. Show
The number of test-blind schools increased dramatically in the past year, as COVID-19 forced widespread cancellations of SAT and ACT test administrations beginning in March 2020 and extending throughout the summer and into the fall. In the same timeframe, but for wholly different reasons, a California Superior Court judge ruled that all schools in the UC system were required to jettison standardized tests from their checklist of admissions considerations. The adoption of test-blind policies is a true game-changer that significantly alters the admissions landscape at a number of excellent colleges and universities, at least for the 2022-23 cycle. You will find a list of all test-blind schools below along with the Class of 2025 acceptance rate for each institution. Last updated August 2022. The list contains the test-optional colleges that changed their admission policies due to COVID-19. Some have extended their test-optional policies. These policies primarily focus on ACT and SAT standardized tests for first-year U.S. undergraduate applicants. This list was last updated in September 2022.
*While we try our best to keep this list complete and updated, please note that this list is not exhaustive. FAQ About Test-Optional and College Admissions1. Test-Optional vs. Test-BlindTest optional means that you can still submit your scores (and you should if you can) and universities will take them into consideration. On the other hand, test blind means colleges won’t look at test scores at all. In both cases, test scores may be used for placement purposes, so you won’t have to take a placement exam before course selection. In some test-optional colleges, test scores are required for certain programs, majors, and/or merit-based scholarships. You may also need to submit test scores if you do not meet the minimum GPA requirements. Please see the “Notes from Insight Education” section for specific college admissions requirements.
2. For freshmen and sophomores, should they prepare for SAT/ ACT or wait to confirm or later is test-optional or not?For now, most popular schools extended their test-optional policies for Fall 2023 applicants. There are colleges that adopted test-optional policies, too. Therefore, it depends on your college list, which can shift and change over the years. Your college list can change until the moment you finish submitting applications! To keep your options open (and stress level low), it’s good to take the diagnostic test and then strategize to see if test scores can give you an advantage. Also keep in mind that certain majors, athletic admissions, honors programs, and scholarships require ACT / SAT test scores, and you can use your test scores in lieu of placement exams. 3. Will I have an advantage with ACT / SAT scores?Yes! From the 2021 and the 2022 admissions results, we’ve seen those who submitted test scores have a higher acceptance rate than those who did not. In some cases, the school may ask you to submit test scores as they are reviewing your applications. Certain colleges require additional essays and/or admissions interviews when you apply without a test score. To learn more, check out our blog on “Top 3 Tips to Prepare You for College Admissions” or “How to Approach Standardized Testing“. Are you in the Class of 2023 or 2024? You may be wondering if you need a test score to apply to college. In this blog, we’ll go over the press releases from colleges and universities regarding their testing policies for the Fall 2022 and Fall 2023 application season. As of March 2022, we found that 63.5% of the top 200 schools have announced test optional, test flexible, or test suggested
policies for the next application round. Though test submission at many of these schools is strongly encouraged or likely to correlate with higher admissions rates, it is not a requirement of application. 5.5% of colleges have announced test required policies. Notable test required schools include Georgetown, UNC Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech, and Florida State University. 8.5% of top 200 universities, including all colleges in the University of California system, are currently test blind, so they
will not accept SAT or ACT scores, though some may consider AP scores or other exams such as the TOEFL. Finally, 22.5% of colleges have not announced their testing policies yet. As schools start to suggest that more students submit test scores, and fewer students have issues accessing the test, we are beginning to enter a phase where we see a difference in admit rates based on whether people submit test scores or not. While in the previous year, many students did not have access to tests, test availability has increased greatly. If you don’t explain why you don’t have a test score, and you’re not from a context where a test score doesn’t make sense, a lack of a test score might start to hurt you. Many schools now discriminate against students without test scores. 2023-2024 Admissions CycleObviously, schools can change their test policies whenever they want. But, 38.5% of the top 200 schools have already announced they will continue their test optional, test blind, or test flexible policies through at least 2024. If you have a phobia of tests, you can still find a school that is test optional or test blind in the top 200 list. However, over half of schools have not announced their policies for the Class of 2024. So if you’re in that class, we still recommend that you prepare. Having a test score is also proving to correlate with much higher acceptance rates at many top 200 universities. Even though we’ve given the stats, please be careful about the fine print. Some colleges may still require test scores if your GPA is below a certain level. Many schools also still use test scores to determine merit scholarships and placement in an honors college.
Is UC test blind for Class of 2023?For the high school Classes of 2023 and 2024, out-of-state students will still have the option to submit an SAT or ACT score, but the University will become “test-blind” for in-state students.
Is NYU testWe have extended our test-optional policy due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2022-2023 application cycle. For students who elect to submit testing as part of their application, NYU has one of the most flexible testing policies of any college or university.
Is Penn State testPenn State will be test-optional through summer/fall 2023
First-year Penn State applicants for Spring, Summer, or Fall 2023 are able to chose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their applications.
Is Caltech test Blind 2023?As of writing this blog post, about 70 institutions have gone test-blind, including the following prestigious campuses: University of California (UC) system (fall 2022, 2023, 2024 applicants), California Institute of Technology (Caltech, fall 2022 applicants), and Pitzer College (fall 2022, 2023, 2024 applicants).
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