The global pandemic has profoundly impacted college admissions<\/a><\/span>, however. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the 2020-2021 admissions cycle, many colleges decided to go test-optional or test-blind. Others have temporarily or permanently modified their standardized testing policies.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Given the evolving role of the SAT in college admissions, is the SAT optional? Should you even take it? What do you need to know about test-optional schools in the wake of COVID?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what we cover in this post:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A large portion of U.S. colleges and universities have historically<\/em> required students to <\/span>submit test scores<\/span><\/span> from either the SAT or the ACT. <\/span>(Most colleges don\u2019t prefer the SAT over the ACT or vice versa–they accept either equally.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The big question, of course, has been the role SAT or ACT scores play in the college admission decision. How much weight have colleges actually been giving them? The answer: it depends.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a <\/span>Common Data Set from 2019-2020<\/span><\/a><\/span>, for example, the University of Notre Dame specifies the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Such data sets are not available for all U.S. colleges and universities. <\/span>However, it is safe to assume that, if required, SAT or ACT scores can range from slightly to very important in informing the college admissions decision.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n For more competitive, elite institutions–like the Ivy Leagues–these scores can be <\/span>very important<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The chart below sums up the role of standardized test scores in college admissions pre-COVID. Most schools have placed considerable importance on test scores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, of course, the story is a little different. The pandemic has significantly impacted students’ ability to actually sit for the SAT (or ACT). Many of our students have faced endless test center closures and test cancellations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an effort to bring equity into their admissions process, many colleges have modified their test score policies for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. In fact, for this year alone, two-thirds of colleges have gone test-optional, meaning that they’ll accept test scores from students but won’t require them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For some colleges, this change is only temporary. For others, it’s semi-permanent or permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We take a deeper dive into how COVID has impacted college admissions in another post<\/a><\/span>. For now, keep reading to learn more about test-optional colleges in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before the pandemic began, quite a few U.S. colleges and universities did not require SAT scores or standardized test scores for that matter. Now, more schools have either become test-optional or significantly modified their test score policies.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to FairTest.org<\/span><\/a><\/span>, <\/span>more than half<\/b> of 4-year U.S. colleges and universities will not require applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores. At the time of writing this post, 1,240 institutions are test-optional at least for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle<\/strong>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can find the full list of top-tier U.S. colleges and universities “deemphasizing” test scores in college admissions here, via FairTest.org<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a sample of U.S. institutions that were test-optional before COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/a>COVID, the SAT, and College Admissions<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Is](\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Is-the-SAT-Optional_-Quote-1-1.png\")
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![\"Test-Optional](\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/9.png\")
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\n\n\n\nTest-Optional Colleges in 2021<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Historically Test-Optional Schools<\/i> <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Kate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n