Posted on March 5, 2023

Columbia, William & Mary Move Forward With Test-Optional Admissions Policies

Lexi Lonas, The Hill, March 3, 2023

Columbia University and the College of William & Mary have announced this past week they will stick with making SAT and ACT scores optional for the admissions process.

Many universities decided over the coronavirus pandemic to temporarily do away with SAT or ACT score requirements, but few have said this option would become a permanent part of their admissions process.

“We have designed our application to afford the greatest possible opportunity and flexibility for students to represent themselves fully and showcase their academic talents, interests and goals. Standardized testing is not a required component of our application,” Columbia College and Columbia Engineering said on Wednesday.

Columbia has become the first Ivy League school to make the change, with others including Harvard saying optional test scores will only remain until 2026.

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William & Mary says it is “indefinitely” continuing optional test scores for admissions after the “highly effective three-year pilot program.”

Over the program, the college says in 2021, 39 percent of students enrolling in classes did not provide SAT or ACT scores.

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