Test Policies for 2022 College Admission

In the 2020-21 application cycle, almost all colleges decided to adopt a test-optional policy, meaning that students could choose whether or not to submit standardized test scores as part of their applications. This was because many high schoolers were unable to take those tests due to COVID-19 restrictions. And as the pandemic has stretched from the last admissions cycle into the upcoming one, many colleges are announcing plans to continue their test-optional policies next year.

Now, if you’re a student who is not the best test taker, this may seem like a miracle. Suddenly you’re no longer held back by that low score that previously would have lessened your chances of getting into your dream school. But here’s the thing… Because of this new test-optional policy, top colleges reported huge increases in the number of applications. Harvard’s pool of applicants grew by 42%! That means that for every 20 students who normally compete for one spot at Harvard (Harvard’s acceptance rate is usually ~5%), this year there were 28. The competition just got way tougher.

In 2020 very few students had the opportunity to take the SAT or ACT, but in 2021, as restrictions ease up, more students will be taking the tests. So, if 5 out of those 28 Harvard applicants submitted scores this year, maybe 15 out of 28 will submit scores next year. Imagine you are a college admissions officer looking at 28 equally brilliant applications. All of these students have top grades, impressive extracurriculars, riveting essays, and outstanding recommendations. How do you decide whom to accept? Those 15 students with test scores get moved to the top of the pile. No matter what colleges say about considering applicants with and without scores equally, there is no possible way for them to be unswayed by them.

Perhaps in the long run colleges will move away from using standardized test scores at all in their admission decisions, but they have not yet developed an alternative that allows them to do so. Until they do, our advice is to TAKE THE TEST! Study and do as well as you can. You have absolutely nothing to lose. If you do poorly, you can choose not to submit your score. If you do well, you give yourself a huge advantage at those top schools whose application numbers soared last year. When it comes time to apply to schools, look at each college’s average SAT and ACT scores (they generally are listed on the school website) and decide whether or not your score will work for you or against you.

Below is a list of schools you may be considering that have announced their intentions to continue a test-optional policy for the 2021-22 admissions cycle. Some schools have not yet announced their decisions. Colleges in the City University of New York (CUNY) system, for example, have not made a decision on their testing policies for Fall 2022 admission. Always check a school’s website for the most updated information.

• Barnard College

• Boston College

• Colgate University

• Columbia University

• Cooper Union

• Cornell University

• Elon University

• Emory University

• The George Washington University

• Harvard University

• Indiana University-Bloomington

• Johns Hopkins University

• New York University

• Northwestern University

• Pennsylvania State University

• Princeton University

• Rochester Institute of Technology

• Rutgers University

• Stanford University

• Tufts University

• Tulane University

• University of Pennsylvania

• University of Vermont

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Washington University in St. Louis

• Williams College

• Yale University

Having a test-optional policy means that these schools will place even more emphasis upon transcripts, essays, extracurriculars, and recommendations than ever before in order to accommodate students who do not submit scores.  Even if you score well on the SAT or ACT, we highly recommend working with our college guidance team in order to make sure the rest of your application is equally as impressive as your scores.