University of Chicago just became the first top-10 research university to make SAT and ACT test scores optional! While some smaller universities and liberal arts schools had already made test scores optional, UChicago’s decision had a big impact on the world of college admissions.
Why did they make this decision?
There are two sides to the coin. Admissions officers at UChicago say that they made this change to even the playing field because low-income students and students from underrepresented communities have an unfair disadvantage when it comes to standardized tests. They also say that a student’s high school GPA is a stronger indicator than a standardized test of how well the student will do in college.
The other, more skeptical, side says that UChicago made this decision to artificially inflate their rankings. By making test scores optional, students with high scores will more likely submit them than students who received lower scores, thereby increasing UChicago’s test score ranking. Similarly, critics say that removing the test score requirement will inspire more students to apply, but since UChicago will accept the same number of students as they have in previous years, their acceptance rate will be lower.
Regardless of whether you support UChicago’s decision, let’s look at who will be affected and how.
Who does this change effect?
The class of 2023 will be the first incoming class affected by this change. Also, only US applicants will be affected by this change. International students will still be required to submit test scores.
How are applicants affected?
In many ways, applicants to UChicago won’t be strongly affected by this decision. UChicago is still a highly selective elite university, and not requiring test scores isn’t going to change that. However, it does mean that more emphasis will be put on other parts of the application: academic performance, grades, essays, and letters of recommendations. Their more holistic approach means that students can submit their scores as part of their application materials if they feel the scores will make their application more competitive, but they are no longer a requirement.
