Non-test options

Having recently completed a post on college admissions testing, specifically SAT and ACT, I thought it was only fair to follow up with a discussion of colleges that don't require aptitude or achievement tests for admission.

There are many reasons students may not want to take the SAT or ACT.  Some people feel the tests are biased; others feel they give a very limited view of a student's skills and abilities.  They certainly evaluate  only a very small range of subjects in which a student might excel.  Furthermore, with all the recent talk in education of multiple intelligences, the tests evaluate specific subjects in a way that favors only one type of intelligence - logical/rational.  Students with strengths in other areas may not be able to show their full potential on such a test.  And finally, some students may just not test well, and feel that their test scores are not a good representation of their academic achievement or ability.

If you are reluctant to include standardized test scores in your application - for whatever reason - there are many institutions that do not generally require test scores as part of the admissions process (often referred to as 'test-optional' schools), and the list is growing.  Be warned, however, many of these schools require a much more extensive application, including more in the way of essays and personal statements, in order to sort through all the applicants.

You might also be interested to know that some schools that do require test scores as part of the admissions process use these scores in a formula along with GPA in a way that makes the test scores almost irrelevant for students with high GPAs.  For example, Humboldt State University in Northern California does not require SAT or ACT scores for California students whose high school GPA is above 3.0 (3.61 for non-residents).  Many schools in the California State University (CSU) system have similar policies, although this is not true for UC schools.  It is important to note, however, that the NCAA does use SAT or ACT scores in their calculation of eligibility, although once again, with a high GPA, the minimum score required on the SAT is fairly low.

A comprehensive list of test-optional schools can be found on the Fair Test website.  The list can be sorted alphabetically or by state.

For further reading, a good article on the use (or not) of SAT scores for admission from NPR: SATs Not for Everyone, but Reality for Most