Columbia removes SAT entry requirements

Columbia University says it will no longer require prospective undergraduate students to take SAT or ACT tests in order to be considered for admission.

Like other Ivy League institutions, the New York School implemented a policy of suspending testing requirements in the midst of a pandemic. But unlike others, Colombia is believed to have been the first to adopt this policy on a permanent basis.

“The holistic and contextual application process … is based on the belief that students are dynamic, multifaceted individuals who cannot be defined by any one factor,” the school said in a statement. “Our screening is focused and detailed – taking into account diverse backgrounds, opinions and experiences – to best determine an applicant’s suitability for admission and ability to excel in our curriculum and our community, and expand access to our educational opportunities.”

In a statement, the university said applicants from Columbia College (its undergraduate programs) and the School of Engineering can still take tests if they so choose, and for those who do, their testing policy will remain the same. Colombia also clarified that those who fail to submit test results will not be at a disadvantage.

Instead, admission will be based on the student’s “curricular rigor, academic performance, and demonstrated intellectual curiosity.”

The policy change removes any previous time restrictions the school had on students. Colombia said that for previous application cycles, tests will be optional for those who register before the fall of 2024.

NYU has also made it optional to submit SAT and/or ACT scores after the pandemic, but this is not a permanent school policy. However, according to the NYU website, the no-testing policy remains in effect during the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Harvard and Princeton have also made standardized tests optional, but that policy is currently in effect through 2026 for these Ivy League institutions. Cornell’s non-mandatory test policy will run through the fall of 2024 for several of its programs, as will the University of Pennsylvania. Yale, Brown, and Dartmouth also currently have no testing requirements, but the current policy is only for those who apply before Fall 2023.

A group called FairTest, which says it is “against the misuse and overuse of standardized tests in education,” maintains a list of colleges and universities that do not require tests. And while this list currently has over 1,800 nationwide, it’s important to note that these rules are temporary in most of the schools listed.

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