In a major announcement, The Ohio State University has decided to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirements for applicants to the main Columbus campus in the 2026 application cycle. In addition, Ohio State will now “superscore” the ACT and SAT–they will take the best section score over multiple test attempts. Ohio State had been one of the major schools that many of our students had to plan on submitting a single test score. It appears that students applying to the Ohio State branch campuses will still have the option to submit their SAT or ACT scores.
As Ohio State has become more and more selective, this shift to test-required should not come as a surprise. It will be interesting to see if other Big Ten schools like Michigan, Indiana, Penn State, and other follow Ohio State’s lead.
Following a wave of other prestigious colleges–Brown, Dartmouth, Yale– that have changed from test optional to test required, Harvard University announced today that they will again require standardized test scores for undergraduate admissions:
This shift is especially notable because Harvard had previously stated that they would remain test optional up through applicants for the Harvard graduating class of 2030.
Why this change? First, “Harvard has found that SAT and ACT scores are the best predictors of Harvard grades.” This comes as no surprise in light of increasing grade inflation at U.S. high schools. According to Inside Higher Ed, “the proportion of students with A averages (including A-minus and A-plus) increased from 38.9 percent of the graduating class of 1998 to 47 percent of the graduating class of 2016.” If most applicants are getting A’s, colleges need another way to differentiate among applicants–hence, the need for standardized test scores.
Second, many students have mistakenly been told that unless they get ACT scores in the high 30s or SAT scores above 1500, they have no business applying to selective schools. Harvard wants to encourage students to submit scores who fall below this range, sharing that “in the last year that Harvard required testing, the range (10th percentile to 90th percentile) of SAT scores for enrolling students was 670 to 790 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 680 to 800 for Math. The range (10th percentile to 90th percentile) of ACT Composite scores was 31 to 36.” Harvard applicants who score in the in the high 1300s on the SAT and low 30s on the ACT should definitely considering submitting their scores based on this data.
Most college admissions officials to whom I have spoken have said that students are typically well-advised to submit their test scores if they are at least at the 25th percentile for admitted students. Now that standardized testing is widely available, unlike during the Covid pandemic, applicants should be aware that if they decline to submit their test scores to a college, they are effectively signaling that their scores are less than the 25th percentile for admitted students. Students can find the 25th percentile scores for colleges by searching the Big Future website.
The bottom line–in order to differentiate yourself in an increasingly competitive admissions environment, ACT and SAT scores should not longer be considered optional.
Yale just announced that they will again require test scores as part of the college application. In addition to SAT or ACT scores, students can now submit Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate results. Yale made this shift because it will improve their ability to predict which students are most likely to succeed at Yale:
“Yale’s research from before and after the pandemic has consistently demonstrated that, among all application components, test scores are the single greatest predictor of a student’s future Yale grades. This is true even after controlling for family income and other demographic variables, and it is true for subject-based exams such as AP and IB, in addition to the ACT and SAT.”
In addition, Yale found that including standardized test scores would serve to increase the diversity of its class:
“Our researchers and readers found that when admissions officers reviewed applications with no scores, they placed greater weight on other parts of the application. But this shift frequently worked to the disadvantage of applicants from lower socio-economic backgrounds.” Source: https://admissions.yale.edu/test-flexible
Students looking to apply to highly selective schools would be well-served by showing their readiness for college level work by doing their best on the SAT or ACT.
It was great to talk to Craig Meister of https://collegemeister.com/ and https://admissions.blog/ today. We discussed a wide range of topics during our 1.5 hour talk: the Digital SAT, test optional and test blind admissions, the ACT, and when it is necessary to have a test preparation tutor. I hope you find the discussion helpful!
We will talk about all things Digital SAT. If you cannot make it for the live broadcast, the recording will be posted on YouTube later. See you soon! –Brian W. Stewart
It was great to have the opportunity to share some thoughts on why the SAT and ACT are still very beneficial for students to take. Hope you enjoy the piece.
Despite the name, Boston College is not actually in Boston. When you step off the train at the very last stop of the Boston local rail system, you find yourself across the street from BC which is is surrounded by the sleepy town of Chestnut Hill, a far-flung suburb of Boston. While students still have access to all the opportunities of the city via a 30 minute transit ride, they also get to enjoy the relatively calm community that envelops Boston College. Because the college is further away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it has been better able to develop and maintain a distinct campus culture, rooted in the Jesuit tradition, and relevant to the students of today. This blend of city and small town appeals to many people and is one of the many reasons why BC is so popular.
Academics
Another reason BC is so highly sought after is the Jesuit style of education that is its bread and butter. This educational focus has led the college to its status as a tier one research institute even while class sizes are kept small; an average class has around 20 students. BC has around 9400 undergrad students and a large population of graduate students. All students are required to complete core education credits which they can select from a large pool of options and, while they are required to enter into a specific school, they can hold off declaring a major within that school until the end of their sophomore year. BC does a good job of ensuring that students get through their required course work with 89% of students graduating in 4 years.
At Boston College you can expect many of the same educational opportunities that many colleges have including research, study abroad, and internships which all work together to help students graduate with the connections they need to secure employment.
Campus Life
Freshman year at Boston College is a bit different than some might expect. Despite the historic and charming campus being outside of Boston, BC struggles with having enough space to house all the students who choose to live on campus. Consequently, the freshman class is split with forty percent living on a secondary campus a few miles away. A continuous bus services runs during most of the day to allow for ease of access in both directions. Despite the split, students report good experiences on both campuses, and campus spirit is strong, but students should know that they might not end up living “on campus” their freshman year. The secondary campus is not part of the tour.
The culture at BC is strengthened by faith. Students at BC mostly share a Roman Catholic heritage with 70% claiming a Catholic background and 30% active in their Catholic faith. Students who are not Catholic or even Christian, however, report that they feel accepted and that they appreciate the educational focus that comes with being on a Jesuit campus.
The overall community culture is also strengthened by the complete lack of social Greek life. This forces students to make a wide range of friends across campus. Students who are looking for a traditional Greek experience should consider other colleges.
Admission
Boston College, like most other schools, boasts a “holistic admissions process”. They are currently test optional for the high school class of 2023, but they have not made decisions beyond that. Admissions representatives stress that students who score in the 33+ range on the ACT (or the equivalent SAT) should absolutely submit their test scores. BC is a fairly selective college, admitting only about one quarter of applicants. As with most schools that have early decision, applying early decision improves a student’s chance at acceptance and, since BC meets 100% of demonstrated need, can be a good choice. As always, students must be completely sure that BC is their number one choice before applying early decision.
If you have any questions about college admissions or about my trip to BC please let me know! I am always happy to help.
Located in Boston Massachusetts, just a few subway stops from the historic North End, and across the river from MIT, Boston University is well positioned for an involved urban experience. Boston University is a large, private, teaching and research university. Admission to BU is highly sought after by students from all over the nation, and application is simple with the common app, so their admission rate hovers around 20%.
Academics:
Boston University does its best to have a flexible approach to academics. Students who apply undecided into one of BU’s ten schools will have two years to declare a major. BU focuses on hands on learning, with 40% of their student body studying abroad at some point and many more students taking part in internships and completing research during their time at BU. BU has a program which they describe as “our take on the liberal arts” in which students can pick from over 1000 classes to build what the university sees as six life skills. Outside of those classes and classes for their major, students are free to fill their electives however they choose.
BU does a decent job of getting students to graduation with 80-85% of students completing their degree in four years. BU has a 10:1 student to faculty ration and their average class size is about 27 students.
Campus Life:
Like most city colleges, BU lacks the charm of the traditional green quad and wide open spaces. It is a fairly compact campus that often appears to be just part of the neighborhood around it. This would appeal to students who want to live in a major city and still be on a college campus. The campus has a mix of historic and modern buildings which makes for an interesting campus feel. Students are required to live on campus for only their freshman year and many take the opportunity to move into the surrounding neighborhoods with friends once their first year is over. There is a decent amount of Greek Life on campus with 20% of students taking part in Fraternities and Sororities, but students say there are plenty of social opportunities outside of the Greek system.
Admission:
Applying to BU is fairly simple because BU uses the common app. While there are later deadlines for regular admission, admissions counselors at BU stress that students should have their applications done by December 1st for merit scholarship consideration. BU is test optional for at least one more year, so if you feel that your test scores do not reflect you, you can apply without them. In addition, BU will superscore any tests that you do submit. The best piece of advice given by the admissions officers is this “be specific when answering the essay question ‘why BU’”. Take your time on that supplemental essay. Don’t give a generic answer, don’t apply just for the relative prestige BU can offer. Have a good and specific reason why you want to be at BU in the fall.
Let us know if we can help you with that essay or with any part of your college application process- good luck!
The oldest private college in Ohio, Kenyon looks the part. The main campus breaths history and the buildings feel like they would be at home in any of the historic campuses of New England. The dining hall at Kenyon is awe inspiring and reminiscent of the Great Hall of Harry Potter fame. Students who appreciate a small town, historic, classic college experience will fall in love with Kenyon and will enjoy living on campus for all four years of their time there. At most colleges the newer dorms are in high demand, but upperclassmen at Kenyon hope for a good enough housing lottery number to score a room in the historic dormitories right at the heart of campus.
Modern Appeal
The college has modern conveniences in addition to historic buildings. Thanks to a generous donation, an entire new quad is being erected. The first building, a new library, is already completed and, while the exterior fits the historic aesthetic of the college, the interior offers every amenity for the modern student. New class buildings will be completed in the next few years and Kenyon looks forward to a bright academic future.
Great Education
Kenyon is best known for its English department. In fact, Kenyon has long been known as the writer’s college. Their graduating classes for years have been filled with illustrious names that you see on bookshelves and on bestseller lists. While Kenyon maintains its excellence in the written word, they are also strengthening their STEM offerings. Students who attend Kenyon for STEM degrees have wonderful research opportunities as there are no graduate students with whom to compete for grant funding. The modern science and tech buildings bring Kenyon into the future.
Strong Candidates
Students wanting to attend Kenyon need to be strong candidates. While the school is currently test optional and has hinted that it may stay that way, the average candidate who submits test scores tends to hover in the 29-33 range on the ACT. Kenyon has only a 34 percent acceptance rate and cannot easily increase class size since all students must live on campus. The admissions office stresses the importance of good quality letters of recommendation to improve admission chances.
If you’re looking for a good writing degree, earned on a charming campus and would like to experience the closeness of a small community, the drive to Kenyon is more than worth it.
