The spread of coronavirus has resulted in a plethora of educational pivots since March, and the college admissions process has been no exception. With SAT and ACT testing dates canceled or postponed and testing centers closed, institutes of higher education have reconsidered the role that these exams play in admissions.
The College Board, which administers the SAT, has rescheduled many spring exam dates for August and later. This may throw high school seniors into a crunch when it comes to taking the test before college applications are due. The ACT has rescheduled exams for July and beyond.
In light of these circumstances, the following Texas schools have announced that entrance exam scores will be an optional part of admission applications through 2021:
- The University of Texas at Austin
- Texas A&M University
- Baylor University
- Texas Tech University
- Texas Christian University
- Southern Methodist University
According to the Texas Tribune, Texas A&M and UT Austin said they chose to go test optional because of increased student difficulties with test access and preparation. UT Austin has announced that it will resume the test score requirement for fall 2022 admissions.
At test-optional schools in Texas, admissions officers have pledged to evaluate every aspect of a prospective student. They’ll pay extra attention to transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation, and more. Some universities, like Baylor, are implementing a complete overhaul of their admissions evaluation process.
“We’re calibrating for different academic standards at high schools around the US and Texas, studying transcripts really closely,” Baylor admissions vice president Jessica King Gereghty was quoted as saying in the Tribune. “We just take a deeper dive into all the nuances of an application.”
Be sure to check out our comprehensive resources on helping the college-bound reach their goals during COVID-19. And to stay up to date on registration deadlines and exam dates, bookmark our calendar.
