Columbia University announces permanent test-optional policy

Columbia Faculty and the Faculty of Engineering and Used Science will no lengthier need candidates to mail in standardized exam scores. 

The announcement on Mar. 1 can make Columbia College the to start with Ivy League college to go completely examination-optional.

Columbia first adopted test-optional admissions for the 2020-2021 cycle in response to COVID-19 and the problems of keeping screening facilities open. Final February, the College announced that it would prolong this policy for the 2023-24 cycle. 

Penn Admissions declared in January 2023 that it would continue on its check-optional coverage for 1st-12 months and transfer candidates as a result of the 2023-24 admissions cycle.

“We will keep on to examine all components of an individual’s application by way of our complete critique procedure,” Penn Admissions stated.

After the announcement, Dean of Admissions Whitney Soule wrote to The Day-to-day Pennsylvanian that the extension occurred so that Penn Admissions could “responsibly overview the position of the test-optional follow.” 

Many other Ivy League faculties, including Princeton University and Cornell College, have extended the check-optional policy to future admissions cycles even though they consider the part that standardized testing need to enjoy in the review of candidates. 

According to Columbia University’s announcement, pupils who pick not to post check scores will not be at a drawback in the software approach. 

“We will continue on to evaluate all submitted info inside of an individualized software review process that considers the distinctive mixture of situations shaping just about every applicant’s journey,” the university claimed.

The university did not use the term “permanent” to describe its determination, but the announcement did point out that standardized exams will no for a longer time be a needed part of its software.

“The holistic and contextual software evaluate process for Columbia College and The Fu Basis Faculty of Engineering and Utilized Science is rooted in the perception that learners are dynamic, multi-faceted folks who are not able to be defined by any one component,” the announcement explained.