"Recent months have seen a surge in the number of colleges dropping requirements that applicants submit SAT or ACT scores.
Four more have done so in recent weeks. Notably, one of them is highly competitive in admissions. Critics of test optional have suggested that the policy is a gimmick to attract more applicants. But the four recent policy announcements add to the momentum of colleges going test optional and include colleges with no shortage of applicants. The four colleges that recently went test optional are Carthage College, Marquette University, the University of Rochester and the University of Southern Maine.
While none of those colleges are as competitive as the University of Chicago, which dropped its SAT requirement a year ago, their decisions are consistent with the predictions of many admissions expert that Chicago’s move would lead more colleges that are competitive in admissions and that have national reputations to follow suit." …