The CSU’s are test blind this admission cycle due to the Corona virus. The UC’s have been contemplating going test optional or test blind for several years and the Corona virus just helped along their plans.
According to the information this is temporary for the CSU’s and they will go back to using SAT/ACT scores since their own admission review premise relies on the eligibility index which uses GPA and test scores to determine ranking for students by major. They could use Cal Poly SLO’s model which gives MCA points for HS rigor (extra semesters of Math, English, Arts, Foreign language) and hours of EC’s (which are not used by the other CSU’s) but SLO also still relies heavily on the test scores.
Based on this information, the UC/CSU capped weighted GPA will have a huge impact on admissions for Fall 2021.
Information for the 2021 admission cycle for the Cal states:
** * Non-California residents may be eligible for admission to the CSU by earning a 3.00 or greater “a-g" GPA along with other supplemental factors utilized by the individual campus, including those outlined by impacted campuses and programs.
Campuses and programs designated as impacted may utilize higher “a-g" GPA thresholds for applicants, as well as identify supplemental criteria and their relative weights, in making admission decisions. However, in no case will standardized test scores be utilized in making admissions decisions for applicants during the 2021-2022 academic year.