Test-Optional/Flexible Colleges in Top Tier

College Search & Selection
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<p>As many College Confidential members know, Boston-based FairTest, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, does a wonderful job of publishing an often-updated roster of test-optional colleges and universities. See (SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities | FairTest).</p>

<p>Recently, Bob Schaeffer (FairTest’s Public Education Director) also provided me with a list of the “Test Optional” and “Test Flexible” institutions that land in the U.S. News & World Report “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” Top Tier. While I am not a huge fan of the U.S. News rankings and tend to speak about them with forked tongue (at best) —as does FairTest—I found Bob’s list very helpful and suspect that many CC members will agree. </p>

<p>If you scroll down past the long first list, you’ll also see Top Tier test-optional/flexible national universities as well as schools that have garnered high regional rankings from U.S. News.</p>

<p>“Test Optional” or “Test Flexible” Admissions Policies in the U.S. News & World Report “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” Top Tier (September, 2011 issue)</p>

<ol>
<li>Middlebury College (VT) “Test Flexible” </li>
<li>Bowdoin College (ME)</li>
<li>Hamilton College (NY) “Test Flexible”</li>
<li>Smith College (MA) </li>
<li>Bates College (ME)</li>
<li>Colby College (ME) “Test Flexible”</li>
<li>Bryn Mawr (PA) “Test Flexible”</li>
<li>Colorado College (CO) “Test Flexible”</li>
<li>College of the Holy Cross (MA)</li>
<li>Mount Holyoke College (MA) </li>
<li>Sewanee—The University of the South (TN)</li>
<li>Connecticut College (CT)
37 Trinity College (CT) “Test Flexible”</li>
<li>Union College (NY)</li>
<li>Franklin and Marshall College (PA)</li>
<li>Furman University (SC)</li>
<li>Pitzer College (CA)</li>
<li>Dickinson College (PA)</li>
<li>Gettysburg College (PA) </li>
<li>Denison University (OH) </li>
<li>Bard College (NY)</li>
<li>St. Lawrence University (NY) </li>
<li>Lawrence University (WI)</li>
<li>Wheaton College (MA)</li>
<li>Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)</li>
<li>Agnes Scott College (GA)</li>
<li>Earlham College (IN)
71 Knox College (IL)</li>
<li>Lewis and Clark (OR)</li>
<li>Ursinus College (PA)</li>
<li>Gustavus Adolphus (MN) </li>
<li>Muhlenberg College (PA)</li>
<li>Augustana College (IL)</li>
<li>Drew University (NJ) </li>
<li>Lake Forest College (IL)</li>
<li>St. Michael’s College (VT) </li>
<li>Bennington College (VT </li>
<li>Juniata College (PA)</li>
<li>Washington & Jefferson College (PA)</li>
<li>Hampshire College (MA)</li>
<li>Washington College (MD)</li>
<li>Stonehill College (MA)</li>
<li>College of the Atlantic (ME)
116 Susquehanna University (PA)</li>
<li>Goucher College (MD)</li>
<li>Wittenberg University (OH)</li>
<li>Moravian College (PA)</li>
<li>Illinois College (IL)</li>
<li>McDaniel College (MD)</li>
<li>St. Anselm College (NH)</li>
<li>St. John’s College (MD)</li>
<li>Lycoming College (PA)</li>
<li>Guildford College (NC)</li>
<li>Albright College (PA) </li>
<li>Hartwick College (NY)</li>
</ol>

<p>Previously listed as “Top 100” college but now unranked by U.S. News due to non-use of test scores: Sarah Lawrence College (New York) </p>

<p>Other “Top Tier” Colleges and Universities with Test-Optional Policies</p>

<p>National Universities</p>

<ol>
<li>Wake Forest University (NC)</li>
<li>New York University (NY) “Test Flexible” </li>
<li>Univ. of Texas – Austin (TX) “Top 10%”</li>
<li>Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA) </li>
<li>American University (DC)</li>
<li>Clark University (MA)</li>
<li>Univ. of Colorado – Boulder (CO) “Top 10”</li>
<li>University of Arizona (AZ)</li>
<li>New School (NY)</li>
<li>DePaul University (IL)</li>
<li>George Mason University (VA) </li>
<li>Kansas State University (KS) </li>
<li>University of Mississippi (MS)</li>
<li>University of Nevada – Reno (NV)</li>
</ol>

<p>Regional Universities -- North</p>

<ol>
<li>Fairfield University (CT)</li>
<li>Loyola University (MD)</li>
<li>Providence College (RI)</li>
<li>Ithaca College (NY) </li>
<li>Marist College (NY)</li>
<li>Bryant University (RI)</li>
<li>Wagner College (NY)</li>
<li>Nazareth College (NY)</li>
<li>Assumption College (MA)</li>
<li>Salve Regina University (RI)</li>
<li>King’s College (PA)</li>
<li>Sacred Heart University (CT)</li>
<li>Salisbury University (MD)</li>
<li>Manhattanville College (NY)</li>
<li>The Sage Colleges (NY)</li>
<li>Chatham University (PA)</li>
<li>Johnson and Wales University (RI)</li>
<li>Touro College (NY)</li>
<li>SUNY Potsdam (NY)</li>
<li>Georgian Court University (NJ)</li>
<li>Southern New Hampshire University (NH)</li>
<li>Utica College (NY)</li>
<li>Keuka College (NY) </li>
<li>Daemen College (NY)</li>
</ol>

<p>Regional Universities -- South</p>

<ol>
<li>Rollins College (FL)</li>
<li>Stetson University (FL) </li>
<li>Christopher Newport University (VA)</li>
<li>St. Leo University (FL)</li>
<li>Austin Peay State University (TN)</li>
</ol>

<p>Regional Universities – Midwest</p>

<ol>
<li>Baldwin-Wallace College (OH)</li>
<li>University of Wisconsin --Whitewater (WI)</li>
<li>Northwest Missouri State University (MO)</li>
</ol>

<p>Regional Universities – West</p>

<ol>
<li>Whitworth University (WA)</li>
<li>St. Johns College (NM)</li>
<li>San Jose State University (CA) </li>
<li>Humboldt State University (CA)</li>
<li>San Francisco State University (CA)</li>
<li>California State Univ. – Stanislaus (CA)</li>
<li>California State Univ. – Monterey Bay (CA)</li>
<li>California State Univ. – Sacramento (CA)</li>
<li>California State Univ.—Channel Islands (CA) </li>
<li>California State Univ. – San Marcos (CA)</li>
<li>Stephen F. Austin State University (TX) </li>
<li>Weber State University (UT) </li>
<li>California State Univ. – Bakersfield (CA)</li>
<li>Hawaii Pacific University (HI)</li>
</ol>

<p>Regional Colleges – North</p>

<ol>
<li>Messiah College (PA)</li>
<li>Lebanon Valley College (PA) </li>
<li>Merrimack College (MA)</li>
<li>Wilson College (PA)</li>
<li>Seton Hill University (PA)</li>
<li>Bard College at Simon’s Rock (MA)</li>
<li>Cazenovia College (NY)</li>
<li>Nichols College (MA)</li>
<li>Pennsylvania College of Technology (PA)</li>
<li>University of Maine – Fort Kent (ME)</li>
<li>Unity College (ME)</li>
<li>SUNY College of Technology – Delhi (NY)</li>
<li>Lyndon State College (VT)</li>
</ol>

<p>Regional Colleges – South</p>

<ol>
<li>Belmont Abbey College (NC)</li>
<li>Gainesville State College (GA)</li>
<li>Everglades University (FL)</li>
</ol>

<p>Regional Colleges – Midwest</p>

<ol>
<li>MacMurray College (IL)</li>
<li>Chadron State College (NE)</li>
</ol>

<p>Regional Colleges – West</p>

<ol>
<li>Cogswell Polytechnical College (CA)</li>
</ol>

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<p>Regarding the California State Universities, see the following:
[CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - Grades and Test Scores](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Freshman: Testing Requirements | CSU)</p>

<p>In other words, baseline CSU eligibility does not require test scores for California residents with GPA > 3.0 or non-residents with GPA > 3.61, but test scores may be required for applying to impacted majors or campuses which do not have enough space to accept all CSU eligible applicants.</p>

<p>However, even a poor test taker with a high enough GPA may be able to meet or exceed the threshold for some impacted majors or campuses.</p>

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<p>Thanks. This is very useful and will come in handy.</p>

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<p>Wow, Sally, thanks for putting that all together! I’ll bet this thread gets linked to a lot in years to come.</p>

<p>Sent from my DROIDX using CC</p>

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<p>You’re welcome Ajaxma and Sikorsky, but I can’t take the credit … except for adding the bold type which took me a while since formatting isn’t my strong suit. :wink: As you’ll note at the top of the original post, it was Bob Schaeffer from [FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/”>About FairTest - Fairtest) who did the heavy lifting.</p>

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<p>@Sally, so if one sends in their scores, how will that play into the admissions process?</p>

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<p>NewHavenCTmom–Most test-optional colleges will “use” scores if students submit them. But read admission Web sites and instructions carefully to confirm. American University, for instance, has a “Test Optional” form for candidates who apply by Dec. 1, and they claim that, “Once the test-optional form is submitted, under no circumstances will an applicant’s test scores be considered. You cannot reverse this decision.” </p>

<p>(Apparently, they’re not fooling around and will definitely not consider test results that are sent after the form arrives. Seems like even vasectomies are more reversible than AU’s stance on tests! :eek:)</p>

<p>When a student’s test scores are okay but not outstanding, there are pros and cons to taking the test-optional route. I’ve written a lot of “Ask the Dean” responses on this topic. Here are several examples: <a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/are-tests-really-optional-at-test-optional-colleges.htm[/url]”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/are-tests-really-optional-at-test-optional-colleges.htm&lt;/a&gt; and [No</a> SAT Submission for Bowdoin Applicant? - Ask The Dean](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/no-sat-submission-for-bowdoin-applicant.htm]No”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/no-sat-submission-for-bowdoin-applicant.htm) and [Do</a> SAT’s and ACT’s Count Less Than They Used To? - Ask The Dean](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/do-sats-and-acts-count-less-than-they-used-to.htm]Do”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/do-sats-and-acts-count-less-than-they-used-to.htm)</p>

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<p>Please keep in mind that the list posted is VERY fluid and changes often; check back on [The</a> National Center for Fair & Open Testing | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org%5DThe”>http://www.fairtest.org) on a regular basis for confirmation…</p>

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<p>And also keep in mind that some students (e.g., international students, home-schooled students, students whose high schools don’t issue letter or number grades) are excluded from some test-optional policies. So, again, be sure to read instructions carefully.</p>

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<p>[No</a> SAT Submission for Bowdoin Applicant? - Ask The Dean](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/no-sat-submission-for-bowdoin-applicant.htm]No”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/no-sat-submission-for-bowdoin-applicant.htm)</p>

<p>Interpretation: this policy is for the college’s benefit, not the student’s. It allows the school to accept relatively low-scoring “hooked” applicants without taking a hit to their averages (or their magazine rankings). For an unhooked applicant with mediocre scores, it may not make any difference whether you send them or not.</p>

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<p>tk21769–I fear I may have come across a bit more cynical in that “Ask the Dean” column than I meant to be. The test-optional policy at a highly selective school like Bowdoin does give hope (and even a possible fat letter) to an unhooked candidate with so-so scores. </p>

<p>Although I do feel that, at places like that, candidates who submit high scores will have the edge over similar candidates who don’t send in any test results at all, at least the no-score kids do have a prayer … which they might not have at competitor colleges that require tests.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the clarification… helps alot! :)</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>The sorry outfit known as FairTest cannot do much better than speaking with a forked tongue, and all the time. Their attacks on standardized tests are trite. </p>

<p>As far as USNews, they could regain a LOT of the respect they have (deservedly) lost by implementing a policy that would separate the SAT optional/flexible schools from the remaining schools, and lump with all the non-respondents in a separate category with only alphabetical listings. </p>

<p>The general idea behind the Common Data Set --and the USNews by default-- is to have a tool that HELPS comparing schools. By offering the fudger an equal platform, the reader is misled. </p>

<p>And before one brings the “poor” value of a ranked system, I’d like to add that the ranked order is the least valuable part of the USnews; the real value resides in the underlying data and its integrity. An integrity that is shot by including the "prot</p>

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<p>Great resource! Might combine with schools that are also need-blind for admissions. Holy Cross is both SAT optional and need-blind. Might be others.</p>

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<p>What’s the difference between “optional” and “flexible”?</p>

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<p>Test optional colleges do not require any test scores at all (except sometimes from select groups of applicants, as noted above, such as home-schooled or international students).</p>

<p>Test flexible colleges do demand some scores but give students options beyond the SAT I or ACT. For instance, candidates at Hamilton College in NY can submit the SAT I or ACT or they can, instead, choose alternatives as explained here:</p>

<pre><code>

</p>

<p>Although figuring out “Test Flexible” regulations may feel like a test in itself, this can be a welcome approach for students who have done well on AP or IB exams and for those who generally feel over-tested and wouldn’t mind some extra sleep on a Saturday morning.</p>

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<p>Nonsense, xiggi. The excellent schools that choose to be test optional do so because in their experience standardized tests are a relatively poor predictor of student success. I say this as a student many times over with very high scores in my day. The SAT seemed ridiculous then and even more so now. I don’t know the ACT well, but I know the SAT all too well, and fundamentally it tests the student’s ability to do the SAT. How many undergraduates will take a 4-hour exam? The first 4-hour test I ever took was a professional licensing exam. Even the GRE is shorter. So right there–the ability to maintain speed and attention for 4 hours–doesn’t test a skill that’s needed for college. The writing section is awful and teaches kids how to write fast without thinking much. Great contribution to learning there. Nothing whatsoever tests the student’s ability to do a sustained project/paper/experiment/research over time, which is what so much of college is about, nor does it test mastery of any subject. (SAT IIs have their own problems, but they are more useful than the 4-hour SAT.) The SAT is a fairly good test of processing speed, but that is not the most important skill for most college majors either. Compare the SAT to the UK’s A* and A Levels. What a difference in content and approach! A Levels aren’t perfect either, but they tell a university far more about a student’s ability to succeed in college in a given field than the SAT does.</p>

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<p>So, if DD applied to Ithaca, Nazareth and SUNY Potsdam she would not need to take the SAT? Would this effect eligibility for merit based aid? She’s got excellent grades but I can see her SAT scores not being tip top.</p>

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<p>Good post, Iaoshu. I guess I should read up a bit about the SAT, and learn from you. Now, would you mind telling me how anything you wrote has anything to do with my … post?</p>

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<p>Sally, this discussion you’ve started is just what the doctor ordered for my son, who will likely be applying (without test scores) to Test Optional and highly ranked LACs (most several states, if not time zones, away). If I read you correctly, the unhooked applicant who has the BEST CHANCE (no guarantees, I get it) of being accepted (without test score submission) is the one who has outstanding grades in rigorous courses, has demonstrated commitment to some activity(ies) where he has taken a leadership or key role, has solid letters of rec. and maybe some meaningful involvement in community service or work, and applies to schools that are not at the tippy top of the rankings and may be outside his home region. Anything else? Many thanks.</p>