Are you a high school student who’s dreading the SATs? Or perhaps you’re an adult learner who wants to pursue higher education without taking standardized tests? If so, you’re in luck! There are a growing number of colleges and universities that don’t require SATs for admission.
Why is this a big deal? For decades, the SATs have been a major hurdle for students who want to attend college. The tests are expensive, time-consuming, and often biased against students from low-income backgrounds. As a result, many students who could succeed in college never even apply because they don’t think they can pass the SATs.
The good news is that there are now many colleges and universities that are moving away from the SATs. They’ve realized that the tests are not a good measure of a student’s potential for success in college. Instead, these schools are looking at other factors, such as a student’s high school GPA, extracurricular activities, and personal statement.
If you’re thinking about applying to college, it’s important to do your research and find schools that don’t require SATs. This will give you a wider range of options to choose from and increase your chances of getting into the school of your choice.
How to Find Colleges That Don’t Require SATs
There are a few different ways to find colleges that don’t require SATs. One way is to use the College Board’s College Search tool. This tool allows you to search for schools by a variety of criteria, including whether or not they require SATs.
Another way to find colleges that don’t require SATs is to use the FairTest website. FairTest is a nonprofit organization that advocates for fair and equitable college admissions. The website has a list of over 1,000 colleges and universities that don’t require SATs.
Here are some of the benefits of attending a college that doesn’t require SATs:
- You’ll have a wider range of options to choose from. There are over 1,000 colleges and universities that don’t require SATs, so you’re sure to find a school that’s a good fit for you.
- You’ll save money. The SATs cost $49.50 to take, and you may need to take the test multiple times. If you apply to schools that don’t require SATs, you can save a significant amount of money.
- You’ll reduce stress. The SATs are a stressful experience for many students. If you don’t have to take the tests, you can reduce your stress levels and focus on your other college applications.
- You’ll be on a more level playing field. The SATs are biased against students from low-income backgrounds. If you don’t have to take the tests, you’ll be on a more level playing field with other students.
Colleges That Don’t Require SATs: A Growing Trend
The number of colleges and universities that don’t require SATs is growing every year. In 2020, over 1,000 schools were test-optional, meaning that they didn’t require SATs or ACTs for admission. This number is up from just 50 schools in 2005.
This trend is expected to continue in the coming years. As more and more schools realize that the SATs are not a good measure of a student’s potential for success in college, they are moving away from the tests.
The Future of College Admissions
The future of college admissions is uncertain. However, one thing is for sure: the SATs are playing a smaller and smaller role in the process. This is good news for students who don’t want to take the tests or who don’t do well on standardized tests.
There are a number of factors that are contributing to the decline of the SATs. One factor is the growing awareness of the tests’ bias against students from low-income backgrounds. Another factor is the increasing availability of other ways to measure a student’s potential for success in college, such as high school GPA, extracurricular activities, and personal statements.
As the SATs become less important, colleges and universities are looking for other ways to evaluate applicants. This is leading to a more holistic approach to admissions, which takes into account a student’s entire record, not just their test scores.
This is good news for students who are more than just a test score. It means that they have a better chance of getting into the school of their choice, even if they don’t do well on standardized tests.
Table 1: Colleges That Don’t Require SATs
| School | Location | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| American University | Washington, DC | 13,000 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 9,000 |
| Bowdoin College | Brunswick, ME | 1,800 |
| Brown University | Providence, RI | 6,000 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | 2,000 |
| Carleton College | Northfield, MN | 2,000 |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | 30,000 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | 15,000 |
| Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH | 4,000 |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | 16,000 |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | 14,000 |
| Georgetown University | Washington, DC | 19,000 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 20,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | 14,000 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | 11,000 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 21,000 |
| Notre Dame University | South Bend, IN | 12,000 |
| Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | 46,000 |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 5,000 |
| Rice University | Houston, TX | 6,000 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 17,000 |
| Tulane University | New Orleans, LA | 13,000 |
| University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | 42,000 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 43,000 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | 16,000 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 44,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | 30,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 10,000 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 51,000 |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | 24,000 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | 13,000 |
| Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis, MO | 15,000 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 6,000 |
Table 2: Benefits of Attending a College That Doesn’t Require SATs
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Wider range of options | You’ll have more schools to choose from, which increases your chances of getting into the school of your choice. |
| Save money | The SATs cost $49.50 to take, and you may need to take the test multiple times. If you apply to schools that don’t require SATs, you can save a significant amount of money. |
| Reduce stress | The SATs are a stressful experience for many students. If you don’t have to take the tests, you can reduce your stress levels and focus on your other college applications. |
| Be on a more level playing field | The SATs are biased against students from low-income backgrounds. If you don’t have to take the tests, you’ll be on a more level playing field with other students. |
Table 3: Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to Colleges That Don’t Require SATs
| Mistake | Description |
|---|---|
| Not doing your research | Before you apply to any college, make sure you research the school and its admissions requirements. Not all colleges that don’t require SATs are created equal. Some schools have other requirements, such as high GPA or a strong extracurricular record. |
| Not submitting a strong application | Even though you don’t have to submit SAT scores, you still need to submit a strong college application. This includes a well-written personal statement, a strong academic record, and letters of recommendation. |
| Not applying to enough schools | Just because you don’t have to submit SAT scores doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get into college. Apply to a range of schools, including some that are more competitive and some that are less competitive. |
| Not visiting the schools you’re interested in | Before you make a decision about where to go to college, visit the schools you’re interested in. This will |