Testing Out

“A thorough examination of our admissions process has confirmed that we can make sound admissions decisions, and students can fully represent themselves to the Admissions Committee, without test scores.” –Jeff Allen, Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid

It’s been a long-running debate in admissions offices nationwide: how much should standardized tests guide admissions decisions? This spring, Macalester made its position clear: effective immediately, the college won’t require applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores to be considered for admission. The decision to eliminate the standardized test requirement comes after several years of careful consideration that has included conversations with administrators, faculty, staff, students, and trustees, as well as internal research. With this permanent shift, Macalester joins a group of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that are already test-optional.

By recognizing that standardized testing may disproportionately affect some of the students Macalester seeks to attract, the new policy reaffirms the college’s commitment to increasing access for students of color, first-generation college students, and students who come from lower-income households. In addition to its test-optional admissions policy, Macalester will also eliminate its $40 admissions application fee to further reduce barriers for prospective students and their families.