As longtime readers of our college admissions blog know well, we believe “test-optional” policies are essentially meaningless. These policies, as we’ve asserted over the years from atop our soapbox in admissions, are designed to ease restrictions on applicants and ultimately to encourage them to apply — even if they don’t …
Several months ago, there was a brouhaha on the National Association for College Admission Counseling email listserv. For those not familiar with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), it’s an organization that includes admissions officers, school counselors, and private college counselors. So what was the brouhaha all about, …
In light of the vast majority of America’s universities choosing to go test-optional in admissions on account of the pandemic, did most college applicants submit test scores this year? The answer is no. According to data released from The Common Application, only 44% of applicants who used their platform, the …
The SAT may be optional. The ACT may be optional. SAT Subject Tests may be no more (or soon be no more for international students). But the TOEFL, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is used by American universities to measure the English skills of non-native speakers, …
Back in December, when folks asked us why our nation’s elite universities received so many more applications this past Early cycle than in years past, we attributed the spike to a few key factors. Such factors included: (1) students had no excuse to procrastinate this year by foregoing applying Early …
Talk about revisionist history! For decades, many folks claimed that the SAT and ACT unfairly advantaged the privileged. Their argument? High school students from families of means could receive tutoring for these exams. These folks, of course, were right. In spite of what College Board, the maker of the SAT, …
The 2021 Advanced Placement exams will be offered over three different administrations. The change, as recently announced by College Board, is of course due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The dates for Administration 1, in which the tests are administered at schools, are as follows: May 3 – 7, May …
A key objective of Ivy Coach’s college admissions blog is to debunk misconceptions about the highly selective college admissions process. You see, the admissions process to our nation’s elite universities is stressful enough. Parents and students don’t need admissions officers, school counselors, private college counselors, and the local handyman spreading …
In a surprise to no one, New York University has announced that it will extend its test-optional policy through next year’s admissions cycle for applicants to the Class of 2026. Of course, those applicants to NYU’s Class of 2026 who do have ACT or SAT scores are welcome to submit …
It seems that about 100 high schoolers who showed up this morning to take the ACT at Bronx-based Frederick Douglass Academy III didn’t get the opportunity to do so. Instead, the doors were locked. Eventually, a school custodian showed up to inform the students and parents gathered outside in the …
