Duke University has joined the ranks of test-optional schools for applicants to the Class of 2025. Like each of the eight Ivy League institutions and many other highly selective colleges, Duke will not require applicants to next year’s class to submit SAT or ACT scores. These changes — brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to a slew of test cancelations across America and around the world apply only for this next admissions cycle, according to Duke’s admissions office.

Duke Drops SAT / ACT Requirement for Next Year’s Applicants

As Duke Today reports in a piece entitled “Duke To Go Test Optional For 2021 Admissions,” “Applicants may continue to submit standardized test scores as part of their application, but students who choose not to submit standardized test scores will not be at a disadvantage during the decision process. [Christoph] Guttentag said Duke depends on a ‘multifaceted review of applications as we seek to understand each applicant as a whole person and potential member of the Duke community.’ SATs and ACTs traditionally represent only one segment of that review…Guttentag said his office will take the year to assess the future role of standardized tests in the admissions process, particularly ‘with respect to the impact of these tests on our ability to recruit and enroll students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.'”

We Still Encourage Duke Applicants to Submit Great Scores

And while Duke’s Christoph Guttentag is one of the most forthright longtime admissions czars at our nation’s elite universities, he’s not telling it like it is in this instance. As our loyal readers know all too well, we don’t believe test-optional policies are worth the paper they’re written on. If a school really was indifferent to test scores, they’d forbid the submission of such scores. So, contrary to the words of Dean Guttentag, we do firmly believe that students who submit great SAT or ACT scores will have an advantage over students who submit no scores at all.