Stanford Extends Test-Optional Policy

Stanford University has opted to extend its test-optional admissions policy. The new extension will impact applicants to Stanford’s Class of 2027 as well as transfer applicants. In all, this marks three years in a row that the Palo Alto, California-based institution has not required test scores for admission. Stanford dropped the testing requirement for the Class of 2025 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the school’s admissions leaders don’t appear to be bringing back a standardized exam requirement anytime soon.

As Vardhan Agrawal reports for The Stanford Daily in a piece entitled “Stanford extends test-optional policy for Class of 2027 and transfer applicants,” “‘We recognize the ongoing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, including limited access to admission testing worldwide, and as a result, we are extending this year’s test optional policy,’ the Office of Undergraduate Admission said in an announcement. Stanford’s decision to continue the test-optional policy comes after the University reported a record-low acceptance rate of 3.95% for the Class of 2025, nearly 25% lower than last year’s 5.19% for the Class of 2024. The University also received a record-breaking 55,471 applications to the Class of 2025.”

Of course, loyal readers of our college admissions blog know not to take admissions officers at their word when it comes to test-optional admissions policies. No matter what they may tell you to the contrary, it remains our stance that students with great test scores will always enjoy an advantage in admissions over students who don’t submit scores. We’ll say it until we’re blue in the face.