New Delhi: Hamline University along with other colleges in Minnesota announced this week that it will no longer require applicants to submit ACT or SAT test scores for admissions.

Hamline University Decides to Waive Off ACT/SAT Test Permanently

In its announcement, Hamline University highlighted research showing that private colleges with ACT/SAT test-optional policies had a 10-12% rise in first-time college students from underrepresented backgrounds, as well as a 6-8% increase in female candidate enrolment.

However, after being ACT/SAT exam optional, several universities specially selective private ones have seen an increase in applications.

Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas, both private universities in St. Paul, are among those in Minnesota that have permanently eliminated test score requirements and made submission of scores optional.

According to officials at a private liberal arts institution in St. Paul, standardised exams are ineffective in assessing students' excellence. They highlighted research that showed that test-takers from higher-income families frequently achieve higher test scores because they have more access to prep sessions and tutors.

Hamline University President Fayneese Miller in a statement said, "The changes we make today will open doors for first-generation students and underrepresented communities, adding to Hamline's rich legacy of equity and opportunity." 

The University of Minnesota has made the ACT/SAT test optional for freshmen applications through autumn 2023 and is planning to make the test-optional policy permanent . According to preliminary data, first-term U students who submitted test scores had an average GPA of 3.37 last autumn, while those who did not had a GPA of 3.07.

Because high school students were unable to take the examinations in person, institutions around the country eliminated ACT/SAT test requirements during the outbreak of COVID-19. 

However, most institutions have only done so temporarily, extending their test-optional policy from year to year. While they studied data on how students who did not submit test scores performed academically compared to those who did.

Students emphasise on their grades, accomplishments, and extracurricular engagement when test scores are not required. In addition, colleges and universities have adopted a more holistic admissions procedure that considers students' academic success throughout high school as well as their life experiences.

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