Dartmouth Ditches Test-Optional: SAT or ACT Required Again!

Dartmouth College has decided to revert back to being a test-required institution for first-year applicants in the US. First-year applicants attending high school outside of the USA, can either submit their SAT or ACT scores OR scores from three Advanced Placement (AP) examinations OR predicted or final exam scores from the International Baccalaureate (IB), British A-Levels, or an equivalent standardized national test. Learn more about Dartmouth's announcement and what this means for other colleges moving forward.
Learn more about Dartmouth's decision to end its test-optional admission policy here: www.nytimes.com/2024/02/05/br...
Watch my previous video on what I believe to be the "Test-Optional Apocalypse" here: • Test Optional Admissio...
Read Dartmouth's Updated Testing Policy here (which includes different expectations / options for American vs. International applicants): admissions.dartmouth.edu/appl...
-----
Are you on track for selective college admission? Find out now at AreYouOnTrackToGetIn.com.
Take my How to Build an Extraordinary Extracurricular Résumé short course at ExtraordinaryResume.com.
Do you want expert guidance during the college admissions process? Work with me one-on-one at CollegeMeister.com.
#testoptional
#dartmouth
#ivyleague

[@karancapoor1583]

Well done Dartmouth. About time and I hope others follow your lead.

[@jawant6039]

This a bad move. The SAT is not can measure INTANGIBLES such as:
1. DRIVE
2. WORK ETHIC
3. ABILITY TO OVERCAME ADVERSITY
We does not need regressive hateful policies.

[@lisaturtle6374]

I hope you're joking. @@jawant6039

[@boinknook]

Have a friend that went to an expensive private college. Mid way through, his grades sank and the school wanted to oust him. So he enrolled into my college that doesn't require an SAT. Today he's a practicing attorney. 👊

[@TheLauren1113]

At this point you’re right. I think we’re graduating the last batch of seniors that were out of school and undereducated for 2 years during the pandemic. My class of 2023 senior lost 1/2 of geometry and then only had math 2x a week during algebra II during the pandemic and significant portions of the curriculum were cut. My class of 2024 senior lost part of Algebra I and Geometry for the same reason. Sadly those learning losses were swept under the rug and did impact math scores.

[@harrychu650]

Yes, it has gotten ridiculous. Last admissions cycle, only 17% of applicants submitted Test Scores for Binghamton University in NY. The result is that the upper end of the middle-50% for Binghamton is now a 1,510 SAT. A score that would have been on the higher end for Princeton pre-pandemic.
The only ones benefiting from Test Optional are those attending elite private high schools where grade inflation comes along with their annual tuition payments. There is no way that the admissions offices across the country do not realize this. Trustees and their governing boards will have to be the ones that step in to course correct.

[@21stcenturydadd]

In the last week I was starting to expect this. I didn’t think it would happen now and didn’t think it would be an Ivy. I lost track of the 2025 kickoff though. Very interesting

[@donaldbucher472]

Look, this is a good development for you and other college coaches. It’s bad for first gen students. There are winners and losers with every change like this.

[@jawant6039]

Regressive gesture on them part. The SAT is not can measuring intangibles.

[@lucydoe1334]

This move is not to make the admissions process more fair. Rather it’s letting the barely good enough kid of certainly groups get a leg up while the excellent scorers of the wrong skin color will still get screwed.

[@harrychu650]

Correct, and with Test Optional, these admissions officers have fully discretion with their non-sense about great essays when we all know they don't even read the essays. The Test is the equalizer.