On February 22nd 2024, Yale University announced a reversal of a lasting university policy: the school will be waiving the standardized testing requirement for undergraduate admissions, indefinitely. This news follows that of other universities who recently reinstated testing requirements, such as Dartmouth College last week, and MIT and Georgetown this past year (recent addition, Brown University now will require test scores).
Though test optional has always been viewed as a normal part of the college admissions process, a post-Covid debate has emerged, considering which metrics are best to consider when admitting students.
Test optional policies as stated by the admissions office at Yale and Dartmouth, have unequivocally created inefficiencies in regards to the college admissions process. For example test scores are not considered to be the core of admissions, but rather another useful metric in understanding students’ capabilities of succeeding at these institutions. The question then arises, have test optional policies negatively impacted those who would most benefit from having standardized test scores in place?
Some critics claim that standardized exams reinforce the divide between the “haves” and “have nots” – “haves” being defined as those who can afford expensive test prep and tutors, while “have nots” being those who come from under-funded high schools with minimal guidance when it comes to college admissions. Perhaps the most jarring example of this is Project Varsity Blues, where test scores were a key component of parents’ attempt to get their children into elite universities.
Yet, other critics say that test optional policies create a set of disadvantages for students who are already under-represented in elite institutions. Dartmouth College states that test optional policies disadvantage students who come from less resourced families because test scores are used as a gauge relative to the local norms of their high school. This is relevant if Vanderbilt wishes to build a class with the best talents worldwide.
There are several key metrics that we can use to measure the impact that test optional policies have had regarding Vanderbilt undergraduate admissions.The Common Data Set from the year 2019-20 provides statistical information on first time freshmen enrolling undergraduate students. The change in these metrics are significant. For Fall 2019 admits, the 25th and 75th SAT percentile were at 1460 and 1560 respectively. The average GPA was 3.84. In the most recent common data set, for Fall 2023 admits, the SAT percentile was between 1500 and 1560. The average GPA was a 3.9. This demonstrates that both the average SAT and GPA have risen over this five year time frame. Though this has made Vanderbilt appear more selective, it is important to recognize that there are other metrics students get examined through, albeit with less numericals. These are extracurriculars, and essays.
Currently Vanderbilt maintains and upholds a test optional policy for the entering class of 2025, 2026, and 2027. What comes beyond that is up to debate, but as other universities slowly drop their policies, it is up to university officials to decide what type of metrics would be used to select the best students to attend Vanderbilt.
