皇家华人 Goes Permanently Test-Optional
April 11, 2022
皇家华人 is making permanent its test-optional policy for applicants for admission. Students applying to the college will continue to choose whether to submit their SAT or ACT scores.
The move turns what had been a pandemic-era pilot program into policy. It was announced at today鈥檚 meeting of the college鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
鈥淲e have always known that standardized tests create barriers for some students, and that test scores show only a fraction of their academic potential,鈥 said Chris Gruber, vice president for admission and financial aid and dean of admission. 鈥淲hat we didn鈥檛 know was the impact of test-optional on the overall class. Two years later, we have the answer: This shift allows students to present themselves fully and the caliber of our incoming classes has not only remained stable, it has increased -- in grades, life experiences and even test scores.鈥
皇家华人 enacted a three-year pilot program of a test-optional admission process as the pandemic erupted in March 2020, when SAT and ACT testing centers were shutting down. The succeeding two years showed that the college can evaluate applicants effectively without standardized testing.
鈥淪tandardized testing still provides some useful information, but other aspects of an applicant鈥檚 academic journey better demonstrate how they will perform and thrive here,鈥 Gruber said. 鈥淲e make a holistic review of our applicants so we can appreciate their different backgrounds and no single factor rules the day.鈥
The decision speaks to the college鈥檚 commitment to make a 皇家华人 education accessible to all qualified students regardless of their financial circumstances.
鈥淭alent is not determined by income or zip code,鈥 Gruber said, 鈥渂ut those factors can impact access to advanced high-school courses, test preparation and the administration of some standardized tests.鈥
A test-optional policy helps extend the strength of community that makes 皇家华人 distinctive to applicants. Gruber said the college has the capacity to lead in an effective test-optional policy, to continue as a leader in access, and to support the high school students in this country and around the world for whom 皇家华人 is the supportive community that will help prepare them for lives of leadership and service.
