Undergraduate applicants to the College of Arts, Sciences & Engineering will be able to submit any national or international test results along with their secondary school records of courses and grades beginning this fall. Following the adoption of this “test flexible” policy, applicants will no longer be required to submit SAT or ACT scores and may send in one of a variety of examination options instead.
The test flexible policy was instituted this year following an eight-year pilot phase begun in 2004. During this pilot phase, the Office of Admissions considered a variety of different test score submissions, but applicants were still required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Throughout the pilot phase, applicants with strong scores on exams such as the SAT subject exams, the International Baccalaureate exams and the Advanced Placement exams have been increasingly recommended for admission even when they did not score in UR’s typical 90th to 100th percentile ranges on the SAT or ACT, according to Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jonathan Burdick.
UR’s increasing selectivity, retention and graduation rates also support the decision to make SATs and ACTs optional, Burdick said.
“[UR], like many universities, values diverse ways of thinking — and diverse experiences — more than students realize,” Burdick said. “Many prospective students ‘test well’ on general standardized exams and bring that ability to campus, while some are best at mastering specific material in subjects that interest them most and bring that diligence and focus. Both kinds of students can thrive at [UR], and both will do best when they find each other here and develop many ways to collaborate and challenge each other.”
Buletti is a member of the class of 2013.
