Duke University goes test-optional for first-year students applying for Fall 2021
Students with their sights set on Duke University for Fall 2021 won’t have to submit SAT and ACT scores with their applications this year.
Duke announced Wednesday that it will be “test-optional” for students applying for admission to the first-year undergraduate class in the 2020-21 admissions cycle. Students can submit their standardized test scores, but those who are unable or choose not to submit their scores will not be at a disadvantage, according to Duke.
“We recognize that 2020 is already the most disruptive year in living memory for many, and we know that applying to college is a time- and labor-intensive process,” Christoph Guttentag, dean of undergraduate admissions, said in a statement. “We hope to simplify the application process this year for those students and families who, like most of us, are facing unusual challenges.”
The decision comes as students have faced difficulties in registering for and taking the SAT and ACT tests, which have been canceled and postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Guttentag anticipate those challenges will continue throughout the next year and said they disproportionately affect disadvantaged students with fewer resources.
While this change currently only applies to the 2020-21 admissions cycle, Guttentag said Duke plans to reassess the role of standardized tests in its admissions process in the future. He noted that Duke would specifically consider the impact of these tests on the university’s “ability to recruit and enroll students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.”
In March, the UNC System announced new admissions requirements starting this fall because SAT and ACT tests were canceled and postponed by COVID-19.
Each university, including UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State, can choose to admit students with a minimum 2.5 weighted high school GPA or a combined SAT score of 1010 or an ACT score of 19.
The change is based on UNC System research that GPA is a better indicator of student success. It was implemented early because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s not completely test optional, because students are still required to submit a standardized test score with their application, but admissions officers can make decisions based on GPA alone. Each university will make its own decisions on specific admissions requirements and the policy will be re-evaluated in three years.
