Columbia University scraps SAT, ACT requirement for UG admission

NEW DELHI: Columbia University has dropped the standardized test scores, SAT or ACT test, requirement for undergraduate (UG) admission 2023. The university is the first among the Ivy League institutions to scrap the SAT, ACT requirement.

SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Columbia University said that it has designed the application “to afford the greatest possible opportunity and flexibility for students to represent themselves fully and showcase their academic talents, interests and goals”.

The university had dropped the SAT requirement and made it optional after COVID-19 pandemic. “Students who choose not to submit test scores will not be at a disadvantage in our process,” it said.

It also said that the decision was "rooted in the belief that students are dynamic, multi-faceted individuals who cannot be defined by any single factor," as per reports.

The university said that it will evaluate all submitted information within an individualized application review process that considers the unique combination of circumstances shaping each applicant's journey.

Columbia University admission process will now be based on “the rigor of a student’s curriculum, their academic achievement, and their demonstrated intellectual curiosity will remain central to our review.” Standardized tests will be optional for applicants enrolling through Fall 2024, it informed.

According to the Post, Harvard University and Princeton have continued their test-optional policy through the academic year 2025-2026.