Test-Optional Policies in the Era of COVID-19: Responses from the College Admissions Community

The COVID-19 pandemic propelled many institutions to adopt test-optional policies. At the same time, little is known about the decision-making processes that led to these changes, or how practitioners implemented them.

We surveyed 226 admissions college admissions professionals from selective, four-year institutions, and interviewed 15 senior admission leaders. Overall, the majority of respondents viewed the move to test-optional admissions favorably, and felt that they had received adequate training and preparation to evaluate applications under the new policies. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.