Ivy League school drops standardized test requirement for admissions

NEW YORK — One of the most prestigious universities in the world is doing away with standardized tests for good.

Ranked #4 on Forbes list of America's Top Colleges, Columbia University is now the first Ivy League school to permanently go test optional. The school's undergraduate admissions department recently announced it will stop requiring either the SAT or ACT test scores when considering applicants. 

RELATED: Davidson College keeps ACT, SAT scores optional permanently for aspiring students

The university, located in New York City, stopped requiring test scores during the 2020 - 2021 academic school year. Like many schools, the requirement was dropped amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. While other Ivy League schools have extended the test-optional policy, so far only Columbia University has adopted the initiative permanently.  

Even though standardized test scores are no longer required in Columbia’s application process, students can still submit them if they choose. However, Columbia said that students who don’t submit test scores will not be at a disadvantage in the application process. That's not to say going test-optional policies will make it easier for students to get accepted into the university. The admission rate at Columbia for last year's freshman class, the class of 2026, was 3.73%.

RELATED: More colleges following Davidson's lead in saying no to student loans, CNBC reports

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