The University of Texas at Austin Reinstates Standardized Test Requirements for Admissions
In a move that is part of a growing trend among selective universities, the University of Texas at Austin announced on Monday that it will once again require standardized test scores for admissions. The decision to reinstate SAT or ACT requirements comes after a period during the pandemic when many schools temporarily abandoned the use of test scores in their admissions process.
The shift back to requiring test scores is based on the university’s desire to better place admitted students in programs that suit them best and to identify those who may need additional support. Without the use of test scores, officials at U.T. Austin found that students were not faring as well as they could be.
While some critics argue that standardized tests are unfair and perpetuate inequality, recent data has shown that making test scores optional can actually harm students from low-income backgrounds. In fact, some universities, like Brown, have found that students from less-advantaged backgrounds were opting not to submit scores under test-optional policies, even when doing so could have improved their chances of admission.
At U.T. Austin, where admissions operate under a race-neutral policy, standardized test scores play a crucial role in the holistic evaluation of applicants. The university’s focus on placing students in programs where they can succeed has led to an increase in the four-year graduation rate, which climbed to 74.5 percent in 2023.
According to Miguel Wasielewski, the university’s vice provost of admissions, test scores provide valuable information that helps determine placement and support for students. In fact, students who submitted test scores had higher GPAs and were less likely to have a GPA below 2.0 in their first semester at the university.
Overall, the decision to reinstate standardized test requirements at U.T. Austin reflects a broader trend among selective universities to prioritize academic achievement and student success in their admissions process. With the use of test scores, the university aims to ensure that all admitted students have the support they need to thrive in their chosen programs of study.
