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The University of Miami has announced a significant policy update for prospective students. Starting with the Fall 2026 application cycle, undergraduate applicants will once again be required to submit standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) as part of their application. SAT Tutoring Expert one-on-one guidance to boost your score.
Youll need exceptional grades, strong test scores, and distinctive extracurriculars that show depth and originality. Many legacy students come from well-resourced backgrounds, with access to elite schools, tutoring, and extracurricular opportunities. Top-tier grades, strong test scores, and niche extracurriculars are mandatory.
Cornell University is test-optional, but not for long. For Fall 2025 applicants, Cornell remains test-optional, giving students the choice to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, this policy will change for Fall 2026 admissions, when standardized test scores will once again be required.
Brown is interesting because in 2023, they decided to form a committee to determine if they should make changes to Early Decision, testingpolicies, and legacy admissions. You still need killer grades and scores and those great, niche extracurriculars that can help you stand out.
Not everyone feels confident when it comes to taking tests. You’re not alone— around 40 to 60% of high school students experience test anxiety, a type of stress that makes it tough to focus and perform well during exams. As a high school student, you’re probably no stranger to big tests like AP exams, the PSAT, or the SAT and ACT.
The top five majors at Duke are Computer Science, Economics, Biology, Public Policy, and Psychology, and students are drawn to the university by the strong community culture paired with exceptional research opportunities. Scores Students who want to get into Duke should also have very strong test scores.
Its because you, as a legacy of a Vanderbilt alum, probably attend a private school or top public school, probably have access to tutors for school and standardized tests, and generally have the privilege to become high-achieving without as many barriers. So, if you want to stand out? Submit scores. Submit perfect scores.
This has been their policy for a long time for at least two decades, and up to 50+ years and they have no intention of switching things up. Legacy at MIT Legacy admissions policies have been critiqued harshly following the Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action. However, MIT does not subscribe to this norm.
Scores Like most universities, the Cornell testingpolicy has been shifting over the past few years and through the Covid pandemic. Going test optional helped students applying, but it has led to statistics that arent necessarily useful as the only students who submitted scores in recent years were those with very strong scores.
When it comes to your college applications, one big question is: how many extracurriculars should I have to stand out without overloading my plate? Think of extracurriculars like toppings on a pizza. Let’s break down how many extracurriculars you should really have, what counts, and how to make yours stand out. Don’t sweat it.
Below, weve broken it down to four key areas for action: grades, scores, extracurriculars, and type of application. Class Rank of the Class of 2028 Scores: Like most colleges and universities, Dartmouth suspended mandatory submission of standardized test scores as a part of the application process during the Covid pandemic.
One of the big questions that might be swirling around in your head is: Is Duke test-optional? Dukes Test-Optional Policy Duke SAT Scores Duke ACT Scores Duke University Admission Requirements Frequently Asked Questions Takeaways Dukes Test-Optional Policy For the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, Duke University is test-optional.
No extracurricular activity is “bad,” but some definitely catch the eye of college admissions teams more than others. Selective colleges take a holistic approach to admissions, meaning they look at the whole picture instead of just focusing on your grades and test scores. Here are other Tier 1 extracurriculars examples: 1.
Scores Harvard requires applicants to submit an ACT or SAT score to meet their testing requirements, but they dont have minimum scores to apply. Extracurriculars One of the most common weak spots that we see for hopeful Harvard applicants is in what they do outside of class hours.
In this blog, well talk about what a 960 SAT score really means, whether or not you should retake the test, and how you can move forward to reach your college goals. Scoring 960 on the SAT places you around the 41st percentile , meaning you performed better than about a third of test-takers nationwide. How Good Is a 960 SAT Score?
The University of San Diego (who is test blind) has expanded tutoring services and invited all first-year students to campus a week early, at the college’s expense, for Science Lab boot camps because the students probably missed that in high school. Many other colleges might be thinking of returning to requiring test scores.
According to Columbia, this move was prompted by a growing recognition of the flaws in standardized testing and the school’s desire to make the admissions process more equitable and accessible to a broader range of students. For decades, standardized tests have been central to the college admissions process.
According to Columbia, this move was prompted by a growing recognition of the flaws in standardized testing and the school’s desire to make the admissions process more equitable and accessible to a broader range of students. For decades, standardized tests have been central to the college admissions process.
Transfer students may still take advantage of a test-optional policy. 3 words) What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? 50 words) Required for transfer students: What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it?
A big reason for this surge is the rise of test-optional policies and increased global access to higher education. This means more competition for every spot and higher expectations for grades, test scores, essays, and extracurriculars. Meanwhile, the acceptance rate has decreased from 9.9% to just 5.4%.
In the beginning, we trained ChatGPT by testing it on just a few schoolsthen, when she was closer to making a decision, we used it to compare her final options. Clubs & Activities : What extracurriculars are available? Housing Policies : Is freshman housing required? Is it required for first-year students?
However, according to Yale Daily News , early applications to some selective schools, like Yale, saw a slight dip in the first test-flexible admissions cycle. Renewed Interest in Test Scores For the first time since 2021, more applicants submitted test scores than did not, despite widespread test-optional policies.
Standardized test scores, like the SAT and ACT, determine academic readiness and skills for entering university. While it may be beneficial to take both tests, this blog will answer the question, “Do you need both ACT and SAT for college? While both are standardized tests, there are a few key differences between them.
Harvard has reinstituted its standardized test requirement beginning next fall. Studies suggest standardized tests can help increase socioeconomic diversity. Add Harvard to the list of universities reinstating standardized test requirements. Brown soon hopped aboard the testing bandwagon, offering the same rationale. [S]trong
According to their admissions policy , Duke will consider the highest scores on each section, regardless of the test date, and will create a new composite score by averaging those scores. Instead of stressing over one test, you can focus on improving individual sections over multiple attempts. The good news is, yes, they do!
You already know that summer and extracurricular activities are a great way to explore your interests, challenge yourself, and maybe even strengthen your college application along the way. Download a Printable Version of the Values List CEGS Epic List of Summer and extracurricular Ideas Organized by Values Thats right.
Extracurricular Activities (EC’s): How a student spends their time outside of the classroom. High School Profile: A document supplied by high schools to colleges that summarizes the school’s grading system, course offerings, standardized test score ranges, and other important data. To understand more about this please read our blog.
To have a real shot, your application needs to stand out in every waygrades, essays, recommendations, and extracurriculars. That means your essays need to be sharp, your recommendations glowing, and your extracurriculars meaningful. UChicago Early Decision policy Both ED I and ED II are binding. Yale University 3.7% Dont panic.
Do you have to be a star athlete, or a straight-A student, or maybe the president of every extracurricular club? These scholarships typically require excellent grades, high test scores, and sometimes additional criteria like leadership, community service, or extracurricular involvement. How do you write a scholarship essay?
This became especially true in 2020, given changes in test administration and colleges’ testingpolicies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years later, colleges continue to update their testing requirements, with some extending their test-optional periods and others opting for permanent changes.
Last summer, more than 1900 colleges were test optional, test-free or test-blind. Many others have stated they will not go back to requiring test scores yet, if ever, but there is still the potential for more colleges to return to requiring test scores. So, should students still take a test?
Did you know that there are over 1,830 colleges and universities that have switched to test-optional over the last few years? According to Forbes , many of these schools did so to help combat the effects of COVID, but as COVID cases have been on a drastic decline schools are standing by this policy for a multitude of reasons.
Changes to standardized testing requirements Some colleges that have maintained test-optional policies include Princeton, the University of Maryland, and Texas A&M. However, many of the most competitive schoolsincluding Caltech, Stanford, and Cornellhave reinstated testing requirements.
Part of this gap comes from the changing role of standardized tests, but it highlights a bigger issuethe growing divide between students who are actively preparing for college and those who are not. Outside of academics, your freshman year is the perfect time to explore extracurricular activities that match your interests.
Today, we’re breaking down recent news surrounding UT Austin’s auto-admission policy and UT tuition coverage, including how these shifts may impact you! We also offer tutoring services, as well as test preparation. This change is already reflected on their website.
One of the most important aspects of Harvard is its motto, which has stood the test of time and remains a key part of the university’s identity. Beyond the classroom, Harvard promotes Veritas in everything from community projects to public policy debates. What comes to mind when you think of Harvard?
Standardized tests, like the SAT and ACT, are used to determine academic readiness and skills for entering university. In this blog, we will cover the current data on scores year after year, factors associated with the changes, and how to best approach these standardized tests in light of recent data. compared to 19.5
At the same time, over 23,000 students take advantage of its 11 academic divisions and popular graduate programs in law, business, and policy. Policies like test-optional admissions during the pandemic made it easier for more students to apply, but the competition is fierce with so few spots available. Standardized test scores.
They take a holistic approach, which means your essays, extracurriculars, and personality matter just as much as your GPA. For students, this means that just having great grades and test scores isn’t always enough. Keep your grades up while being involved in meaningful extracurriculars. What Are Vanderbilt’s GPA Requirements?
Still, the university evaluates applicants holistically, meaning they look at everything from your GPA and essays to your extracurriculars and how youll contribute to the campus community. Focus on writing compelling essays, excelling in extracurriculars that showcase your passions, and securing glowing letters of recommendation.
S/U grading policy Students may opt for an S/U grade in eligible electives within the ILR School or other university divisions. This includes academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, personal qualities, and the context of your high school and home environment. Highlight your extracurricular activities.
HKS teaches students to improve public policy and leadership to create better societies for everyone. Extracurricular opportunities. A college admissions consultant can give you personalized guidance on improving your academics and extracurriculars to help you get accepted. Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). Research facilities.
In this guide, well walk you through everything you need to know, from Stanfords testingpolicies to score expectations and tips to help you crush the SAT or ACT. Stanford takes a holistic approach to admissions, considering your grades, extracurriculars, essays, and test scores. Take official practice tests.
Spoiler alert: its about more than just test scores and grades. Extracurricular activities. Standardized test scores (optional). Rice University has a test-optional policy, but if you do submit, aim for competitive scores. Theyre also big on extracurriculars, personal qualities, and unique talents.
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