UConn will pilot a test-optional undergraduate admissions process for the next three application periods, studying whether the policies influence its student success rates and increase accessibility to talented students who otherwise face barriers associated with the tests.
UConn has always believed in the value of a holistic application review process, officials say, and that no single piece of an application - including the SAT or ACT standardized tests - should determine whether a student has the potential to succeed at the University.
And while UConn had already been considering whether to pilot a test-optional process, the COVID-19 pandemic added impetus by exacerbating the underlying issues, since high school students currently have varying access to e-learning, preparation for the SAT and ACT, and conducive testing environments.
UConn will start the test-optional applications process starting with students applying to enter as undergraduates in fall 2021, and will continue through the following two admissions cycles. During that time, students may submit SAT and/or ACT results if they choose, but no admissions decision would be impacted and no student would be disadvantaged if a standardized test score is not provided.
