Welcome to 2020! As we start a new year and decade, Lindsay started thinking about what changes we might see in college admissions over the next ten years. Here are her predictions:
1. Self-reported grades & test scores becoming standard practice
This year saw a big jump in colleges allowing students to self-report their test scores and/or grades. With this policy, official test score reports and transcripts are not required unless a student chooses to enroll at that university. Over the next several years I expect this to become the norm, instead of the exception.
Why does this matter?
Accessibility: Sending score reports (and sometimes even transcripts) means paying fees. While there are fee waivers for low-income students, it’s still a barrier for many families. Removing this hurdle will help underrepresented students, further increasing diversity in higher education.
Time saver: At many schools, counselors are responsible for sending the official transcripts along with all of their other duties. With an average ratio of 1 counselor to 464 students in the U.S., that’s a substantial project. If school counselors only need to send one final transcript per student that would remove a lot from their plate. Additionally, admission counselors would no longer need to wait for the extra materials to arrive if they are self-reported. This would help the application review process move along more efficiently.
2. More colleges adding an Early Decision admission plan
Recently, there has been an increase in students applying Early Decision. Colleges noticed the peak in interest and some responded by adding their own Early Decision options this year. Then, under pressure from the Department of Justice, NACAC chose to change its Code of Ethics and Professional Practices. Colleges can now offer incentives in an effort to recruit students to apply Early Decision. While the change just occurred in September, a few colleges were quick to entice students with added benefits such as priority housing and parking options if they became Early Decision applicants. Unfortunately, I expect this to become even more of a common occurrence in the future once colleges have time to strategize.
Why does this matter?
Creates Barriers: Early Decision deadlines tend to be earlier in the school year, months before Regular Decision deadlines. Many students in underrepresented communities tend to start their college search later. This, combined with the financial commitment, means that they often don’t consider Early Decision an option. If universities start filling a larger percentage of their freshman class with Early Decision applicants, it may negatively impact these students.
Risky: While Early Decision is a great choice for certain students, it is binding and you’re essentially committing before you receive your financial aid package. If a student does not have a very clear first choice or is uncomfortable with tuition, Early Decision may not be worth the risk. These perks may be too enticing for some to keep a clear head.
3. An increase in schools offering a test-optional policy
What started as a slowly growing trend saw a huge uptick, as more colleges than ever became test-optional in 2019. Then the year ended with the University of California being sued over their use of test scores as part of the admissions process. I think that the result of the UC lawsuit and/or the UC school system’s decision about if they will use test scores during next year’s admission cycle will be an important predictor of the SAT & ACT’s future.
Why does this matter?
Accessibility: Just like the self-reporting trend, fewer colleges requiring standardized test scores will help underrepresented students broaden their college search.
Options: This trend will also impact students that simply do not test well but have an otherwise strong application. As grades become an even more important piece of the application, those students will have more options. That being said, it’s important to fully understand each college’s testing policy before committing to applying test-optional.