After the widespread of covid 19 virus, international students are in a dilemma as to whether to wait for another year or start an online program at the top universities in the USA. Meanwhile, the top universities in USA have turned test optional or test blind due to the outbreak of covid 19. MIT, Harvard, Stanford, UPenn, Cornell, Princeton, UCLA, Georgia Tech and several renowned universities in USA are not asking for SAT or ACT scores anymore for admission to the class of 2025.
Most of the top US universities, including the Ivy league institutes have waived the SAT/ACT requirements for the intake of 2022. The sole purpose of this activity is to ease international students from the burden of appearing in standardized exams to study in USA. As a result, the number of students interested in studying in USA increased considerably.
Top Universities in USA offering SAT and ACT Waiver
Following are some of the recognized US universities offering SAT/ ACT waivers to the international students and their general admission requirements.
| University | Waiver Type | Courses Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Test optional. Submission of SAT/ ACT score recommended for students who have already appeared in the exams | Programs at MIT |
| Stanford University | Test optional, students can change their decision of submission and non-consideration of the test scores even after applying | Programs at Stanford |
| Harvard University | For the classes of 2027-2030, students can apply without standardized test scores. They can submit ACT or SAT scores | Programs at Harvard |
| University of Pennsylvania | Test optional | Programs at UPenn |
| Princeton University | Test optional but submission of test scores are encouraged | Programs at Princeton |
| University of California Los Angeles | SAT and ACT scores will not be accepted through Fall 2024 for both admission and scholarships | Programs at UCLA |
| California Institute of Technology | 2-year moratorium on SAT and ACT for 2022 admissions | Programs at CTech |
| Columbia University | Test optional for 2022-23 admission | Programs at Columbia |
| Brown University | Test optional | Programs at Brown University |
| Boston University | Test optional for fall 2022 and spring 2023 | Programs at Boston University |
| Cornell University | SAT, ACT requirements are suspended for 2022, 2023 and 2024 | Programs at Cornell University |
| University of Arizona | SAT and ACT scores are not required for admission or merit scholarships, students can submit their test scores to assist themselves with class placement, orientation, or to satisfy core competency requirements | Programs at University of Arizona |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | Test optional admission policy | Programs at University of Illinois at Chicago |
| University of Southern California | Students are asked about their willingness to submit their test scores while applying, the university is ready to wait for the standardized test scores of the applicants. However, submission of test scores is optional | Programs at University of Southern California |
| University of Rochester | Students can choose whether to include standardized tests in their application | Programs at University of Rochester |
| University of Wisconsin - Madison | SAT and ACT requirements waived through 2025 | Programs at University of Wisconsin - Madison |
| Virginia Tech | Test optional, students can express their willingness to share test scores while submitting the application | Programs at Virginia Tech |
| Duke University | Test optional | Programs at Duke University |
| Emory University | Test optional | Programs at Emory University |
| North Carolina State University | Test optional for 2022 fall and spring admission | Programs at North Carolina State University |
| Purdue University | Test optional for spring, summer and fall, 2022 | Programs at Purdue University |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Test optional for fall 2021 and beyond | Programs at Rochester Institute of Technology |
| Syracuse University | Test optional | Programs at Syracuse University |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Test optional, application fee of 50 CAD (~2,965 INR) can be waived off with test score submission. | Programs at University of Texas at Dallas |
Eligibility Criteria for SAT/ACT Waivers in USA
The announcement of waiving SAT and ACT exams for admission to the universities in USA is equally relieving for Indian students like others.
- Universities offering SAT/ ACT waivers to the applicants are accepting international students based on their academic performance and LOR.
- The supporting documents required by the universities are still mandatory for admission. It includes SOP for USA, personal essay, proof of financial availability, immigration details, portfolio and appearance in an interview (if required).
- Proficiency in English is required for admission to several universities in USA. The commonly accepted tests are TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo and Cambridge English Qualification.
In accordance with the test-optional admission policy worldwide, students stand an unforced chance to not to submit their standardized test scores without being at any disadvantage. Prospective students who were considering taking a gap year before applying to any of the top US universities are now approaching admission without SAT and ACT requirements.
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