Once again, the college admissions process is changing. In response to test disruptions due to the pandemic, such as the inability to attend preparation classes and reach test centers, the vast majority of universities altered their standardized test policies, making submission of test scores optional. 

With the freedom to choose whether to submit test scores or not, the last four graduating classes experienced a college that differs from both past and future classes.

“I didn’t care about my SAT and ACT [scores] as much because if I do bad, I just don’t have to report my score,” senior Cameron Luskin said. “All of the schools that I’m applying to are test-optional.”

Many seniors have taken advantage of test-optional policies, focusing more on their extracurriculars, athletic commitments or simply enjoying their time in high school. 

“Personally, I feel very lucky because it takes the pressure off,” senior Peyton Brown said. “It definitely relieves some stress from the college admissions process [and] almost all [of the universities I am applying to] are test-optional.” 

The class of 2025 will likely be the last to enjoy test-optional policies for the majority of universities. For the 2026-2027 college admissions cycle, many universities have already announced that they will return to mandatory standardized test submissions, and students have begun preparing for the shift. 

“I’m really worried about [managing standardized tests on top of everything else],” junior Alexandra Hawkworth said. “I am going to try to do a lot of SAT and ACT prep and see what I’m better at.”

Current juniors and sophomores will likely face new pressures to study for and ace standardized tests while simultaneously keeping up with their classes and extracurricular activities, a challenge that was alleviated for the past four graduating classes. 

“I do have a crazy schedule, but I am preparing with Private Prep, so I am taking a diagnostic this weekend and I took one last weekend,” junior Ellie Coffey said. “I’ve already started to prep but it’s really stressful and I have to plan around my extracurriculars.” 

Some students believe that standardized tests will not benefit their college application, not necessarily due to a lack of knowledge of the material, but because of their challenges with test-taking. 

“I’m someone who doesn’t test very well, especially on standardized tests, so I feel that my grades [better represent] who I am as a student than my test scores do,” Coffey said. 

With these upcoming changes, it’s important to look at the big picture. Due to required score submission, universities’ average standardized test scores will likely decrease since all students, not only those who had great test scores, will have to submit their results. Moreover, many universities approach admissions holistically, meaning that they consider the whole applicant, instead of focusing solely on one aspect such as SAT or ACT scores. Even with changing policies, juniors and sophomores should keep in mind that test scores are not everything.