Stanford announces test-optional policy for 2022–23 application cycle

On Nov. 10, Stanford University announced its decision to extend a test-optional application policy for prospective undergraduate students through the 2022–23 admissions cycle. Stanford made this decision in light of continued challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stanford is among the first universities that previously required standardized test scores to make this move. Princeton University, along with many other institutions, had extended their test-optional policy through the 2021–22 application cycle.

At Princeton, changes to standardized testing admissions policies began in 2020 with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, disruption of in person teaching, and inaccessibility of ACT and SAT tests. At the time, the test-optional policy was in place for the Class of 2025 only.

In early 2021, the University announced its decision to extend this policy through the 2021–22 application cycle, paralleling other members of the Ivy League.

Princeton has yet to decide on its testing policy for the 2022–23 cycle, and plans to make an announcement “at a later date,” according to Deputy University Spokesperson Michael Hotchkiss.

“The Admission Office continues to monitor the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the college admission process during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as it relates to the availability of standardized testing,” he wrote in an email to The Daily Princetonian.

For the 2021–22 application cycle, the University remains committed to giving applicants the option of whether to submit scores.

“Students who do not submit test scores will not be at a disadvantage during the application review process,” Hotchkiss wrote. “Applications without test scores will be considered complete.”

The University of Chicago, along with many other universities, has already established a permanent test-optional application policy as part of an initiative to “provide an admissions process that makes UChicago even more accessible by enabling students to present their best, most authentic selves,” according to John W. Boyer, Dean of the College for UChicago.

Paola Moncada ’25, a student who applied during Princeton’s inaugural test-optional application cycle, told the ‘Prince’ she thinks Princeton should adopt a permanent test-optional policy.

“It’s great if you can do well on an exam that tests your basic writing, reading, and math skills, but ultimately I think work ethic and ability to perform well in a university classroom are measurable in different ways for everyone,” she said. “Making test scores mandatory makes academic ability seem kind of one-dimensional.”

Isabel Yip is a news contributor for the ‘Prince.’ She can be reached at isabelyip@princeton.edu or @isaayip on Instagram.