When testing centers cancelled SAT and ACT offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic, all of a sudden, high school students had one less thing to worry about. 

Because students couldn't access testing slots, more colleges waived SAT and ACT requirements during the pandemic than ever before. As a result, schools saw a sharp increase in applicants. 

At selective schools – where the acceptance rate is typically less than 50% – the spike was largest: Applications increased by an average of 21%.

Application numbers were also up at historically Black college and universities, or HBCUs.

A Hampton University in Virginia, an HBCU, application numbers were up 39%.

Colleges also received more applications from first-generation, low-income students. 

After helping to foster a more diverse applicant pool during the pandemic, will test-optional policies stick around? Can this year’s historic applicant pool help lead to more racially representative college campuses?

National correspondent for higher education Lindsay Schnell sat down with host Shannon Green to discuss why so many students took advantage of test-optional schools this year and what that could mean for future application requirements.

You can read the full story here.

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