Saint Joseph's makes standardized tests optional for admission

Through Test Optional Admission, incoming freshmen can choose not to take the SAT, ACT or other college readiness exams.
Through Test Optional Admission, incoming freshmen can choose not to take the SAT, ACT or other college readiness exams. | File photo
Starting in the fall of 2017, Saint Joseph’s College will transition to Test Optional Admission for students signing up for full-time courses in any of the college’s academic programs.

The Board of Trustees approved of this decision on Sept. 16, basing their decision on research about whether standardized testing accurately reflects the academic abilities of students.National research and empirical analysis evaluating the current education system show that standardized tests like the ACT and SAT don’t show the complete academic abilities and potential of students. In fact, these tests may limit the chances that these students have if they are ready for college but not good test takers.

To include this research in the admissions process, SJC has chosen a more comprehensive approach. This new method will look at potential students’ academic achievement for their coursework and their leadership and involvement in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The goal is to see students as more than their test scores.

Through Test Optional Admission, incoming freshmen can choose not to take the SAT, ACT or other college readiness exams and not reduce their chances of aid and admission from SJC. This will give more opportunities to students with great potential for academic success but with test anxiety or limited access to test review materials.