The University of California system drops ACT / SAT requirement for admission

It finally happened. At the end of May 2020, the University of California system made a historic decision to suspend the SAT and ACT requirement for admission, until 2024. This is huge! I believe this decision was a long time coming, but the impact of Covid-19 sped it up: students were unable to go to SAT / ACT testing centers to even take the exams.

Almost exactly two years ago (July 2018), I wrote a blog about the University of Chicago no longer requiring the SAT / ACT exam for admission. Check that blog out HERE. At the end of the blog, I stated "I expect more universities will join the movement in the coming years". I was not wrong.

What are the UC campuses?
The UC System currently has 10 campuses, and a combined student body of about 300,000. The 10 campuses are: UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz.

Why are they suspending the SAT / ACT requirement?
There has always been criticism surrounding the SAT and the ACT exams. Many argue that these exams are not an accurate depiction of a student’s prior or future success: a straight-A student may not do well on the exam, even though they excel in school. Conversely, a C-student might score very highly on the exam. Also, many feel that the exams place an unfair cost and burden on low-income students, especially those who wish to re-take it to try for a higher score. There is also the argument that the exams include content that can be seen as discriminatory towards certain groups, and that requiring these exams ultimately hinders diversity on campus.

Should I still take the ACT / SAT exam?
With this monumental announcement from the UC system, I expect many, many other colleges to follow suit within the next 12 months. However, as of now, the majority of colleges still require the SAT or ACT for admission. Make sure to do your research on the admissions requirements of the colleges you are applying to.

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