Lawrence University is among a growing list of more than 750 colleges and universities that have some kind of test-optional admissions, according to FairTest, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that opposes heavy reliance on the tests. The trend comes as standardized tests have faced increased scrutiny for possible bias against students who are the first in their family to go to college, minorities or non-native English speakers.
The majority of selective colleges and universities – including all University of Wisconsin campuses – still use standardized tests as one piece of the complex admissions puzzle.
“It’s certainly not the end-all, be-all factor,” said Tom Reason, associate director of admissions for UW-Madison. But it helps when high school grades and class rankings have become less reliable, he said. And public universities have an added layer of responsibility to ensure fairness and equity.