At least 1,835 U.S. colleges have implemented test-free or test-optional admissions in the hopes of developing a more diverse pool of applicants, although student access to high school AP or IB courses will remain a factor in their acceptance.
The gap exists in every U.S. state, beginning in elementary school and lasting through college graduation, according to new research conducted by the nonprofit public policy organization Brookings.
Removing barriers to an art and design university education means admission should not be based on SAT or ACT scores, portfolios for undergraduates, proof of high grades, or lengthy essays.
The pipeline of traditional-age students will tighten further midway through this decade because of the drop in births during the Great Recession of 2008, forcing college leaders to compete more aggressively for fewer students.
The University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Norfolk State University are among the dozens of schools in the commonwealth that have changed their policies to relax admissions exams requirements.
Enthusiasm continues to build for replacing standardized exams with more "authentic assessments" such as research projects, presentations and portfolios of other high school work.
