Test Optional
In March 2005, Lawrence University adopted a test-optional policy, thereby giving students the choice to submit or not to submit their standardized test results for our admission and scholarship review. In each of the years since, approximately 25 percent of our applicants have chosen to let their academic records stand on their own without a test score. (And they have done just fine, thank you.)
If you are happy with your test scores, we are more than happy to consider them as part of your application. If you have a strong academic record and don't feel your standardized test results are a good indicator of your academic potential, we won't miss them... and we won't assume you're trying to hide something from us.
When students who opt out of submitting their scores enroll at Lawrence, we ask them to share their test scores with us so we can continue our longitudinal study of the success of this program. We have seen a good number of high test scores from students who simply like the philosophy, and wish to be considered on the merits of their daily work.
We are also seeing a growing number of students opt out of taking the tests at all. One of them caught our attention not only for "conscientiously objecting" to standardized tests, but for what she has done with the time she would have spent preparing for and taking the tests. Check out the video below:
You can indicate your preference on your Lawrence University Supplement to the Common Application. If you choose to submit your scores, Lawrence will accept test results that appear either on an official transcript or directly from the testing agency. (Lawrence's ACT code: 4596; SAT code: 1398)
For more information about standardized testing and how it is, or should be, used in college admission, please see:
Report of the Commission on the Use of Standaridzed Tests in Undergraduate Admission (from the National Association for College Admission Counseling)
Fairtest (The National Center for Fair and Open Testing)
