This week, Yale brings back standardized testing requirements, Emory’s applicant pool increases and the university plans to remain test optional, Penn introduces a new AI major, Duke changes its admissions weighting system, Vanderbilt expands its financial aid offerings, Wisconsin approves direct admissions, and more colleges extend their commitment deadlines.
Yale University will once again require standardized testing for admission. Yale’s policy is described as “test flexible,” and will consider AP and IB scores or SAT and ACT scores. The change goes into effect starting with students applying for the fall of 2025. Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Jeremiah Quinlan, has said that standardized tests offer the best prediction of student success in college.
Emory University reports that its Early Decision II applicant pool increased by nearly 15% from last year. Out of the 2,088 students applying for ED2, Emory has accepted 245, or roughly 12% of its applicants. In other news, the university has also announced that it will remain test-optional for the 2024-25 admissions cycle.
The School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania has announced a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Artificial Intelligence major. Penn is the first Ivy League university to offer an AI major, and one of the first among all undergraduate engineering programs to confer this degree.
The admissions process at Duke University has changed this year. Applicants’ essays and standardized test scores no longer receive an assigned point value or numerical rating, though they are considered as part of the holistic review. Only curriculum strength, academics, recommendations, and extracurriculars will factor into a numeric score. This decision comes in large part due to the increase in AI-generated writing among current students.
Vanderbilt University has announced that it will guarantee full-tuition scholarships to all students with families making less than $150,000 annually.
The governor of Wisconsin has signed a bill for a direct admissions program for the Universities of Wisconsin. Aiming to retain in-state graduates, the program will require the Madison flagship campus to accept all Wisconsin high school students who finish in the top 5% of their class.
In light of the FAFSA delays, more colleges and universities have extended their commitment deadlines from May 1 to May 15, including the University of Virginia, Rutgers University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University, and Pennsylvania’s 10 state universities.
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