Penn Extends Test-Optional Policy for 2024-25 Application Cycle

The University of Pennsylvania announced earlier this month that they will continue their test-optional admissions policies for the upcoming Class of ‘29 applicants. They follow in the footsteps of Cornell and Vanderbilt, both of whom also extended their test-optional policies for the upcoming application cycle. 

Test-optional policies were enacted in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic causing disruption in test offerings and students’ ability to actually take the tests. Since the end of lockdown, test-optional policies have been a hot topic of debate. Some argue that the tests create an unfair advantage to certain students while others argue that they are an important metric in assessing a student’s readiness for a competitive college experience. 

Recently, several Ivies, including Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown, announced the return of testing requirements for the upcoming 2024-25 application cycle. 

To date, Columbia is the only Ivy League university to eliminate testing requirements permanently.

We’ve said this so many times that you might be sick of hearing it, but we will say it again: TAKE THE TESTS! Even if you plan to apply to a college or university that is test-optional, a good test score can only help you look more attractive to the college. Plus, with these announcements coming out so frequently, it would be awful if you didn’t take the tests because you planned to apply to a university that was test-optional that suddenly decides to bring back testing requirements. 

Ivy Link offers test preparation services, including one-on-one tutoring and practice testing. If you are interested in these services, reach out to Ivy Link below.