April 16, 2007
Rollins College has announced that, for students applying for admission to the class entering in Fall 2008, submission of SAT or ACT scores will be optional.
“It is too easy to be distracted by low test scores that are not accurate predictors of a student's college academic potential,” said David Erdmann, Dean of Admission for Rollins’ College of Arts & Sciences. “We want to take a more holistic approach and believe that a candidate’s academic record, level of challenge in course work, talents, interests, and potential to contribute to the Rollins and local community should be as important, if not more important, than test scores.”
Other colleges and universities waiving the required submission of SAT or ACT scores include Bates College (Maine), Bowdoin College (Maine), College of the Holy Cross (Massachusetts), Dickinson College (Pennsylvania), Franklin & Marshall College (Pennsylvania), Hampshire College (Massachusetts) and Mount Holyoke College (Massachusetts).
Rollins College is the first highly-selective southern college or university to make the submission of these test scores optional for admission consideration. FairTest, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, provides more information about standardized testing nationwide (visit www.fairtest.org).
“Liberal arts colleges hold a special place among institutions of higher education in America," said Rollins College President Lewis Duncan. "Consequently, we want to offer gifted students more flexibility in the admission process.”
Potential students opting to waive test scores must submit supplemental materials: a graded paper from a core academic course in the senior year (e.g., essays or research papers, lab reports, or work in mathematics or related fields) and a portfolio reflecting the candidate’s strengths, talents, or interests. Portfolio requirements will intentionally be left open-ended to provide each candidate creative opportunity (examples include slides of original artwork, multi-media presentations, scrapbooks, videos or DVDs).
Applicants selecting the test score waived option will not be at a disadvantage in the candidate selection process. For applicants seeking academic scholarship consideration, however, test scores are required and should be submitted when applying. While the test scores will now be optional for admission consideration, standardized test scores will continue to be used for academic counseling and placement. All entering first-year students will be required to submit scores over the summer prior to enrolling.
