The Latest Investigations into Test-Optional Admissions Policies 对考试可选招生政策的最新调查
By: Beth McKenzie
The future of test-optional policies in college admissions continues to be an ongoing and evolving conversation. Maguire Associates, a research-based consulting firm that specializes in providing educational institutions with highly focused market research recently conducted a survey to investigate the impact of test-optional policies on admissions decisions. The survey yielded information factors used in application review, and the perceptions of the impact of test-optional policies. Some of the information from the survey findings report will be useful for Interface students who are looking ahead to this year’s application season and beyond.
在大学招生中，考试可选政策的未来是一个持续的、不断发展的话题。 Maguire Associates是一家研究咨询公司，专门为教育机构提供高度聚焦的市场调研。该公司最近进行了一项调查，研究考试可选政策对录取决定的影响。调查显示了在申请审核中使用的信息元素，以及对考试可选政策影响的看法。调查结果报告中的一些信息对展望今年申请季和未来准备申请的顾瑞学生会有帮助。
First, and most important, among respondents from test-optional institutions in Fall 2021, most indicated heavier reliance on high school transcripts & GPA. Essays and personal statements were ranked as the second most important factor, and Letters of Recommendation were ranked third. This information confirms what we at Interface have been advising our students in the past year. These results mean that students applying to test optional colleges should focus their attention on performing well in school, and taking part in meaningful, exploratory activities that will allow them to write compelling essays that signal their intellectual curiosity, community engagement, and personal growth in their applications.
首先，也是最重要的，在2021年秋季将考试作为可选项的机构受访者中，大多数人表示更依赖于高中成绩单和GPA。 文书和个人陈述被列为第二重要因素，推荐信排第三。这个信息印证了顾瑞在过去的一年一直向我们的学生提出的建议。这些结果表明，申请考试可选大学的学生应该把注意力集中在校内的表现上，并参加有意义的、探索性的活动，这将有助于他们写出引人入胜的文书，在申请中展示他们的求知欲、社区参与和个人成长。
Second, the study sheds light on the influx of applications that colleges have been receiving since the institution of test-optional policies. Without the pressure of test scores to worry about, a greater number of students have begun taking their chances at applying to highly competitive schools. This influx of applications from a wider range of talented, brainy students has made applying to competitive colleges even more competitive. This means that Interface students who choose to apply to top colleges must be aware that the admit rates are even slimmer than they were in past years. It is particularly important for our students to have open and frank conversations with your counselors about the schools that will be the best fit for you, and to be sure you have appropriate, competitive “fit” schools on your list that you have researched and where you would be happy.
其次，这项研究阐明考试可选政策实施以来大学收到的申请量激增。由于不用担心考试成绩，越来越多的学生开始抓住机会申请顶尖大学。这些来自范围更广泛的有才华、聪明的学生的大量申请使得申请顶尖大学竞争更激烈。这意味着，选择申请顶尖大学的顾瑞学生必须意识到，这些学校的录取率比往年都要低。对我们的学生来说，与你的顾问就最适合你的学校进行开放和坦诚的对话尤为重要，并要确保在你的名单上含有竞争力“适合”的、你已经研究过并会感到满意的学校。
Most colleges and universities have announced their plans for the next admission cycle. The majority of schools have indicated that they are going to stay test-optional for at least the next year. Our advice is to take a standardized test if it is logically possible and if you are not putting your health at risk because of travel. If you have a strong score that will support your application, we will send it. If your score does not strengthen your application, of course, we will not send it. If you KNOW that you are not a strong “test-taker” and you are not scoring where you want to be on practice tests, you must weigh the benefits and loss of studying for the SAT/ACT against the time that it will take away from your school work and involvement in activities. PLEASE have a serious talk with your counselor.
大多数学院和大学已经宣布了他们下一个招生周期的计划。大多数学校表示，至少在明年，他们将继续实行考试可选政策。我们的建议是，如果在逻辑上可行，如果你不会因旅行而将健康置于危险之中，那么就参加标化考试。如果你考取了能支持你的申请的高分，我们就递交成绩。如果你的分数不能加强你的申请，当然，我们就不递交。如果你知道自己不是一个很强的“应试者”，并且在模拟测试中没有取得自己期待的成绩，你必须权衡备考SAT/ACT与占用学校学习和参与活动时间的得与失。请与你的顾问认真谈谈。
Long term policy decisions are yet undetermined, and it is still unclear what the future may hold for admissions testing policies in the years to come. Here at Interface, we continue to stay abreast of all these changes and utilize the newest research, like this recent survey, to inform our counseling.
长期政策决定尚待确定，未来几年的招生考试政策将如何发展仍不明朗。在顾瑞，我们将继续与这些变化保持同步并利用最新的研究，比如这份最近的调查，贯彻于我们的咨询中。
Maguire Associates. (2021, July). The future of test-optional survey results.
Maguire Associates (2021年7月) 考试可选的未来调查结果
Jaschik, Scott. (2021, July 19). Survey of colleges finds mixed reactions to test-optional admissions. Inside Higher Ed.
Jaschik,Scott.(2021年7月19日）一项针对大学调查的结果显示人们对考试可选招生的反应不一 高等教育探讨