Welcome, Princeton. Your bros let you sleep in and you missed the bus, but you got an Uber so you’re only a few days late. Princeton announced that they are joining the rest of their “Ivy League, etc.” friends in going test-optional for this upcoming 2020-2021 application cycle. Plus...TWIST...they’re getting rid of their single-choice early action option and moving to one collective Jan. 1 regular decision deadline/application option.
Better late/last than never/not at all. And definitely better to hit “pause” than to use bold language and suggest that they might have the gusto to question the requirement of standardized testing in admissions altogether.
We didn’t expect anything different, but let’s take a look at Princeton’s adjusted testing policy in the wake of COVID-19. They released the following statement:
A Pause on Standardized Testing
Princeton will pause on its standardized testing requirement as part of its holistic review process for the 2020-21 application cycle. Students who sit for a standardized test and wish to submit their score will still have the option to do so. However, because of the change to policy this year, applications without test scores will be rendered complete. Students who do not submit test scores will not be at a disadvantage. As with previous years, the University does not require subject tests.
One First-Year Application Deadline
The University will move to one application deadline of Jan. 1, 2021 for this first-year admission cycle. All applicants will apply using either the Coalition Application or Common Application through the Regular Decision process and will receive decisions on their applications by April 1, 2021. Princeton will continue to partner with QuestBridge and participate in the National College Match in December.
We won’t lie -- Princeton did throw us for a loop with that decision to delete their Single Choice Early Action option. Princeton just reinstated their early action option in 2011 (after eliminating it in 2006), so we’re surprised that after less than 10 years they’re rescinding it yet again. What a rollercoaster.
The language that they’ve chosen about their testing policy is wishy-washy with this “Pause” business, but suggests that they’ll quickly hit “Play” once this application season has wrapped. In the absence of both early action and testing, we expect that Princeton is a bit worried about the upcoming application season. But we also know that eliminating these two requirements means an uptick in application numbers for them. They’re going to be fine.
This is an important take-home about Princeton: while it may at first glance seem like it’s “easier” to get into Princeton now, what it really means is that it’s just easier to apply. Princeton will remain incredibly competitive, and they will continue to admit a very very small portion of their applicant pool. Test scores still matter when present, as is evidenced by their clear statement saying that students can still submit test scores if they so choose. And if not, your application will be “rendered complete.” Princeton really did not make their statement cushy in any way.
This means pretty much what you think it means -- your test scores still matter, but if you don’t submit them, then everything else matters even more. Your essays, the Princeton supplement, the graded writing sample that they require as of 2018, and the rest of your application (tune in later this summer for an updated Princeton supplement post) will now be given even more weight than without testing as a data point.
We feel strongly that testing isn’t a reliable data point, and we feel strongly that schools should take this moment to “pause” and look at their application process as a whole. As outlined above, Princeton has changed their requirements and application deadlines relatively readily in the past in an effort to attract applications that reflect their values. We wonder if this might ever include reevaluating testing altogether, as it’s certainly not an equal opportunity data point. We see testing outcomes as reflections of resources, not intelligence. I guess we’ll just have to strap in, get writing, and see how this all turns out.
No matter what, let us know if you need help with your application or if you have any questions.