Spelman College Suspends Standardized Test Requirement for Class of 2025 Applicants

Spelman College will not require standardized test scores from students applying for the class of 2025, announced college officials. The decision is in response to barriers that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including standardized testing cancellations, increased registration demand and safety concerns at testing sites.

“COVID-19 has posed unparalleled challenges and disruptions across the world, including students planning the next step in their educational careers,” said Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman. “Standardized tests have always represented only a portion of Spelman’s application review process, which includes many opportunities for students to share their full selves – all of their gifts and talents – with our admissions team. We are committed to remaining flexible and empathetic during these unprecedented times.”

The change only applies to new, first-time students graduating from high school in the 2020-21 academic year. However, the school’s Office of Admissions said it would reassess the “testing climate” at the end of the 2020-21 academic year to decide whether it will uphold the test optional policy for future classes too.

Class of 2025 student applicants who choose not to submit test scores will not be disadvantage in the review process, said the school.