Princeton University will again require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, bolstering a growing retreat from test-optional admissions policies nationwide. This change signals a shift in how highly selective colleges weigh standardized measures alongside grades and extracurriculars, and it will reshape how many students plan their senior year of high school and their application strategies.
The pandemic pushed many campuses to drop testing mandates when in-person exams were disrupted, and several institutions kept those policies afterward. Administrations argued that making tests optional could widen access for students who lack test prep or who face testing barriers, and for a while that approach became mainstream. Now, some schools are reconsidering whether optional tests give admissions committees enough consistent information to compare applicants reliably.
Supporters of reinstating testing point to the role standardized exams play as a common data point across diverse transcripts and grading systems. Admissions offices often say SAT and ACT scores help them balance applicants from different high schools, states, and curricular expectations. Critics counter that the tests can reflect socioeconomic advantages and that overreliance on test scores risks sidelining achievement earned under unequal conditions.
Research has long shown a correlation between test scores and first-year college performance, though the link is not the whole story and plenty of students succeed with lower scores. Colleges that reinstate testing tend to stress that scores will be part of a holistic review, not the sole determinant of admission. Still, the return to mandatory testing is likely to affect how counselors advise applicants and how families budget for prep and testing fees.
For applicants, the practical impact is immediate: students aiming at Princeton and similar schools will need to plan test dates, manage practice time, and decide which score-reporting policies suit them best. Test-optional policies had offered students a chance to skip submitting scores if they felt the numbers didn’t reflect their strengths. With tests required again, those strategic choices narrow and score preparation moves back onto many students’ calendars.
Equity concerns remain central to the debate, and colleges often pair score policies with outreach and financial support programs. Fee waivers, free online practice resources, and expanded local testing sites have been part of efforts to reduce barriers. Still, opponents argue those steps do not fully erase disparities rooted in access to private tutoring, quiet study space, and other advantages that correlate with test performance.
The admissions landscape beyond Princeton shows a mixed picture: some institutions keep test-optional plans, others require scores, and policies sometimes change year to year. That inconsistency creates uncertainty for applicants deciding whether to invest time and money in testing. Counselors and families must monitor institutional updates and be ready to adapt plans as policies evolve.
Colleges that bring back testing emphasize fairness in comparison and the need for consistent evidence to evaluate academic preparedness, while critics warn of renewed pressure on students who already face heavy academic loads. For students poised to apply, the question becomes how to present the strongest possible application under the rules each school sets. That means balancing course choices, grades, recommendations, and now a renewed emphasis on test results.
High schools and counselors will likely respond by refocusing test-prep guidance and scheduling school-day test opportunities where possible. The testing industry and nonprofit organizations that offer practice materials may see increased demand as more students seek to improve scores before deadlines. Families will weigh the costs of preparation against potential benefits in admissions decisions.
As the debate continues, applicants should track each college’s requirements closely and consider multiple paths to strengthen their candidacy, including coursework, writing samples, and other measurable achievements. The reinstatement at Princeton is a clear reminder that policies can shift, so prospective students should build flexibility into their application timelines and stay informed about any future changes.
