Rona Aydin is the founder of Oriel Admissions, a Princeton-based college admissions consulting firm advising families nationwide on elite university admissions strategy. An Oxford University graduate, Rona leads a deeply experienced team whose distinctive 360 approach treats every part of the application - academics, testing, activities, essays, and interviews - as one connected strategy.
Caltech requires the SAT or ACT for all first-year applicants and, starting with the 2026-27 cycle, evaluates scores through a distinctive bucket system: sections of 750 SAT or 33 ACT and above appear to the committee only as a range, never an exact number. Learn how the system works and how to plan.
Duke is test optional for both first-year and transfer applicants in the 2026-27 cycle, one of the last elite universities offering the choice. Learn how Duke's score-suppression and preference-change system works, its ACT superscore rules, deadlines, and when submitting scores is the right call.
Johns Hopkins requires the SAT or ACT for first-year applicants, effective with fall 2026 entry, while transfer applicants remain exempt. Learn which sections count, how the JHU superscore works, the English proficiency thresholds, testing deadlines, and how to plan a Hopkins-ready testing arc.
Northwestern is test optional for first-year and transfer applicants: scores are welcome but not required, the consideration choice is changeable in the portal after applying, and late fall scores can still be added. Learn Northwestern's superscore rules and when submitting is the right call.
Carnegie Mellon's testing policy varies by college: the School of Computer Science requires the SAT or ACT, five colleges including Engineering and Tepper are test flexible, and the College of Fine Arts is test optional with portfolios or auditions. Learn how each track works and how to plan.
Notre Dame is test optional through the 2026-27 school year for both first-year and transfer applicants, though the university notes its strongest applicants typically demonstrate significant quantitative evidence. Learn how Notre Dame treats scores, its superscore policy, and when to submit.
Rice does not require the SAT or ACT but formally recommends scores for all first-year and transfer applicants, a stance stronger than standard test optional. Learn Rice's one-way opt-in rule, its superscore policy, how the committee handles dual submitters, and when submitting is the right call.
Vanderbilt is test optional through fall 2027 entry, one of the longest-dated commitments among elite universities. Applicants indicate on the application whether scores should be considered, with no advantage or disadvantage either way. Learn how the policy works and when submitting is smart.
USC continues its test-optional policy for the 2026-27 academic year: first-year applicants choose whether SAT or ACT scores are considered, with no penalty either way. Learn USC's score rules, the November 1 merit scholarship deadline, international requirements, and when submitting is smart.
UNC Chapel Hill uses a GPA-conditional testing rule: students with a 2.8 weighted GPA or above are not required to submit scores, while those below must send an ACT of 17 or SAT of 930 or higher. UNC also accepts the CLT and superscores both exams. Learn how the policy works and when to submit.
Georgia Tech requires the SAT or ACT from every first-year applicant under University System of Georgia policy, and it superscores both exams. Learn the self-reporting channel rules, the residency-split Early Action rounds and score deadlines, and how in-state and out-of-state bands differ.
UC Berkeley does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions or scholarships under the UC system's test-free policy, with scores serving only eligibility and placement. Learn what carries a Berkeley file instead, and why Berkeley's own faculty sit at the center of the push to restore testing.
UVA remains test optional for first-year and transfer applicants, with an unusually flexible twist: the test-optional election can be changed by email until 5 PM Eastern on November 22 for early rounds or January 15 for Regular Decision. Learn UVA's superscore rules and when to submit.
Swarthmore extended its test-optional policy for up to five more years, with a twist: the consider-or-suppress election cannot be changed after submitting. Learn the suppression rules, the IB Diploma exception, why the SAT is superscored but the ACT is not, and when submitting is the right call.
Emory is test optional through the 2026-27 cycle across Emory College and Oxford College, every decision plan, transfers, and all Scholar Program merit awards. Learn how Emory's score suppression works, its distinctive superscore rules, the AP reporting nudge, and when submitting is the right call.
UCLA does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions or scholarship decisions at all, under the UC system's test-free policy. Scores serve only eligibility and course placement. Learn what carries a UCLA application instead, and why faculty pressure is putting the policy under real review.