Why should I complete the Oriel Ignite Research Program?

June 3, 2025

Completing the Oriel Ignite Research Program provides students with valuable research experience, skills that colleges are increasingly looking for in applicants. Completing research demonstrates intellectual curiosity, initiative, and the ability to engage deeply with a topic of interest, which are all qualities that stand out in the admissions process. The program also allows students to develop academic literature review skills, critical thinking and analysis skills, and computer programming skills (either in R or Python).

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College Admissions Transparency Index

TL;DR: The College Admissions Transparency Index grades 50 of the most selective universities in the United States on how openly, quickly, and accessibly they disclose admissions data and how clearly they explain their process to applicants. In the 2026 edition, Yale, MIT, and Georgia Tech tie for the top score (96, A), eight universities go … Continued

King Library at Miami University - return of standardized testing

SAT Waivers and Exceptions: When Required Testing Is Not Absolute

Nearly every college that requires the SAT or ACT builds in escape valves: Penn's hardship waiver, Columbia's waiver route, Georgetown's international access exception, transfer exemptions at Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and UNC, and substitute-evidence paths at Harvard and Dartmouth. A field guide.

The Princeton campus - a look at what Princeton is known for

Does Princeton Require the SAT? Testing Policy Explained

Princeton remains test optional for applicants entering in fall 2027, then requires the SAT or ACT beginning with the 2027-28 admissions cycle (fall 2028 entry) for first-year and transfer applicants. See the exact timeline, Princeton's score choice and superscore rules, and how each graduating class should plan.

The Yale campus - a look at what Yale is known for

Why Yale Ended Test-Flexible Admissions (And Who Still Offers It)

Yale pioneered test-flexible admissions in 2024, letting applicants substitute AP or IB scores for the SAT, then ended the experiment in May 2026 and now requires the SAT or ACT. Learn why the model strained, which schools still run flexible tracks, and how to use the surviving menus well.

The UC Berkeley campus - a look at what UC Berkeley is known for

Will the UC System Bring Back the SAT? The Test-Blind Policy Under Review

The University of California's test-blind policy faces its first real review since 2020: the settlement that locked it expired in 2025, hundreds of STEM faculty petitioned for testing's return, and the admissions board floated new requirements. What changed, what's proposed, and how to plan.

The UNC campus - a look at what UNC is known for

What Is the CLT? The Classic Learning Test in College Admissions

The Classic Learning Test is a two-hour, 120-point alternative to the SAT and ACT built on classical texts, now accepted by Florida's public universities, the UNC System for fall 2027, the service academies, and over 300 mostly private colleges. Learn where the CLT counts and where it does not.

Can You Change Your Test-Optional Decision After Applying?

Whether you can change your test-optional decision after applying depends entirely on the school: Swarthmore locks the choice at submission, Wellesley and Rice allow one-way changes, and Williams, UVA, Northwestern, and Duke keep it open to stated deadlines. Compare every rule before you apply.

MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology main campus aerial view

Does MIT Require the SAT? Testing Policy Explained

MIT requires the SAT or ACT for all first-year and transfer applicants, a requirement reinstated in March 2022, earlier than any elite peer. Learn MIT's superscore and full-sitting reporting rules, its self-report-only policy, the November 30 and December 31 testing deadlines, and how to plan.