Students applying to Pomona College will no longer be required to provide standardized testing scores for admission. Through this policy, SAT or ACT scores are not required for applicants for first-year or transfer admission, though students may still choose to submit them.
Pomona faculty voted earlier this month in support of making this policy permanent.
The College first adopted a test-optional policy for first-year and transfer students applying for admission for entry in Fall 2021 and extended it through Fall 2024.
Many U.S. colleges and universities adopted test-optional policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pomona College chose to adopt the temporary policy at the time, giving students a clear message to assist in their preparation to apply to Pomona.
The College’s selection process will continue to be thorough and comprehensive, says Assistant Vice President and Director of Admissions Adam Sapp. “It has always been our goal to admit students who we know will flourish at Pomona—making this test optional policy permanent does not change that.”
Sapp adds, “At Pomona, test scores are just one factor out of many to help admissions understand the academic preparation of the applicant. Other components include grades, rigor of curriculum, recommendation letters and exam scores such as AP scores, in addition to factors like extra-curricular activities and essays to help understand who applicants are outside of the classroom.”
The College’s admissions and financial aid committee, which was instrumental in leading the conversation around Pomona’s testing policy, will revisit the impact of the College’s move to test-optional in five years, in the academic year 2028-29.