Act scores

ACT scores will become less important for some future applicants to DePaul University.

The DePaulia reports that a test-optional application process will be implemented from beginning of next year. This test-optional policy will allow applicants to choose between submitting ACT scores, and other standardized test scores, and answering a series of essay questions. According to the site, athletes, international and homeschooled students will still have to submit test scores to the university.

ACT scores and other standardized test scores will be submitted after enrollment, but it is implemented for research purposes only and will not affect those who have already been accepted. This is to help fight the idea that ACT and SAT scores are all that matter when applying to a college. As the site details, “Jon Boeckenstedt, associate vice president of DePaul’s Enrollment Policy and Planning, the school’s ultimate goal is to let people and students know that their four years in high school mean more than four hours on Saturday morning.” 

A spokesman for ACT media relations, Ed Colby, believes that the ACT is beneficial to students and colleges alike, “ACT scores are a standardized measure of academic readiness that allow students to show colleges how prepared they are to succeed in firstyear courses at that institution.”

DePaul has been considered on the test-optional program for about five years, and is currently launching it as a four-year pilot project, during that time success of the project will be measured.

Applicants for the fall 2012 semester will be the first eligible to opt out of supplying ACT scores for acceptance.