INDIANAPOLIS — The pandemic is changing one more way of life, including how students are accepted into college. More universities are no longer requiring students to take either a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) exam in order to be accepted.
In March 2020, the University of Indianapolis decided to do away with test score requirements. It now only requires high school transcripts.
13News asked Katie Ashcraft, Executive Director of Admissions for UIndy, whether the SAT and ACT are still recommended.
"Really, I believe it's up to the student. If they're wanting to take the ACT or SAT, it's really going to be up to the decision that they make for their college search process," Ashcraft said.
Some schools still require the tests for scholarships or to get into certain programs.
"When they [students] start looking and doing research like what colleges they want to apply to, they really need to take a look at what does their test policy mean?" Ashcraft said.
In addition to high school transcripts, UIndy also looks at how students interact with the university to decide who is accepted.
Ashcraft said if students had some rough patches, the school will ask for more information to get to know the students as a whole.
"Before, it was more of, 'What are the requirements? Did you meet them?' So, now it's, 'We're getting to know these students on a personal basis.' So, we're really making sure that we're understanding where the student's coming from, especially these past few years," Ashcraft said.
In the meantime, Ashcraft said Indiana universities are seeing fewer male students going to college.
It's a result of a nationwide trend stemming from the 2008 recession and fewer births. UIndy is one of many colleges that have been planning for fewer students in 2024.
Their focus is building relationships now.
"What type of student can we get here that will be successful, and we can help them become productive members of society and students that we can help find their fit in the community as well," Ashcraft said.
Ashcraft said Indiana is one of the states that will have a significant drop off in male students for an unknown reason.