Suspension of Standardized Testing Requirement
Wellesley has temporarily suspended its requirement that first-year applicants submit SAT or ACT scores given the fact that many high school students are unable to sit for standardized tests due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means testing will be optional for first-year applicants applying to the College for entry in the fall of 2021. If an applicant wishes to have their standardized test scores considered as one component of their application, we will consider those scores in a nuanced and contextual way alongside all other application credentials. If applicants choose not to submit standardized test scores, we will evaluate their application in a nuanced and contextual way without scores. Our holistic, committee-based application review process gives us the flexibility to evaluate each applicant’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments within individual context. For more information on the Test Optional Policy, please read our Standardized Testing FAQs.
Suspension of Regular Decision with Early Evaluation
We are suspending the Regular Decision with Early Evaluation option for first-year applicants to the College for entry in the fall of 2021, in light of the aforementioned change to our standardized testing requirement and an understanding that many secondary schools have changed coursework and grading for their students. We believe this will allow us to provide a more in-depth, equitable, and consistent application review process to all Regular Decision applicants, enabling us to review all Regular Decision applications synchronously and over a longer period of time.
Change of Regular Decision Deadline to January 8
Since the Office of Admission will require more time to consider all Regular Decision applications, we have changed the Regular Decision deadline to January 8 (previously January 15) so that we can continue to thoughtfully review all Regular Decision applications and release admission decisions in a timely manner.