First group of perspective students applied under ACT-optional policy

DePaul's test-optional admissions policy is underway, and as a result, the climate is slowly starting to change—maybe for the better.

This policy now allow prospective students to opt-out of submitting ACT/SAT scores with their applications, and instead turn over pre-determined essay questions to the university.

Although this option is open to all applicants, not everyone chooses to forego the normal addition of an ACT/SAT score with their application. Yasmin Gentry, a senior at Naperville Central applied to DePaul for the 2012-2013 academic year.

"I submitted my SAT scores to DePaul. Even though this was an option, I thought that submitting them would help my application, especially with consideration to merit scholarships," said Gentry.

Gentry thinks that DePaul's policy of offering essay questions in place of ACT/SAT scores is a beneficial option for some students..

"I know people who aren't very good standardized test takers, and their abilities totally outweigh the number they receive on their score report," she said. "For this reason, I think it's good that some universities allow a test-optional opportunity. Still, I think test scores are a pretty important factor that students should include in their application if they can."

Ayesha Habib, also a senior at Naperville Central, agrees with Gentry that the policy is a good one, yet she still chose to submit her test scores along with her application to DePaul.

"I think it's a good step forward. I had difficulty matching my GPA (4.2) with my ACT (29.) The ACT is not a reflection to see how smart you are, it's a reflection to see if you are good test taker," said Habib.

Incoming freshman DePaul student Alyson Boeckh felt confident with her ACT score, and submitted along with her application, but she knows many others who decided to go the other route.

"One of my best friends applied [and took advantage of] the test optional policy because he was not confident in his ACT score, says Boeckh. "Instead he filled out the essays, and he got in."

According to Jon Boeckenstedt, the assistant vice president for Policy and Planning in Enrollment Management and Marketing, there has been an 18 percent increase in applicants for Fall 2012. Among the applicants, 10 percent have opted for test-optional.

Additionally, Boeckenstedt said DePaul is seeing a rise in prospective students with higher test scores, despite opposition that claimed test-optional would hurt DePaul's academic reputation. For example, applicants with a score of 28 or higher on the ACT have increased 10 percent, while those who scored 24-27 have increased only nine percent.

Test-optional also seems to be contributing to DePaul's diversity, with the amount of applicants from different states and minority groups also increasing.

"It really speaks to making DePaul more visible in the region," Boeckenstedt said.

So far, he said, the policy is more or less going according to plan. However, he added that there have been a few surprises. Some applicants have unintentionally completed two applications, while others have attempted to change the method they used in the middle of the process. Boeckenstedt said DePaul has communicated with these students and fixed the problems quickly.

"I wouldn't call those snags," he said. "I'd call them leg-ups."

Despite the patterns unfolding, DePaul has yet to review all test-optional applications. According to Boeckenstedt, it will take more time than applications with test scores, particularly because test-optional students are required to submit essay responses.

"They'll have to have all of their essays read and evaluated," he said. "We have admitted some who are outstanding."

From there, DePaul will have to wait until these students begin receiving grades next year to truly evaluate the effect of the policy.

"It plants a seed, and you just have to wait for it to sprout and take root," Boeckenstedt said.

Even though DePaul is lacking data for the moment, there is evidence outside of the university that suggests test-optional could be successful.

DePaul passed the first application deadline November 15 and will not have complete data for the incoming class and whether they applied with or without an ACT score until after the second and final application deadline February 1.

Assistant Directory of Admission Christina Drescher said different groups of people from the university community read the applications short answers. They range from administrators, graduate students, faculty and staff. Some of them receive compensation for reading the short answers.

Drescher said those who do read the short essays are not able to see any other information on a potential student's application.