Office of Admissions Announces Test-Optional Admissions Policy

The Office of Admissions at Converse College announces that it has implemented a test-optional admissions policy. Effective for the fall 2020 admissions cycle, students interested in attending Converse will not be required to submit standardized test scores as part of their application.

“When Converse announced our tuition reset in 2014, we demonstrated a commitment to the affordability and accessibility of a private, traditional, career-focused education,” says Jamie A. Grant, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Converse College. “Converse’s test-optional admissions process will broaden access for those high-achieving students who have been underrepresented at colleges and universities.” “Based on recent data, standardized tests do not accurately represent a student’s potential for success,” Grant continues. “At Converse, we take a personalized and holistic approach to our students’ education and it only makes sense that we apply that approach to our admissions process as well.”

Students applying to Converse will be evaluated based on the rigor of the high school and courses that are taken, and Converse will reserve the right to request additional information should a transcript indicate a student may not be successful. To help continue studying how predictive standardized tests influence first-year success, Converse will request test scores of applicants after all admissions and financial aid decisions are made and will track the results of that information as well as retention and graduation rates.

With this announcement, Converse joins more than 1000 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. that are test-optional, including Furman, Wofford, Wake Forest and the University of Chicago.

For more information, visit https://www.converse.edu/test-optional-information/