Articles

Proponents of test-optional admissions claim that by not seeing standardised scores, a college can select a more diverse student body. But how can seeing less information help a college with its decisions? This column argues that test-optional policies may be driven by social pressure on college admissions. The authors model outcomes for a college and society where the college imputes (assigns) a test score to students who do not submit scores. A ban on affirmative action may result in more colleges going ‘test optional’ or ‘test blind’.

Apply Now for the Research Program happening at Columbia University this summer: Writing the History of Covid-19: Lessons for the Next Pandemic. Read more here.