No Scores? No Problem—Why Columbia’s Test-Optional Policy Still Stands

If you’ve been following Ivy League admissions news lately, you’ve probably noticed a trend — one by one, schools are bringing back SAT and ACT requirements. Princeton just joined Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Penn, and Cornell in reinstating testing. That leaves Columbia standing alone as the only Ivy still indefinitely test-optional.

So, what does that mean for you if you’re thinking about applying?

A Different Approach

When Columbia first went test-optional in 2020, it made sense. Testing centers were closing, schedules were unpredictable, and fairness meant flexibility. But even after other Ivies brought testing back, Columbia chose to stay the course — not as a loophole, but as a reflection of what it values most.

Columbia believes no single score can define you. Its admissions team calls their review “purposeful and nuanced,” built to see students as multi-faceted individuals rather than data points. Academic rigor still matters — how you’ve challenged yourself, how you’ve grown — but context matters just as much. They’re looking at where you come from, what opportunities you’ve had, and what you’ve done with them.

An internal review found that going test-optional didn’t weaken the academic performance of admitted students. That reinforced something the university already knew: real potential shows up through curiosity, consistency, and drive — not just through testing.

So while Columbia will gladly consider strong SAT or ACT results, they’re only one part of a much larger picture. What they truly want is to understand you — how you think, what excites you, and how you’ll contribute to a community where ideas collide and curiosity leads the way.

But Here’s the Catch

“Test-optional” doesn’t mean “test-blind.” If you have strong scores, Columbia will absolutely consider them — and they can help. Scores offer another signal of academic readiness, especially if your school’s grading scale is unusual or your transcript doesn’t fully reflect your rigor.

So instead of asking, “Do I have to test?” try asking, “Would my scores strengthen my application?”

If the answer is yes, send them. If not, you have the rare freedom to focus your time where it counts most — refining essays, clarifying your academic interests, and showing the curiosity Columbia values.

How to Play It Smart

Even if Columbia is your dream school, remember that most other Ivies — and top universities in general — now expect test scores again. You wouldn’t want to bet everything on one school by overlooking standardized testing. Preparing for the SAT or ACT keeps your options open, strengthens your readiness, and gives you flexibility as admissions policies continue to evolve.

Columbia’s test-optional stance offers freedom — but that same flexibility makes strategy essential. Without a required score, students must be deliberate about how they demonstrate readiness: through academic rigor, steady growth, and essays that reveal genuine curiosity and authenticity.

If Columbia is on your list, begin planning early. The freedom of test-optional admissions rewards those who think ahead and approach their story with purpose. In a landscape where requirements shift but excellence endures, foresight remains your greatest advantage. Start planning with Ivy Link today!