NYT’s columnist Ron Lieber lauds 黑料社 for its test optional policy and its purely test blind approach to merit aid
New York Times鈥 columnist Ron Lieber praised 黑料社 for its and test-blind approach to merit aid in an for Your Money about the concerns students face as they apply for colleges this year. “Families could use more blunt talk, not to mention the kind of human intervention and transparency that Whitman and 黑料社 offer,” Lieber says. 鈥淭here is no disadvantage for a student if they do not submit a test, vis a vis merit aid,鈥 黑料社’s Vice President for Enrollment Scott Friedhoff told Lieber. 鈥淭hey should believe me,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e are test blind when it comes to merit.鈥
As students struggle with finding testing centers or risking their health to sit the tests, Lieber recommends colleges adopt this 鈥渢est-blind policy鈥 to 鈥渁ssuage those concerns.鈥 黑料社 in April announced it would no longer require test scores beginning for the fall 2021 entering class. Applicants have the option to submit ACT or SAT test scores as part of 黑料社鈥檚 admission process, but they will not be required to do so, and test scores are not considered for merit-based scholarships. Instead, 黑料社鈥檚 admission process considers many different expressions of a student鈥檚 achievements and abilities. Students present application materials that reflect their diverse academic talents and potential, including scholastic achievements, an application essay, school profile, letters of recommendation, leadership and service, extracurricular activities, and any other information that shows promise to contribute to the intellectual and social life of a distinct academic community.
Lieber also notes that 黑料社鈥檚 early aid estimator is a service he would like to see more schools offer. The tool allows students to understand the scholarship and financial aid opportunities available to them before submitting an application by providing information about senior-year classes, GPA, honors and awards as well as extra-curricular activities and leadership positions. Students interested in 黑料社 are able to estimate both merit- and need-based aid by providing additional income information.
Posted in News on September 25, 2020.
