ANN ARBOR, MI - This fall, prospective students applying to the University of Michigan will no longer need to complete the optional writing component of the SAT or the ACT.
Following in the footsteps of other institutions like Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Stanford, UM announced it was eliminating the writing component when the application goes live on Aug. 1.
The SAT's switch to an evidence-based reading and writing section in 2016, which combines the test scores of reading and writing into one common score, was a factor in the decision to make providing the score optional, said UM Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Kedra Ishop.
The university also requires applicants to submit multiple writing samples to the UM-specific admissions application, which was another factor in the decision to remove the SAT or ACT writing component, Ishop said.
"There was some overlap of the new and old exam in the first year and now virtually all submissions are from the (redesigned) SAT," Ishop said.
UM applications are not tied to standardized testing designs. It requires one short response essay and two long response essays, with additional requirements for students applying to multiple programs.
UM still requires prospective students to submit an SAT or ACT score, and removing the score submissions from the application is not under consideration, Ishop said.
According to the University Record, the SAT added an essay requirement in 2005. The ACT added an optional writing section that same year. U-M adopted those requirements for applicants in the summer of 2006.
Hundreds of colleges and universities, including the University of Chicago, have done away with requiring applicants to submit their SAT or ACT scores on applications.
UM currently requires applicants to submit their high school transcript, school report, which includes cumulative GPA and class rank, and one teacher evaluation, along with a $75 application fee.