2021 Enrollment is Now Test Score Optional

Standardized test scores are now optional for students applying for 2021 enrollment to The King’s College, making an education at King’s accessible to students who were unable to take the SAT or ACT due to COVID-19.

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Standardized test scores are now optional for students applying for 2021 enrollment to The King’s College, making an education at King’s accessible to students who were unable to take the SAT or ACT due to COVID-19.

In previous years, admittance to King’s required a high school GPA and scores from the ACT, SAT, or Classical Learning Test. Because of the pandemic, many ACT and SAT test dates were cancelled, leaving students without a test score for their college applications.

Assistant Vice President of Admissions Noah Hunter says that this challenge presented an opportunity. In place of a test score, students will now submit a writing sample and complete a 20-minute entrance interview. High school transcripts (and for transfer students, college transcripts) are still required.

Hunter says, “We’re using the 2021 application as an opportunity to make the application process more holistic, reflecting students’ personal and spiritual lives in addition to their academics. This will provide a more complete picture, helping us to better identify students who believe in the King’s mission and who will thrive here.”

Entrance interviews and writing samples have long been a staple on the applications for transfer and international students, and Director of Recruitment Katelyn Tamm has seen first-hand the value these elements provide.

“The entrance interview is an excellent opportunity for students to shine,” Tamm says. “Students share their stories and tell us why they’re a great fit for King’s, and we get to see who they are beyond their grades and scores.”

Additionally, Tamm says that the writing sample provides valuable information to the admissions team with minimal time investment on the students’ part. “We ask students to submit a paper they’ve previously written that best represents their writing skills. Our Leadership Scholarship essay can also double as the writing sample and earn students additional financial aid.”

For the students enrolling in spring or fall 2021, the merit-based Presidential Scholarship will be awarded on the basis of transcripts. Students who have SAT, ACT, or CLT scores may still submit them for enrollment consideration but they will not be factored into scholarship calculations.

Provost Dr. Mark Hijleh says, “The ability to communicate in a conversation and in writing is a key outcome of a liberal arts education. Including these components more substantially in the application process will offer valuable insight into students’ preparedness to thrive and grow further in the mission-driven, academically rigorous environment of The King’s College.”


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