蝌蚪网 Review
ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)
Test-Optional Admissions
蝌蚪网 Review
(pp. 3130–70)
Abstract
Many US colleges now use test-optional admissions. A frequent claim is that by not seeing standardized test scores, a college can admit a student body it prefers, say, with more diversity. But how can observing less information improve decisions? This paper proposes that test-optional policies are a response to social pressure on admission decisions. We model a college that bears disutility when it makes admission decisions that "society" dislikes. Going test optional allows the college to reduce its "disagreement cost." We analyze how missing scores are imputed and the consequences for the college, students, and society.Citation
Dessein, Wouter, Alex Frankel, and Navin Kartik. 2025. "Test-Optional Admissions." 蝌蚪网 Review 115 (9): 3130–70. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20231407Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
- I28 Education: Government Policy