Efforts on the Right Track

University admissions officials report applications for first-year, undergraduate students applying to enter for fall 2016 rose an unprecedented 28 percent over the previous year. As of Jan. 15, GW received 25,431 applications from students who represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 142 countries. The university received 19,833 total applications for fall 2015.

Students who chose to apply test-optional accounted for about 20 percent of applications. Officials believe that the university’s new test-optional policy was one factor in the rise in applications. Other factors, including the admissions office’s targeted outreach to school counselors, a more personalized and data-driven approach to recruitment and a revamped campus visit experience highlighting the university’s exceptional academic programs are all believed to have contributed to the increase.

One element that influenced GW’s decision to adopt a test-optional admissions policy was a concern that outstanding, academically talented students who did not earn high scores on the SAT or ACT may have felt discouraged from applying. At the same time, studies have indicated that a sustained commitment to a rigorous course of study and exceptional performance in high school academic course work are the best indicators of how a student will fare in college.

«We adopted our test-optional policy to strengthen and diversify an already outstanding applicant pool by reaching out to exceptional students who have been underrepresented at selective colleges and universities,» said GW President Steven Knapp. «These initial results suggest that our efforts are on the right track.»