CLEVELAND — ACT scores in Ohio have been on the decline. In 2014, the average composite score was 22, but in 2023 it was 19.2. Now, some universities aren’t even looking at ACT scores anymore for their applicants.
Adam Smith, the vice president of enrollment for Ohio Wesleyan University, said that OWU doesn’t require applicants to submit their test scores.
“We do the holistic approach where we do take the time, we’ll read the application, we’ll read the essays, the letters of recommendation,” he said.
Smith said that the school stopped requiring an ACT or SAT scores back in 2014.
“We really just wanted to take into consideration the student as a whole and we wanted to take their work outside of the classroom,” he said.
Cathy Graham, who works for College Now of Greater Cleveland, explained that she believes every student should take the ACT.
“These tests create opportunities and I don’t think students are aware of it,” she said.
College Now helps prepare students for the ACT and SAT. The group that administers the exam said that ACT scores across the country have reached the lowest levels in over 30 years. Graham expressed that she thinks part of the reason is because students don’t care as much about their scores anymore.
“Because of COVID so many schools have moved to test-optional, the stakes of taking this test have decreased for students so a lot of them are like ‘eh I’ll just try it and if I do okay I do okay and if I don’t it won’t matter,’” she said.
Graham said that the test is not the end all be all, but that it does give students an advantage.
Katie Priefer
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