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Millersville U. to make SAT/21ACT test scores optional

MILLERSVILLE, Pa.(WPMT) – Millersville University wants to make itself more accessible to Lancaster County residents seeking a college degree.  The school...
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MILLERSVILLE, Pa.(WPMT) – Millersville University wants to make itself more accessible to Lancaster County residents seeking a college degree.  The school is poised to become the first university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to make SAT test scores optional when students apply for admission. It’s part of a pilot program called “Lancaster Connection” that may be expanded to all applicants in the future.

“Millersville is committed to providing students in our local community with access to an affordable, high-quality education. Students in Lancaster County have historically demonstrated remarkable academic ability, and this initiative will provide access to an even greater population of academically talented students whose strengths might lie more so in their coursework, academic rigor and GPA than in their standardized test scores,” said Brian Hazlett, vice president of enrollment management at Millersville.

While a trend setter within PASSHE, Millersville joins a growing number of schools nationwide that are making SAT and ACT test scores optional for admission. According to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing more than 815 four-year colleges and universities across the U.S. do not use the SAT or ACT to make admissions decisions about a substantial number of their incoming freshman classes.

“We will shift our emphasis to an applicant’s grade point average (GPA), specific courses taken in high school, extracurricular activities and their essay when selecting the freshman class for the fall of 2015,” explained Katy Ferrier, director of admissions. “Students from Lancaster County will have the option of submitting their scores, but it will not be required.”

Students from Lancaster County public and private high schools will be able to choose whether or not to submit test scores and they will be guaranteed admission to Millersville if they meet one of the following criteria:
• Obtain a high school GPA of 3.5 or greater at the conclusion of their junior year in high school or;
• Rank in the top 10 percent of their class with a high school GPA of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of their junior year of high school.

“We recommend that applicants with at least an 1100 SAT (on a 1600 scale) or a 21 ACT, submit their test scores for scholarship consideration,” said Hazlett.

For more information contact Millersville University admissions at 1-800-MU-ADMIT, 717-872-3371 or admissions@millersville.edu.

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