Education

Dartmouth College Reinstates SAT Requirement for Admission, Influencing Prospective Students and Educational Services

Published February 25, 2024

In a notable shift within the higher education landscape, Dartmouth College, a prestigious member of the Ivy League and an institution recognized globally for its academic excellence, has announced a significant change to its admissions protocol. Beginning with the cohort applying for entrance to the Class of 2029, Dartmouth will be reinstating the SAT standardized testing requirement for its undergraduate admissions process. This development marks a departure from the recent trend where many universities suspended SAT and ACT requirements, especially during the pandemic conditions that challenged traditional testing environments.

Implications for Students and Educational Service Providers

The reintroduction of the SAT as an admission criterion by Dartmouth underscores the value the institution places on standardized assessments as a measure of academic readiness and potential. Prospective students aiming for admission to Dartmouth will once again need to consider their SAT scores as a critical component of their application portfolios. This policy update may also have broader implications within the education sector, potentially influencing other colleges' admissions strategies and affecting services that provide test preparation. In particular, educational service companies, such as those represented by the stock ticker DUOL, may observe an increased demand for their offerings as students seek resources to improve their standardized test results.

Impact on the Educational Services Market

For companies operating within the educational and test preparation market, such policy changes by leading academic institutions can serve as significant business drivers. The decision by Dartmouth might encourage a renewed focus on standardized test preparation, aiding firms that specialize in providing such services. The market for educational services, particularly test preparation offerings, could see a rise in engagement from students seeking to maximize their performance on the SAT, therefore potentially affecting the performance and outlook of related stocks including DUOL.

Dartmouth, SAT, Admissions