With Test Scores Out of the Admissions Process, Can Artificial Intelligence Help Fill the Void?

With most U.S. colleges and universities waiving SAT and ACT requirements – some making the move as a temporary response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while others, like the University of California system, upending the requirement permanently – the challenge for many institutions will be how to rethink the applicant evaluation process without this long-held and highly weighted data point.

Some schools are thinking outside the box to address the void, such as asking applicants impromptu interview questions or the University of California’s quest to develop its own substitute test that it hopes will avoid the societal criticisms associated with the SAT.

However, a growing number of institutions are exploring new ways to utilize their student data to gain new insights about prospective students, all with the aid of big data tools and emerging artificial intelligence – or AI – technology...