Admissions Blog

Undergraduate Admissions Uncensored

University of Arizona Pushes Test Optional Goal Posts Even Further

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When high school students apply to the University of Arizona for the 2022-23 academic year, SAT and/or ACT scores will not be required for admission or merit aid consideration. In addition to university admissions, neither the ACT or SAT will be necessary for application to Arizona’s selective academic colleges, including its Honors College.

How will University of Arizona award merit scholarships? Merit scholarships for the upcoming academic year will be awarded based on students’ core, unweighted GPA (Core GPA is based on ABOR’s academic coursework competency requirements) through their 6th semester of high school.

What if students want to submit their test scores? If they like, students can still submit test scores to supplement their application for admission. These scores may help clear any application coursework deficiencies and will be used to help, not hinder, an admission decision; however, including them is entirely optional.

How will course rigor be recognized? Arizona values the rigorous curriculum that students take to prepare for collegiate academics. Through the application process students have the opportunity to report a level of rigor for the sixteen core competencies and may also be eligible for the Dean’s Exemplary Award.

When can students begin applying for admission? University of Arizona’s application for summer/fall 2022 will open in just a matter of weeks – July to be exact. Arizona offers Rolling Admissions, which means that the sooner students apply the sooner they will receive their admissions decisions. Every year I work with students who apply to Arizona in August and get an admissions decision no later that early October, and every year some of my students are be happy to learn that all they have to do is apply to Arizona to be considered for one of its merit scholarships. No extra applications are required.

Rolling Admission vs. Regular Decision

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When deciding how to apply to a particular college, many students look for that college’s final application deadline, and then, working backwards in their minds, such students decide that they simply need to get all of their application materials into that college by that application deadline date. What such students fail to realize is that many (but not all) colleges that have such Regular Decision application deadlines also review applications and make admissions decisions on an ongoing basis well before their application deadlines.

Don’t be Regular if you can help it! What I mean by that statement is this: while many colleges have Regular Decision application deadlines (usually in January through March) many of these same colleges will review applications and make decisions on such applications well before their drop-dead deadlines (in most cases Regular Decision deadlines, but in other cases these are known as simply “Application Deadlines” at colleges where the deadlines extend very late – approximately late spring through summer). Don’t treat such colleges as Regular Decision for your purposes. Treat them as Rolling!

When you apply Regular Decision you are applying by the college’s Regular deadline. Students can apply to more than one college Regular Decision. Regular Decision admissions decisions tend to be received by students between March and April. When a college is Rolling Admissions, it reviews applications on an ongoing basis and accepts students on a space available basis. Students can apply to more than one college Rolling Admissions as well.

Yet, many of the same colleges that will let you throw in an application by a Regular deadline also review applications by either an earlier Priority or Early (Action or Decision) deadline OR are simply Rolling Admissions colleges.

Of course you would want to apply to a college that offers both Priority and Regular deadlines by the Priority deadline! After all, what’s the definition of priority?! Early Decision can come with major pros and cons. Early Action is generally a good idea for students to consider as well.

But in the case of colleges that offer Rolling Admissions – again, when a college reviews applications as they are received and makes decisions on an on-going basis – it is always best to apply to any such college as soon as you have decided on applying to that college. Some Rolling Admissions colleges don’t have any application deadlines, but a good number of Rolling Admissions colleges do have firm deadlines. Which means they are both Regular Decision and Rolling Admissions colleges. In such a scenario, you want to get your application in ASAP.

Some examples include Indiana University (which has a Regular deadline of February 1, but starts rolling out admissions decisions as early as September; it should also be noted that IU has an EA deadline of November 1), University of Arizona (Regular deadline is February 14, but I regularly have students who have gotten into Arizona by mid-September of their senior years), and Penn State University (which has a Regular deadline of November 30, but also is famous for rolling out decisions in tranche after tranche starting in November; like IU, Penn State also has an EA deadline these days of November 1). Many private colleges also roll out their decisions starting in either the fall or early winter.

The bottom line is this: always work your hardest to determine as early as possible whether colleges on your list review applications on a Rolling basis and make admissions decisions on a space available basis – even if these colleges have firm Regular Decision application deadlines. Colleges that do this are often objectively easier to get into the earlier in the admissions cycle that you can apply. So apply as early as possible if you can put together a strong application early in the fall. Other than Instant Admissions, my favorite way for students to apply to college is Rolling Admissions, and now you can see why. It’s a great feeling knowing you have gotten into one or more colleges by Thanksgiving of your senior year in high school without having to commit to attending such colleges until much later in your senior year (usually by May 1).

So, embrace the superficial contradiction and celebrate colleges that are both Regular Decision and Rolling Admissions because in so doing you will always treat such colleges as Rolling at heart.

September 2019 Updates from the University of Arizona

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University of Arizona’s admissions team has sent a September update to college counselors that is chock-full of news from the Tucson-based public university.

In terms of “need to know” information,” Arizona is sharing news that its “admission decision letters are starting to hit mailboxes all across the country.” As with other rolling admission college, the sooner a student applies to University of Arizona  the better because Arizona will roll out admissions decisions in only a matter of weeks after a student’s application file becoming complete. Students interested in University of Arizona can apply here.

Meanwhile, The Arizona Tuition Award,University of Arizona’s merit scholarship opportunity for non-resident students, is also worth noting. As long as students apply and submit their official SAT and/or ACT scores directly from the testing agency by May 1, 2020, they will be reviewed for Arizona’s highest merit scholarships. The Arizona Tuition Award looks at unweighted, 6th semester GPA in the 16 core courses and official SAT or ACT scores. Check out Arizona’s transparent scholarship grid below to see what seniors can qualify for. See other scholarships students may be able to receive here. 

In terms of “good to know information,” Arizona’s admissions team encourages students and their families to visit UA’s storied campus and it “pleased to offer an assortment of events that showcase why the University of Arizona is unlike any other university in the world!” Arizona’s campus Ambassador tours are a great start to get a true Wildcat experience and are offered Monday through Saturday throughout the year. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about the University of Arizona’s curriculum, campus life, and the admissions process with an insightful tour hosted by a current Wildcat.

Meanwhile, Arizona Experience dates are also now available for sign ups. Arizona Experience is a full day, conference style event where students can learn more about the University of Arizona academic and extracurricular opportunities, connect with student services and organizations, enjoy a free lunch in one of many Student Union dining locations, tour a residence hall and more. Arizona Experience is a very popular event and fills up rather quickly. Advanced reservations are required in order to attend Arizona Experience. This event is free for all prospective students and guests are $20 each.