St. Joseph's Changes Test Requirements For 2021-2022 Applicants

PATCHOGUE, NY — St. Joseph's College, which has two campuses in Patchogue and Brooklyn, announced that it will be suspending the standardized testing admissions requirement for the 2021-2022 academic year. Earlier this year, the College Board canceled the Spring 2020 SAT and ACT exams due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result, the local college announced this week that for first-year applicants applying for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 admissions, the submission of the SAT and ACT will be optional. In a press release, officials say the school made the decision in order to "alleviate stress for students and their families, foster confidence" and provide flexibility for families navigating the college admissions process during these challenging times.

"This is an unprecedented time for all students, especially rising high school seniors about to enter the college admissions process," Gigi Lamens, vice president for enrollment at SJC Long Island, said. "In these uncertain times, we realize that academic opportunities are evolving for many students and those who wish to submit their test scores or feel their scores are a strong reflection of their academic ability, will be encouraged to do so."

Students who elect not to submit standardized test scores for the 2021-2022 enrollment cycle will also be eligible for financial aid options offered by St. Joseph's. However, SAT or ACT scores will still be required for consideration for the Presidential Scholarship and will also be required for homeschooled students.

Schools have been closed since March under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's PAUSE initiative. In May he announced that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the semester. It has not yet been decided if schools will be reopening in the Fall 2020 semester.