As we entered 2020, roughly one-third of the schools in our coverage universe offered some form of test-optional admissions. That figure cleared 70 percent in June and is now hovering at 90 percent with the holdouts largely in the South, particularly the public universities in Flordia and Georgia.

To help you keep up with the changes, we're actively tracking test-optional policies for several popular institutions we cover. As always, the definition of "test-optional" varies by institution and often has strings attached so pay close attention to the details.

Click on Continue Reading to see our list of test-optional schools and the type of test-optional policy they employ.  For your convenience, we've included admit rates, test score ranges and links to each school's standardized test policy to help you find suitable candidates for your college list.

College Kickstart subscribers, this is automatically updated and visible as part of the requirements view.

Combined BS/MD programs are available for talented high school seniors strongly committed to careers in medicine. Institutions offering combined BS/MD programs include Rice University, Northwestern University, Boston University and Case Western Reserve University.

To help you navigate your options, check out our list of combined BS/MD programs. We've included admission profiles where available, program lengths and features, as well as a link to each program's web page for the details.

Click on Continue Reading to see our list of combined BS/MD medical school programs now.

Here's another useful post from Will Dix regarding the need for clarity from colleges when it comes to test-optional admissions and when to take advantage of it.  The post, entitled Hofstra Opts For Application Clarity Over Obscurity (Other Schools Should, Too), commends Hofstra for providing unusually clear recommendations for when it makes sense to submit test scores and when it doesn't.  

Click here to check out the article and recommendations.  We think you may find this helpful as you consider what to do for test-optional schools on your list.

In search of schools with generous merit scholarship programs?

Look no further.  

Here we've compiled a list of competitive 4-year institutions that offer merit aid to 20% or more of undergraduates.  Merit awards are typically not based on financial need but rather on academic performance and other qualities deemed desirable by the institution.  As such, they can make college more affordable for academically gifted students—especially those that are unlikely to qualify for need-based financial aid. 

Most of these schools automatically consider you for merit scholarships when you submit your application.  

A new release of College Kickstart is now available!

This release features:

• An SAT score converter to help you reconcile new and old SAT scores  
• Resident and non-resident admission rates for situations where the difference materially impacts how a school is categorized in College Kickstart
• An updated affordability panel with graduation rates
• Expanded school coverage

Click on Continue Reading for the scoop.