Top U.S. colleges this week signaled renewed attention to standardized-testing rules for freshmen admission, with Yale and Columbia publishing updates to their undergraduate testing policies while public debate over the SAT and ACT intensifies. The announcements arrive amid commentary that the SAT is making an unwelcome return and internal pressure at some campuses — including calls from University of California faculty to reinstate testing for STEM applicants.
For students outside the United States, including those in Jordan and the broader Middle East, the immediate effect is increased uncertainty in planning: test-optional windows can close or reopen quickly, and policies may differ across schools and departments. Admissions officers have cited concerns about equity, reliability and STEM preparedness; simultaneously, technical issues such as a recent ACT scoring problem in Wisconsin underline the operational risks that can alter a student's reported performance.
What students should do now: keep preparing. Continue pursuing required English exams (IELTS/TOEFL) and, unless a target school explicitly says otherwise, complete an SAT or ACT sitting if you can do so before application deadlines. Monitor each university’s admissions page for final policy text, and plan score-reporting lead time — schedules for Early Decision/Early Action (typically November) and Regular Decision (typically January) mean you should aim to have scores submitted several weeks before those deadlines. If you encounter a scoring error (like the ACT incident), notify the test agency immediately and inform admissions offices where you apply.
Students also should strengthen non-test parts of their applications: grades, teacher recommendations, personal statements, extracurriculars, and any research or portfolio materials for STEM and arts programs. For candidates considering alternate pathways, studying medicine or dentistry in Georgia (Batumi & Tbilisi) remains a practical option with English-language, WHO/EU-recognized programs often priced from about $4,000 per year. For students staying in Jordan, remember partner benefits: applicants applying through Shatnawi to Applied Science Private University get a 10% registration discount, to University of Jordan 20%, and to JUST 25%.
Shatnawi for College Admissions & Academic Consultations can help students interpret individual campus policy pages, schedule test dates, and prioritize application components; we offer SAT/ACT and IELTS prep, scholarship matching, and document equivalency services (70 JOD). For personalized guidance on deadlines and test strategy, contact us on WhatsApp at +962791888699 or visit shatnawiedu.com.