April 10, 2026

List-o-mania! Schools that require test scores + superscoring schools!

Schools that require the ACT or SAT

Auburn University
Brown University
California Institute of Technology
Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Florida A&M University
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida International University
Florida State University
Gallaudet University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Southern University
Georgia State University
Harvard College
Johns Hopkins University
Kennesaw State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mercer University
New College of Florida
Ohio State University—Columbus
Princeton University
Purdue University—West Lafayette
Stanford University
The Cooper Union
Thomas Aquinas College
United States Air Force Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Military Academy
United States Naval Academy
University of Alabama
University of Central Florida
University of Dallas
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Memphis
University of Miami
University of Pennsylvania
University of South Florida
University of Tennessee
University of Texas—Austin
Yale University

Schools that Superscore the ACT and SAT

College or University SAT ACT
Abilene Christian University Yes Yes
Adelphi University Yes Yes
Agnes Scott College Yes No
Albion College Yes Yes
Allegheny College Yes Yes
American University Yes Yes
Amherst College Yes Yes
Appalachian State University Yes Yes
Arizona State University—Tempe No No
Auburn University Yes Yes
Augustana College No No
Austin College Yes Yes
Babson College Yes Yes
Baldwin Wallace University Yes Yes
Bard College Yes Yes
Barnard College Yes Yes
Bates College Yes Yes
Baylor University Yes Yes
Beloit College Yes Yes
Bennington College Yes Yes
Bentley University Yes Yes
Berea College Yes Yes
Berry College Yes No
Binghamton University—SUNY Yes Yes
Biola University Yes No
Birmingham-Southern College Yes Yes
Boston College Yes Yes
Boston University Yes Yes
Bowdoin College Yes Yes
Bradley University No No
Brandeis University Yes Yes
Brigham Young University—Provo No No
Brown University Yes Yes
Bryn Mawr College Yes No
Bucknell University Yes Yes
Butler University Yes Yes
California Institute of Technology Yes Yes
California Lutheran University Yes Yes
Carleton College Yes No
Carnegie Mellon University Yes No
Carroll College No No
Case Western Reserve University Yes Yes
Centre College Yes Yes
Chapman University Yes No
Christopher Newport University Yes No
Claremont McKenna College Yes Yes
Clark University Yes Yes
Clarkson University No No
Clemson University Yes Yes
Coe College No No
Colby College Yes Yes
Colgate University Yes Yes
College of Charleston Yes Yes
College of New Jersey Yes Yes
College of St. Benedict Yes Yes
College of the Holy Cross Yes Yes
College of William and Mary Yes Yes
College of Wooster Yes Yes
Colorado College Yes No
Colorado School of Mines Yes Yes
Colorado State University Yes Yes
Columbia University Yes Yes
Concordia College—Moorhead Yes Yes
Connecticut College Yes Yes
Cooper Union Yes Yes
Cornell College Yes Yes
Cornell University Yes Yes
Creighton University Yes Yes
CUNY—Baruch College Yes Yes
Dartmouth College Yes Yes
Davidson College Yes Yes
Denison University Yes Yes
DePaul University No No
DePauw University Yes Yes
Dickinson College Yes Yes
Drake University Yes Yes
Drew University Yes No
Drexel University Yes Yes
Drury University Yes Yes
Duke University Yes Yes
Duquesne University Yes Yes
Earlham College Yes Yes
Elmhurst College No No
Elon University Yes Yes
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Yes Yes
Emerson College Yes Yes
Emory University Yes Yes
Fairfield University Yes Yes
Florida Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Florida State University Yes Yes
Fordham University Yes Yes
Franklin and Marshall College Yes Yes
Furman University Yes Yes
Gallaudet University Yes Yes
George Mason University Yes No
George Washington University Yes Yes
Georgetown University Yes No
Georgia Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Gettysburg College Yes Yes
Gonzaga University Yes Yes
Goshen College Yes Yes
Goucher College Yes Yes
Grinnell College Yes Yes
Gustavus Adolphus College Yes Yes
Hamilton College Yes Yes
Hampden-Sydney College Yes Yes
Hampton University Yes No
Hanover College Yes Yes
Harvard University Yes No
Harvey Mudd College Yes Yes
Haverford College Yes Yes
Hendrix College Yes Yes
High Point University Yes Yes
Hillsdale College No No
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Yes Yes
Hofstra University Yes Yes
Hollins University Yes Yes
Hope College Yes Yes
Howard University Yes No
Illinois Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Illinois Wesleyan University No No
Indiana University—Bloomington Yes Yes
Iowa State University Yes Yes
Ithaca College Yes Yes
James Madison University Yes Yes
John Brown University No No
Johns Hopkins University Yes Yes
Kalamazoo College Yes Yes
Kenyon College Yes Yes
Knox College Yes Yes
Lafayette College Yes Yes
Lake Forest College Yes Yes
Lawrence University Yes Yes
Lehigh University Yes Yes
Lewis & Clark College Yes Yes
Lipscomb University No No
Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge Yes Yes
Loyola Marymount University Yes No
Loyola University Chicago Yes Yes
Loyola University Maryland Yes Yes
Luther College Yes No
Macalester College Yes Yes
Marist College Yes Yes
Marquette University Yes Yes
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Mercer University Yes Yes
Miami University—Oxford Yes Yes
Michigan State University No No
Michigan Technological University No No
Middlebury College Yes Yes
Millsaps College Yes Yes
Milwaukee School of Engineering No No
Mississippi State University Yes Yes
Missouri University of Science & Technology Yes Yes
Morehouse College Yes No
Mount Holyoke College Yes Yes
Muhlenberg College Yes Yes
New College of Florida Yes Yes
New Jersey Institute of Technology Yes Yes
New School No No
New York University Yes Yes
North Carolina State University—Raleigh Yes Yes
Northeastern University Yes Yes
Northwestern University Yes Yes
Oberlin College Yes Yes
Occidental College Yes Yes
Ohio State University—Columbus No No
Ohio University Yes No
Ohio Wesleyan University Yes Yes
Oklahoma State University No Yes
Oregon State University No No
Pacific Lutheran University Yes Yes
Pennsylvania State University—University Park No No
Pepperdine University Yes No
Pitzer College Yes Yes
Point Loma Nazarene University Yes Yes
Pomona College Yes Yes
Pratt Institute Yes Yes
Presbyterian College (SC) Yes Yes
Princeton University Yes No
Providence College Yes Yes
Purdue University—West Lafayette Yes Yes
Queens University of Charlotte Yes Yes
Quinnipiac University Yes No
Randolph-Macon College Yes Yes
Reed College Yes No
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Yes No
Rhode Island School of Design Yes Yes
Rhodes College Yes Yes
Rice University Yes Yes
Ripon College No No
Rochester Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Rollins College Yes No
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—New Brunswick Yes No
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—Newark Yes No
Saint Louis University No No
Samford University Yes Yes
Santa Clara University Yes Yes
Sarah Lawrence College Yes Yes
Scripps College Yes Yes
Seattle University Yes Yes
Seton Hall University Yes Yes
Sewanee—University of the South Yes Yes
Siena College Yes No
Simmons College Yes Yes
Skidmore College Yes No
Smith College Yes No
Soka University of America Yes Yes
Southern Methodist University Yes Yes
Southwestern University Yes No
Spelman College Yes Yes
St. John Fisher College Yes Yes
St. John’s College Annapolis Yes Yes
St. John’s University (NY) Yes Yes
St. Lawrence University Yes Yes
St. Mary’s College (IN) Yes Yes
St. Mary’s College of California Yes Yes
St. Mary’s College of Maryland Yes No
St. Michael’s College Yes Yes
St. Olaf College Yes Yes
Stanford University Yes Yes
Stetson University Yes Yes
Stevens Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Stonehill College Yes Yes
Stony Brook University—SUNY Yes No
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Yes Yes
SUNY—Geneseo Yes Yes
Susquehanna University Yes Yes
Swarthmore College Yes Yes
Syracuse University Yes Yes
Taylor University Yes Yes
Temple University Yes Yes
Texas A&M University—College Station No No
Texas Christian University Yes Yes
Texas Lutheran University Yes Yes
The Citadel Yes No
Thomas Aquinas College Yes Yes
Transylvania University Yes Yes
Trinity College (Hartford) Yes Yes
Trinity University Yes Yes
Truman State University Yes Yes
Tufts University Yes Yes
Tulane University Yes Yes
Union College (Schenectady, NY) Yes Yes
United States Air Force Academy Yes Yes
United States Coast Guard Academy Yes Yes
United States Military Academy Yes Yes
United States Naval Academy Yes Yes
University at Albany—SUNY Yes Yes
University at Buffalo—SUNY Yes No
University of Alabama Yes Yes
University of Arizona No No
University of Arkansas—Fayetteville Yes Yes
University of Chicago Yes Yes
University of Cincinnati No No
University of Colorado—Boulder Yes Yes
University of Connecticut Yes Yes
University of Dallas Yes No
University of Dayton Yes Yes
University of Delaware Yes Yes
University of Denver Yes Yes
University of Florida Yes Yes
University of Georgia Yes Yes
University of Hawaii at Manoa Yes Yes
University of Illinois—Chicago No No
University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign Yes Yes
University of Iowa No No
University of Kansas No No
University of Kentucky Yes Yes
University of La Verne Yes Yes
University of Mary Washington Yes Yes
University of Maryland—College Park Yes Yes
University of Massachusetts—Amherst Yes Yes
University of Miami Yes Yes
University of Michigan—Ann Arbor Yes Yes
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities No No
University of Mississippi Yes Yes
University of Missouri Yes Yes
University of Nebraska—Lincoln No No
University of New Hampshire Yes No
University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Yes Yes
University of North Carolina—Wilmington Yes Yes
University of Notre Dame Yes Yes
University of Oklahoma Yes Yes
University of Oregon Yes Yes
University of Pennsylvania Yes Yes
University of Pittsburgh Yes No
University of Portland Yes Yes
University of Puget Sound Yes Yes
University of Redlands Yes Yes
University of Richmond Yes Yes
University of Rochester Yes Yes
University of San Diego Yes No
University of San Francisco Yes Yes
University of South Carolina Yes Yes
University of South Florida Yes Yes
University of Southern California Yes Yes
University of St. Thomas (MN) Yes Yes
University of Tennessee Yes Yes
University of Texas—Austin No No
University of Texas—Dallas Yes No
University of the Pacific Yes Yes
University of Tulsa Yes Yes
University of Utah No No
University of Vermont Yes Yes
University of Virginia Yes Yes
University of Washington Yes Yes
University of Wisconsin—Madison No No
Ursinus College Yes Yes
Valparaiso University Yes Yes
Vanderbilt University Yes Yes
Vassar College Yes Yes
Villanova University Yes Yes
Virginia Commonwealth University Yes No
Virginia Military Institute Yes Yes
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Yes Yes
Wabash College Yes Yes
Wake Forest University Yes Yes
Washington and Jefferson College Yes Yes
Washington and Lee University Yes Yes
Washington College Yes No
Washington University in St. Louis Yes Yes
Wellesley College No No
Wesleyan University Yes Yes
Western Michigan University Yes Yes
Westmont College Yes Yes
Wheaton College (IL) Yes Yes
Whitman College Yes Yes
Whittier College Yes Yes
Willamette University Yes Yes
Williams College Yes Yes
Wofford College Yes Yes
Xavier University Yes Yes
Yale University Yes Yes
Yeshiva University Yes Yes
February 27, 2026

In an AI world, real prep still wins

AI tools make studying feel easier. Students can get instant explanations, summaries, or even solutions to difficult problems with a few clicks. While convenient, this reliance on AI can create a false sense of mastery. Students may think they understand material, but in reality, they may be skipping the deep reasoning and problem-solving skills the ACT and SAT actually test.

On test day, AI isn’t allowed. Success depends on your student’s knowledge, judgment, and ability to navigate questions under time pressure. That’s why real preparation, including plenty of practice and thoughtful guidance, is unmatched.

At Flying Colors Test Prep, our one-on-one tutoring focuses on exactly that. Tutors tailor instruction to each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and pacing. Beyond reviewing content, students learn to recognize patterns, manage time, and make confident decisions under pressure.  Work with our instructors always includes a useful blend of strategic and conceptual insights, so that when the student tests, they can be more comfortable and confident in a stressful test-taking environment.

Tutors help uncover the gaps that AI can’t detect and transform preparation and practice into measurable improvement.

AI may provide answers, but it cannot teach judgment, strategy, or confidence. In a world full of shortcuts, personalized instruction remains the true path to ACT and SAT success. If you’d like to explore how one-on-one tutoring or small group prep could support your student, our Education Directors are happy to chat and help create a plan that fits their needs.

Warm regards,
Ron Michalak
President, Flying Colors Test Prep

January 30, 2026

Is College Admissions Truly Test Optional?

In recent years, the term “test optional” has become central to how families think about college admissions, in part because the COVID‑19 pandemic disrupted access to testing and led many institutions to relax score requirements. What was widely expected to be a temporary adjustment became a lasting policy that has both puzzled families and reshaped application strategies.

Even as some colleges relaxed formal testing requirements, an increasing number of students and families elected to submit their scores, underscoring the perennial value placed on standardized testing in the admissions process. According to the Common App’s Mid-Season report for the 2024‑25 cycle, the number of applicants reporting standardized test scores grew by approximately 12 percent compared to the previous year, marking a notable uptick in score submission among applicants. Similar to last year, when the number of applicants using test scores also climbed, the biggest growth came among students targeting LESS competitive schools, with admit rates greater than 25%.  (commonapp.org)

Institutional decisions also highlight the continued relevance of testing. Penn, Stanford and Carnegie Mellon University, for instance, are phasing out test optional for students applying to those schools this coming fall. Public universities such as Purdue, Ohio State, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia all require test scores now.  These actions reflect a growing recognition among selective institutions that standardized scores provide valuable context when evaluating students from varied schools and curricula.

Standardized test results, much like Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate scores, offer admissions professionals an additional, objective measure of academic preparedness that complements grades and coursework. While no single element defines a student’s potential, strong test scores can enhance the student’s demonstrated record of success, clarify academic strengths, and support admissions and scholarship decisions in competitive applicant pools.

At Flying Colors, we believe the goal of the admissions process is to help students present the strongest, most complete picture of themselves. Providing admissions counselors with credible evidence of academic capability supports more informed, confident evaluations and broadens the range of opportunities available to students.

Understanding the continued importance of testing naturally raises a question about timing: when is the optimal moment to begin? February presents a unique opportunity to current high school juniors who may be looking ahead to upcoming in-school testing at their high schools or spring national ACTs or SATs.  It is a wonderful time to a student’s academic profile, establish a realistic baseline, and plan next steps with intention rather than urgency. This approach allows students to improve steadily, make informed choices about additional support or tutoring, and approach spring or summer testing with confidence.

As always, Flying Colors’ education directors in Edina, Eden Prairie, Plymouth and St. Paul are ready to talk to you about getting started or getting ready for a second attempt at testing.  And for those families whose students have a learning difference or attention disorder, our LD/ADHD team is available to assist as well.

Please let us know how we can help.

Ron Michalak
President & Founder, Flying Colors Prep

January 14, 2026

Top 5 Reasons Juniors Delay ACT/SAT Prep — and How Families Can Support Them

As juniors navigate school, college planning, activities, and life, it’s very common for them to hesitate when it comes to preparing for the ACT or SAT. What looks like procrastination often reflects nervousness, uncertainty, or perceived pressure around standardized tests — and that’s completely normal.

Acknowledging how students feel about testing can make a big difference in how they approach it.

Official guidance from the College Board notes that preparing and practicing for an assessment can reduce test anxiety and increase confidence, not just knowledge — familiarity with content and format helps students feel more calm and capable.¹

Below are the top five reasons juniors delay prep, plus practical ideas to help students start without judgment:

1. Test Anxiety Can Be Real — and Normal

Even the organizations that create these exams recognize that students get nervous. The College Board, in partnership with the Jed Foundation, emphasizes that preparation helps reduce anxiety because it builds familiarity with content, pacing, and test structure — which in turn boosts confidence.²

What families can do:
Normalize anxiety. Let your student know it’s okay to feel nervous — and that starting with small, structured practice can help.

2. The Unknown Feels Bigger Than the Test Itself

Students often hesitate because they don’t know what to expect. One reason practice tests are so valuable is that they let students see the format and timing of the exam before the real thing.

According to ACT, being familiar with the assessment and its instructions tends to make students less anxious and more successful with thoughtful preparation.³

What families can do:
Encourage your student to take one practice test early — even if imperfect — just to demystify the experience. A full-length, low-pressure practice test can help students see what the exam actually looks like and make the process feel more manageable.
👉 Reserve a free ACT/SAT practice test

3. Busy Schedules Lead to “I’ll Start Tomorrow”

Juniors juggle academics, sports, jobs, and college planning. Without a plan, test prep can easily slide down the priority list.

Official guidance for educators points to structured planning and early awareness of timelines to support juniors in staying on track.¹

What families can do:
Help your student map out small, manageable chunks of prep over time so it doesn’t feel like a huge burden.

4. Fear of Feedback Delays Starting

Some students worry that early practice will show weaknesses, and that can feel discouraging. But thoughtful practice isn’t about judgment — it’s about understanding where you are and what to focus on next.

Both ACT and SAT practice resources are built to help students identify strengths and areas for improvement.⁴

What families can do:
Emphasize that early practice is information, not a final verdict — and that improvement comes from clarity, not avoidance.

5. Misunderstanding Prep as “All or Nothing”

Students sometimes think they need to study intensely for weeks before they can begin. Yet organizations like the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) stress that good performance comes from consistent preparation and engagement with material over time, rather than last-minute cramming.⁵

What families can do:
Encourage a balanced approach — regular, incremental practice is far more effective than marathon sessions.

A Supportive Next Step

If you know a junior feeling overwhelmed or stalled, one of the most helpful things they can do is take a full-length practice test in a low-pressure setting.

Seeing their current score and getting feedback makes the path forward clearer — and that clarity often reduces stress and boosts confidence.
👉 Reserve a Free Practice ACT/SAT + Score Consult

Please consider forwarding this post to any families or friends with juniors who might be feeling uncertain — you may help them take that first meaningful step toward success.

Flying Colors Prep

Sources & Links

¹ College Board — SAT Suite of Assessments
Practice, preparation, and confidence
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/practice-preparation

² College Board & Jed Foundation
Reducing test anxiety through preparation
https://jedfoundation.org/college-board-jed-partner-to-create-a-test-anxiety-toolkit/ 

³ ACT
Familiarity with test format and instructions
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation.html

⁴ ACT
Practice tools and score improvement resources
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/act-online-prep.html

⁵ National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
College advice for students
https://www.nacacnet.org/student/ 

October 22, 2025

Jered Everson, a Flying Colors math and science instructor, wins three Emmys!

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing the Minneapolis movie premiere of “Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner” at the Edina Theater. As you may recall, Eric Garner was killed by the NYPD on Staten Island in 2014.  The documentary, which was part of the Minneapolis Film Festival, tells the story of Gwen Carr, Eric’s mother, and her yearslong fight for justice for her son.  While the documentary, which was exceptionally well done, would be remarkable to me in any context, the reason I was there is that the filmmaker was Flying Colors’ very own Jered Everson, part of our elite corps of math and science instructors. 

I remember meeting Jered nearly three years ago, when he met me at Flying Colors’ Edina office.  A graduate of Columbia University, Jered had been working as a healthcare consultant who decided to leave consulting and pursue his passion project, which was this film.  A remarkable math student (he took Calculus BC as an eighth grader), Jered has been able to help countless Flying Colors’ students with all levels of math as well as providing instruction for the ACT and SAT math and science sections.  In his own words, “Beyond a commitment to content mastery, he prioritizes emotional awareness, relationship-building, and a personalized approach in his teaching methodology.”

As the founder of Flying Colors Prep, I am grateful that Jered, a three-time Emmy winner (!!!) who has been a key part of our instructor team since 2022, is just one of nearly 50 extraordinary individuals who make up our unmatched instructor team.  Learn more about Flying Colors instructor team by clicking here.

You can stream Jered’s documentary by clicking here.

Ron Michalak
Founder, Flying Colors Prep

September 5, 2025

ACT debuts “bring your own device” testing at local high schools

With September’s debut of the new, enhanced ACT on paper, the ACT is fully committing to its shorter exam that makes science optional and eliminates 44 questions from its “classic” exam.  To encourage students to embrace the new format, ACT is piloting a “bring your own device” program at several area high schools, where it will begin to test its ability to offer digital testing on a large scale format. While the digital SAT has already been warmly received by students across the U.S., with SAT test-takers outnumbering ACT test-takers by a 2:1 margin, the digital ACT exam has not been widely available in Minnesota, and many families have reported issues finding test sites with availability. 

In October, Academy of Holy Angels, Minnetonka HS and Sartell HS will offer the “bring your own device” option, though the Holy Angels site is already full.  In December, in addition to Minnetonka and Sartell, Lakeville and Delano High Schools will also offer the digital test.

Does digital ACT testing make sense for your student?  Flying Colors has prepared a chart, below, that compares the ACT’s digital test to the SAT’s digital exam, and can provide some context for parents and test-takers.

Access to digital versions of both the ACT and the SAT has been challenging in Minnesota, so Flying Colors encourages parents and student to plan ahead and register early to ensure access to the exam(s) of your choice.  We are also recommending for students targeting the ACT that they choose to take the test on paper, as there is very little practice content available in a digital format, while a reasonable amount of material is available on paper.  Please click here to register for an ACT, and here to register for an SAT.

ACT SAT
Supported devices Windows, Chromebook, and Macbook computers (no iPads) Windows or Macbook computers, iPads, and school-managed Chromebooks

 

Check if your Chromebook is managed.   
Device readiness Install ACT Gateway before test day.

 

Log in with your MyACT credentials.

 

Run the Device Check before the device readiness deadline but no more than 30 days before the test.

 Install Bluebook before test day.   

 

Click Test Your Device.

 

Check for updates to Bluebook before test day.  If testing on a Mac in the fall, avoid updating your OS right before a test.
Internet connection Continuous access to WiFi is necessary for testing.  If the internet becomes unavailable during testing, the test will be affected. Access to WiFi is necessary only at the start of the test to download the questions and at the end of the test to upload answers.

 

If the internet becomes unavailable during testing, the test should not be affected.
Practice Practice is not available in the app. Practice tests and practice questions are available in the app.
Technical Issues “You will need to communicate with the Room Supervisor and Technical Coordinator on test day and escalate to ACT if you require further support or troubleshooting.” “If you hit a snag during testing, follow any instructions you see in Bluebook. If you and your proctor can’t quickly resolve the issue, they’ll send you to a help room where a staff member will assist you.”
Power Bring a fully charged device and a power cord or portable charger as backup but you may not have access to an outlet. Bring a fully charged device and a power cord or portable charger as backup but you may not have access to an outlet.
Accommodations Accommodations are available. Accommodations are available.
Calculator External calculators that are not connected to the computer are approved, including 4-function, graphing and scientific calculators.

 

“An on-screen calculator may be available.”

 

Learn more about ACT’s calculator policy.

 External calculators that are not connected to the computer are approved, including 4-function, graphing and scientific calculators.

 

Desmos graphing calculator built in to the testing platform.

 

Learn more about SAT’s calculator policy.
Timing The timing is the same for paper and computer-based ACTs. A timer shows the remaining time. It can be hidden until 5 minutes remain, then it gives an alert.
If your device does not meet the minimum requirements You must register for a paper test or to use a test center computer. Request a device for SAT Weekend from College Board at least 30 days before test day.
If you forget your device or it does not work on test day You may be unable to test.

Source: Compass Prep