Jul 16, 2015 10:58 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Drake University in Iowa will no longer require standardized test scores for admissions from certain applicants, school officials announced Wednesday.

Starting with applicants for the fall 2016 semester, the university will implement a test-flexible admission policy that allows students with a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher to choose whether to submit standardized test scores as part of their application, Inside Higher Ed reported.

Applicants must also meet certain other criteria may substitute the ACT or SAT score requirement for an interview that addresses the student's experiences inside and outside of the classroom.

"The goal of our admission process has always been to take a holistic look at applicants and admit high-achieving students who are the right fit for Drake," Tom Delahunt, vice president for admission and student financial planning, said in a statement. "The test-flexible option ensures that applicants are able to showcase strengths and attributes that test scores cannot reflect."

School officials believe the new approach will empower students to present those strengths, skills, and attributes that best represent them as a candidate for the University, which is ranked third in the Midwest for overall quality by U.S. News and World Report.

Students who choose to submit their standardized test scores will be considered on equal footing with those who do not. Students who do not submit test scores will participate in an interview with an admission counselor on Drake's campus, via a live video tool such as Skype or FaceTime, or in the area where they live.

More than 850 colleges and universities have adopted a similar admission model, such as  Warren Wilson College, Hofstra University, and Drew University.

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