Jul 28, 2015 11:56 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

George Washington University in Washington D.C. will no longer require standardized test scores for admissions, school officials announced Monday.

After years of requiring standardized scores for admission, the private four-year college announced that it has decided to embrace the emerging test-optional policy starting next month, Inside Higher Ed reported.

"We hope the test-optional policy sends a message to prospective students that if you are smart, hard-working and have challenged yourself in a demanding high school curriculum, there could be a place for you here," Laurie Koehler, senior associate provost for enrollment management, said in a statement.

High school coursework and grades will continue to be the most important factors in the school's holistic review process, along with a student's writing skills, recommendations, involvement in school and community, and personal qualities and character. However, this year, students who do not think their SAT or ACT scores are an accurate reflection of their academic potential can choose not to submit them.

"Although we have long employed a holistic application review process, we had concerns that students who could be successful at GW felt discouraged from applying if their scores were not as strong as their high school performance," said Dean of Admissions Karen Stroud Felton. "We want outstanding students from all over the world and from all different backgrounds -- regardless of their standardized scores -- to recognize GW as a place where they can thrive."

The National Center for Fair & Open Testing reports that more than 850 accredited bachelor-degree granting schools now do not require all or many applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, including more than 165 schools ranked in the top tiers of their categories.

George Washington University's new admissions policy will include exceptions for homeschooled applicants, students from high schools that only provide narrative evaluation of students, college athletes and students applying for the seven-year B.A./M.D. program.

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