Oct 06, 2015 11:22 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Trinity College in Connecticut announced that they will no longer require test scores for admissions, joining the growing list of colleges to become SAT/ACT test optional, Inside Higher Ed reported.

The private liberal arts college said their goal in joining the test-optional movement is to expand educational access and to bring academically strong students to the admissions committee who may have never considered a Trinity College education.

"Research has proven that high school [grade point average] is a stronger predictor of success in college than are standardized test scores," Angel Perez, vice president for enrollment and student success, said in a statement.

However, Perez says that simply adopting a test-optional policy isn't enough, she wants counselors and applicants to highlight qualities that may not be reflected in grades alone. The university will now consider evidence of such qualities as curiosity, optimism, persistence, grit and creativity when reviewing applications for admission.

"We value these qualities at Trinity and will be inviting counselors (through a brief survey method) to highlight the characteristics they see in their students that could help us make a more informed admissions decision.  While these attributes will not replace grades or other factors in the application, they will enhance the applicant's file and give the committee other tangibles to consider, and thus lead to a more robust and holistic evaluation of the student," Perez said.

The policy changes will go into effect immediately. 

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