Let’s tackle a major hurdle for many international students dreaming of studying in the United States: standardized tests. The SAT and ACT can feel like a massive barrier, requiring expensive prep courses and adding another layer of stress to an already demanding process.
What if you could skip them altogether? The good news is that a growing number of U.S. universities and scholarship programs are moving to a “test-optional” or “test-blind” model, recognizing that a single test score doesn’t define a student’s potential. You can absolutely earn a scholarship and secure your place at a U.S. university without ever touching an SAT or ACT booklet.
Here are some excellent scholarship opportunities and universities where your application can shine based on everything else you have to offer.
University-Specific Scholarships That Look Beyond Tests
Many prestigious universities have made standardized tests optional and offer generous merit-based aid that doesn’t require them.
Top-Tier Test-Optional Institutions
Several highly-ranked universities have permanent test-optional policies. Your scholarship consideration here is based on your overall academic record, essays, and recommendations.
- New York University (NYU): Offers a flexible testing policy and a range of merit scholarships for international students, like the Trustee and President’s Honors Scholarships, which are awarded based on the strength of your entire application.
- University of Chicago: A pioneer in test-optional admissions, UChicago awards merit scholarships like the Odyssey Scholarship program based on a holistic review, focusing on your intellectual curiosity and personal story.
- Wake Forest University: This university has been test-optional for over a decade. They offer scholarships like the Joseph G. Gordon Scholarship which are based on academic achievement and personal character, not test scores.
Liberal Arts Colleges Focused on the Whole Person
Liberal arts colleges are known for their holistic admissions process, making them a perfect fit for students without test scores.
- Pitzer College: Actively encourages students to forgo submitting test scores. They offer merit-based scholarships like the Pitzer Scholars Award that reward academic achievement, leadership, and a commitment to social responsibility.
- Bates College: Another long-time test-optional college, Bates awards a number of merit scholarships, such as the Bates Scholar Award, based on a student’s academic record and personal qualities.
- Smith College: This renowned women’s college is test-optional and provides significant merit scholarships, including the Smith Presidential Scholarship, by evaluating a student’s academic performance, leadership, and unique talents.
Private and Need-Based Scholarships
Many private organizations and need-based programs are far more interested in your story and your financial need than a test score.
The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
This need-based scholarship supports students actively involved in social justice movements. Your work in areas like civil rights, environmentalism, or labor rights is what matters here, not a standardized test.
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
While requiring U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, the HSF is a prime example of an organization that funds students based on heritage, academic achievement, and financial need, with no SAT/ACT requirement for most of their scholarships.
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program
This prestigious program is open to high school seniors in the U.S., but it’s a powerful example of a scholarship that selects recipients based on leadership, service, and character—not test scores. It shows the shift towards valuing real-world impact.
Niche and Creative Scholarships
Your unique talents and background can be your greatest asset.
The Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Competition
Open to U.S. citizens, this competition awards scholarships based on scholarship, leadership, and financial need. It demonstrates that organizations value a well-rounded applicant far beyond a test result.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program
This is one of the most generous undergraduate scholarships in the U.S. It seeks high-achieving students with financial need, and while it requires a strong academic record, it uses a holistic review that doesn’t solely rely on test scores.
Scholarships for Specific Majors
Many departments within universities offer their own scholarships. A standout portfolio for an art student, a demonstrated passion for coding for a computer science applicant, or a history of science fair wins can be far more powerful than an SAT score for securing departmental funding.
How to Build a Winning Application Without Test Scores
If you’re not submitting scores, the rest of your application must be exceptionally strong. Here’s how to make it shine.
Your Grades and Transcript are more important than ever. A consistently strong GPA in a challenging curriculum is your best way to demonstrate academic preparedness. A sharp upward trend in grades also tells a powerful story of improvement and dedication.
Your Personal Essay is your superstar. This is where you can explain your journey, your passions, and your context. Why are you a great student without a test score? Tell a specific, personal story that reveals your character, resilience, and intellectual curiosity. A generic essay is your biggest enemy.
Letters of Recommendation need to be stellar. Choose teachers who know you deeply and can provide specific anecdotes about your class participation, work ethic, and growth. A letter that says “This is one of the most curious students I’ve ever taught” is worth its weight in gold.
Finally, showcase your passions through your extracurricular activities. Depth is more impressive than breadth. Show long-term commitment, leadership, and genuine impact in one or two areas you care about. This proves the skills and dedication that a test could never measure.
The landscape of U.S. college admissions is changing. Your unique story, your academic record, and your personal achievements are powerful credentials on their own. By targeting the right schools and crafting an application that highlights your full potential, you can successfully secure a scholarship and your place at a U.S. university.
Your Future is More Than a Test Score
The journey to studying in the U.S. can feel like it’s paved with standardized tests, but as these scholarships and universities prove, that path is changing. The absence of an SAT or ACT score is no longer a closed door. Instead, it’s an opportunity to present a different, and often more compelling, version of yourself—one defined by your consistent academic work, your unique story, and your contributions beyond the classroom.
These test-optional policies represent a significant shift toward a more holistic and fair admissions process. They acknowledge that potential isn’t confined to a single test day. Your resilience, your curiosity, and your leadership in your own community are qualities that can’t be bubbled in on an answer sheet, but they are precisely what these institutions are looking for.
Your task is to redirect the energy you would have spent on test prep into strengthening the rest of your application. Pour that effort into crafting powerful essays, building strong relationships with your teachers for recommendations, and deepening your involvement in the activities you love. A perfect application isn’t about checking every box; it’s about presenting an authentic and powerful portrait of who you are and what you will bring to a campus.
Your Questions Answered
What’s the difference between “test-optional” and “test-blind”?
This is a crucial distinction. Test-Optional means you have a choice. If you feel your SAT/ACT score strengthens your application, you can submit it. If not, you won’t be penalized for leaving it out. Test-Blind means the university will not look at your test scores at all, even if you send them. For scholarships without test requirements, both policies work in your favor.
If I don’t submit test scores, will my application be at a disadvantage?
At test-optional schools, the admissions committee explicitly states they will not disadvantage applicants without scores. Your application will be evaluated with extra weight placed on other parts of your file: your high school transcript, the rigor of your courses, your personal essay, your letters of recommendation, and your extracurricular involvement. The goal is a holistic review.
What parts of my application become most important without test scores?
Your academic transcript is king. It shows your performance over four years, which many argue is a better indicator of readiness than a single test. Next, your personal essay becomes your megaphone. It’s your chance to tell your story, explain your context, and showcase your writing and critical thinking skills. Finally, letters of recommendation that provide specific, detailed examples of your intellectual curiosity are incredibly valuable.
Are these scholarships also open to international students?
Many are, but not all. University-specific scholarships from test-optional schools (like NYU, University of Chicago, and the liberal arts colleges listed) are absolutely open to international applicants. However, some private scholarships (like the Coca-Cola Scholars Program) are restricted to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Always check the specific eligibility requirements for each opportunity.
Can I get a full-ride scholarship without SAT/ACT scores?
Yes, it is possible. Many of the need-based and merit-based scholarships offered by test-optional universities are comprehensive and can cover full tuition or even the full cost of attendance. The key is having an exceptional all-around application that demonstrates both high academic achievement and outstanding personal qualities that make you a compelling candidate for such a significant investment.