Navigating Graduate Admissions in a Shifting Testing Landscape

Business Challenge 

A leading consortium of graduate institutions sought to address critical challenges:

The consortium required actionable insights to refine admissions strategies, benchmark against peer institutions, and anticipate the impact of policy changes on enrollment pipelines.

Approach & Research Methodology

Jasper Colin designed and executed a structured multi-stage market research study:

1. Screening & Targeting
   • Surveyed graduate admissions decision-makers in Business Schools and Arts & Sciences programs across the U.S.
   • Ensured inclusion of only Master’s/Doctoral program leaders actively shaping admissions test policies.
2. Survey Research
   • Collected quantitative data on test-required vs. test-optional adoption, timing of policy shifts, drivers of change, and enrollment outcomes.
   • Evaluated awareness and expected impact of the shortened GRE launched in 2023.
3. Data Analysis & Benchmarking
   • Compared institutions by size, state, and enrollment mix (domestic vs. international).
   • Mapped future enrollment expectations across regions (U.S., China, India, others).

Key Findings

 1.  Test Policy Landscape

• ~60% of surveyed programs had adopted test-optional policies post-2020, largely citing equity and COVID-related disruptions.
• Business schools were more likely to retain GRE/GMAT requirements, while Arts & Sciences programs leaned test-optional.

2. Impact on Enrollment

• After moving to test-optional, the share of applicants submitting test scores fell from 81-100% (pre-2020) to 41-60% on average.
• Institutions with test-optional policies reported +8-12% increase in applicant volume, particularly from underrepresented groups.

3. GRE Format Change

• Awareness of the shortened GRE was moderate (about 55%).
• ~30% expected it to make GRE requirements more attractive due to reduced student burden.

4. Enrollment Outlook

• 65% expected flat to declining domestic enrollment in Master’s/Doctoral programs.
• Growth expectations were highest from India (+10% or more), with cautious outlooks for U.S. and China.

Recommendations

Short-Term (1-2 years):

1. Dynamic Policy Communication - Clearly message admissions testing expectations to avoid applicant confusion.
2. Pilot Hybrid Models - Allow optional submission of GRE/GMAT but evaluate outcomes (GPA, persistence, diversity).
3. Capitalize on GRE Shortening - Position the revised GRE as less burdensome, especially for international students.

Long-Term (3-5 years):

1. Scenario Planning - Prepare for multiple enrollment futures (continued test-optional, selective return to required testing, global enrollment shifts).
2. Equity & Analytics Integration - Build data-driven dashboards linking test policy decisions to diversity, enrollment quality, and student success outcomes.
3. International Strategy - Invest in India-focused recruitment strategies given strong growth signals.

Impact

Way Forward: Jasper Colin’s Difference

At Jasper Colin, we combine rigorous survey design, advanced analytics, and deep domain expertise to deliver clarity in moments of uncertainty. For graduate admissions leaders, our work enabled:

• Digestible, shareable insights for cross-department alignment.
• Predictive scenario modeling to anticipate enrollment impacts.
• Global perspective on student mobility and competitiveness.

Our approach ensures that institutions not only react to changes like the test-optional movement but also proactively shape future-ready admissions strategies.