ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – Due to the coronavirus pandemic, SAT/ACT scores have been either voluntary or tossed.

The pandemic has changed the billion-dollar SAT industry, causing many shifts to the test, including making it online.

Now, many colleges are saying that personal essays and other academic information matter more.

“We don’t incorporate SAT or ACT scores in there. We just feel that that’s a better indication of you as a student, from a full year, as opposed to just one Saturday morning that you had to sit in the test room for several hours, ” said Dean of Admissions at Elmira College, Jackie VanBrunt.

For a long time, high school seniors worried about SAT/ACT scores, but now they have to make sure their I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed in other areas.

“We look at student’s high school GPA, as well as their essay, and extracurricular leadership opportunities that they have been involved in, in order to make a determination regarding acceptance. Our merit scholarship is solely based on high school GPA,” said VanBrunt.