Princeton University announced it will require standardized test scores again, reversing its earlier test‑optional stance. The change leaves Columbia as the only Ivy still publicly running a test‑optional policy and marks a notable reversal at a premier selective institution. Princeton’s decision follows renewed debate about assessment, fairness and the predictive value of SAT/ACT scores. The university said the policy shift aims to restore a common metric for evaluating applicants while acknowledging that many other schools remain test-optional. Why it matters: the reversal at an Ivy sends a clear signal to peers, applicants and counselors about the evolving role of standardized tests in admissions. Admissions directors and enrollment strategists should expect renewed applicant behavior shifts and potentially different yield dynamics as test-taking populations respond.