Ateneo doing away with entrance exam

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) announced on Tuesday that it would not hold a college entrance examination this year, noting logistical problems posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

“We know there is a lot going on and we don’t want to create more unneeded drama and stress,” the Jesuit-run university said in a statement. “Times are evolving, but our commitment to academic excellence and formation has not changed.”

Instead of the competitive exam known as the Ateneo College Entrance Test (Acet) taken by thousands of students each year, Ateneo will choose students for the school year 2021-2022 “principally based on the applicant’s past academic performance, on the recommendations of teachers, essay, and on information written down on the application form,’’ according to the AdMU committee on admission and aid.

“Get #readyfortomorrow the Ateneo way,’’ the university said in a post.

After UST

With this, Ateneo becomes the second university among the so-called Big Four — referring to the biggest universities in Metro Manila (AdMU, University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University and University of the Philippines) — to cancel its entrance exam because of the pandemic.

The first one to do so, UST, has adopted an admission rating system to be computed “from a number of parameters derived largely from the academic performance and record of the applicant.”

Ateneo, on the other hand, would consider the “applicant’s fitness and preparation for the college programs, ability to contribute toward the enrichment of the undergraduate school community, and potential to be of service to others within the context of national development.”

3 application routes

Aspiring Ateneans can take any of three routes. Students from select Metro Manila schools may apply via the Edukasyon.ph portal (Route 1) and those from the rest of the country, via the college entrance exam portal (Route 2).

International applicants may apply via the Ateneo Global website (Route 3).

University scholarships are still available despite the changes.

The application period for freshmen and those seeking financial aid is from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1. For schools whose academic year starts in October, the deadline is Dec. 15.

The results of the applications are expected to be released in February 2021.

—Krixia Subingsubing