Larry A. Griffith, director of admissions at the University of Delaware, emphasized that this test will be used in addition to grades and test scores. He said he sees this as a way to identify promising students by non-traditional means.
"We're pretty excited about participating in this research," he said.
According to Griffith, the research will be used to determine whether "life experience, motivation, potential to work well in groups" can be "measured and quantified."
Although Bial said all the universities involved are excited that there might be a new way to assess students' merit, University of Michigan spokesperson Julie Peterson said that participation in this study will not affect the overwhelming majority of applicants who do not submit results from Bial's test.
Gary A. Orfield, professor of education and social policy at GSE and Bial's academic advisor, said that this program is still "in its very early stages," and questions remain about what value the test will ultimately have in the admissions process.
But, Griffith said, the research made possible by Bial's work is a "wonderful opportunity...that deserves to be looked at very seriously."