Landscape™ FAQ
Browse frequently asked questions about Landscape so you can better understand how this tool is used to aid in admission efforts.
FAQ
Can students, or their parents on their behalf, opt out of sharing information for use in Landscape?
Landscape does not contain student-level data and therefore doesn't require students to opt in. The only exception is the student-specific test scores. The test score in Landscape is based on the scores that students choose to send to colleges.
Colleges choose which student-submitted test score to display in Landscape. College Board concords ACT® scores to SAT scores using published concordance tables.
College Board takes students' privacy very seriously and students can always opt out of providing their individual information to colleges, whether through the Student Data Questionnaire (SDQ) they fill out when they take a College Board assessment, or when they're deciding to participate in Student Search Service®.
How do we know colleges will use Landscape to include students, not exclude them?
Colleges do not use Landscape to decide who gets in and who doesn't. It simply helps admissions officers give more students from more places a fair look. Colleges must agree to the Landscape Appropriate Usage Guidelines.
What does this cost?
There is no cost to colleges for using Landscape. It is completely free to use.
How many colleges use Landscape?
In 2018-19, we piloted the dashboard with more than 50 colleges and universities. Beginning in fall 2020, the tool was made more broadly available to colleges and universities for free.
Isn't this an adversity score?
No, this is not an adversity score. Landscape does not measure adversity and never will. It simply helps admissions officers better understand the high schools and neighborhoods applicants come from. It does not help them understand an applicant's individual circumstances, their personal stories, hardships, or home life. This is not the purpose of Landscape or the role of College Board and it never will be.
Are test-optional institutions able to participate?
Yes. Several test-optional institutions participated in the pilot and continue to participate.
Can colleges use Landscape for purposes beyond admissions?
Most participating colleges use Landscape as part of the admissions process. Some are exploring how the information might be used in student advising to support students on campus.
Where do the data come from?
For a full explanation of where the data come from, please see the Landscape Comprehensive Data and Methodology Overview document (.pdf/278 KB).
What do the data from colleges using this resource show so far?
Over 90% of pilot participants reported that Landscape made it easier to incorporate contextual information about students and provided a more comprehensive view of the applicant.
Participating colleges affirmed that the information in Landscape provides important supplemental information for reading applications.