The COVID-19 pandemic changed our world in incalculable ways, and the college admissions process was not immune. With already limited resources in many areas across the nation, it was nearly impossible for many students to take SATs/ACTs in the last few years. This caused many colleges and universities to move to test-optional admissions, meaning that standardized test scores are not required on the student’s application. The motivations and aftermath of these decisions sparks an interesting conversation.
For many, standardized testing is a very difficult part of the college process. Because of the nature of the test, one can pay for tutoring to improve scores, which puts wealthier families at an unfair advantage. For those with learning disabilities and disorders such as ADHD, sitting for the standardized tests is akin to torture, and is not a fair representation of intelligence. For these reasons and others, some schools began shifting to a test-optional application even prior to the pandemic, which worked in favor of those whose scores were not a reflection of their abilities as a student. The pandemic rendered these tests even more inaccessible, which triggered a wide shift in how admissions worked. Something else to note is that these educational institutions benefit from allowing test scores to be optional, as they receive a significant increase in applications, which leads to a lower acceptance rate and the appearance of higher selectivity.
For everyone applying in this upcoming year, test optional applications can be a difficult decision. For students whose scores do not reflect their ability as students, the decision whether or not to send scores can be difficult. Each institution is different, with expectations that can vary based on the child’s score as well as the area of study they wish to pursue. Many low-acceptance rate schools such as Harvard, are now highly encouraging their applicants to submit their test scores due to the incredibly low acceptance rate and very wide pool of applicants. MIT is once again requiring SAT or ACT scores. For students looking to enter a more rigorous academic field, such as many areas of STEM, strong test scores are a large part of the application - even if the school is test-optional. Also, due to the pandemic, it was harder for many students to get involved, and their application may not show strong participation or school involvement. In this case, sending test scores is a way to boost their application and show their potential to a college or university.
The college application is a window into a student's life and their identity as a student. Standardized testing is just one component and now students and families have another decision to make: should I submit? The answer to this question is highly personal and requires research into specific programs, assessing the student’s overall application and exploring a variety of programs that might be a good fit for the student.
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