| We all know teenagers who don’t test | | | | typically have the luxury of evaluating a child |
| well.There are all sorts of legitimate reasons why | | | | holistically. Lots of public universities, which may have |
| some students, even bright ones, can’t earn | | | | tens of thousands of applicants, are still more inclined |
| decent numbers on the dreaded SAT test. | | | | to use grades and the SAT as major admissions |
| It used to be that parents and students could rail all | | | | factors. The Ivy League school are also clinging to |
| they wanted against the test, but it wouldn’t | | | | standardized testing to measure their applicants. |
| matter. Colleges and universities wanted to know | | | | You can find a list of all SAT optional schools here. |
| what their applicants’ scores were. And these | | | | Supporters for making the SAT optional argue that |
| scores could make or break a child’s academic | | | | the move makes the college admissions process |
| plans. | | | | fairer. Frankly, the test is currently rigged in favor of |
| The SAT boogyman, however, doesn’t look as | | | | students from more affluent households who can |
| intimidating anymore. In the face of growing criticism | | | | afford to take SAT prep classes or pay for private |
| about the SAT’s fairness and relevance, a | | | | tutors. Ditching the test would help level the playing |
| growing number of colleges and universities are now | | | | field for all students. |
| offering an escape route. It seems like every week | | | | The National Center for Fair & Open Testing |
| another institution announces that it is making its | | | | (FairTest) argues quite persuasively that SAT scores |
| school SAT optional. Wake Forest University is one | | | | are a lousy predictor of how a student will fare in |
| of the latest to make the switch. | | | | college. FairTest argues that two better predictors of |
| According to The National Center for Fair and Open | | | | a student’s success in college are grade point |
| Testing (FairTest), nearly 760 schools now no longer | | | | average and class rank. |
| require that applicants take the SAT or the ACT, | | | | FairTest’s position isn’t just a hypothetical. |
| which is the other standardized test.The SAT rebels | | | | Bates College in Maine, for instance, dropped the |
| include some of the most prestigious schools in the | | | | SAT requirement more than 20 years ago. The |
| nation. In fact, about one third of the top 100 liberal | | | | college says the student performance has remained |
| arts colleges, as ranked by U.S. News & World | | | | strong. Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, says that five |
| Report, now don’t require the SAT. | | | | years worth of data indicates that students who |
| Many of the schools, which have dropped the SAT | | | | don’t submit SAT scores do slightly better |
| requirement are liberal arts colleges. These colleges | | | | academically than those who do. |