For a very long time, the college board SAT has been used to evaluate the written, verbal and mathematical skills of the students. They are conducted by the universities to make admission decisions. However, the global pandemic which has disrupted every sector has finally left its imprint on the SAT/ACT industry. Yes, you heard it, the SAT/ACT is a huge industry which defines every student's capabilities through a certain score - This is bad. Period.
But the good news is that finally, the universities have begun moving away from the SAT requirements in the college admission process.
Does that mean that high school students can finally get rid of their SAT prep book from Kaplan? Well, we're not sure yet.
If you're a student planning to go to the University of California, then yes! Because the University of California will no longer require SAT test results for in-state freshman students.
According to the latest update, in-state students will now have an option to submit SAT and ACT scores for 2021 and 2022. The university has also decided to drop essay and writing tests.
I remember being in high school 3 years ago and preparing for the SAT. It was the most stressful time for me even though I had all the resources needed for the preparation. I can imagine how hard it can be for a student who belongs to a low-income family and doesn't have sufficient material for studying. Now, since the universities are getting rid of the SAT or moving to the test-optional path, this will help alleviate stress and decrease burden during the application process.
Furthermore, the universities are also known for favoring wealthy and more privileged groups during the admission process. These standardized tests create a huge hurdle for blacks, Hispanics, and low-income groups. And the reason is simple- high-income groups have access to better schools and tutors.
A great amount of money is spent preparing for these tests which, without a doubt, a wealthy parent can afford for their child. On the other hand, students from low-income demographics face bad consequences and continue to fall behind the SAT scoring.
Since the universities are reconsidering SAT as an application requirement, there is a huge possibility that the universities will have big diverse classes. Additionally, colleges will receive more applicants leading to a lower acceptance rate, which, in turn, will improve the college ranking.
Multiple studies in the past have found that a high SAT doesn't indicate success and many students with a low score also have a successful college career.
The fact is this: a university should weigh the academic students using a holistic approach and their potential based on everything in their application - not a score on a standardized test!
The future is still unknown and no one has the answer to when and how the pandemic will end. But the silver lining is - there is a chance that students belonging to lower-income groups and underprivileged backgrounds can now pursue their dream of attending America's best colleges and universities and for them, the sky is just a limit.
