Post date: Nov 14, 2018 1:10:22 AM
To my fellowIona brothers who are dreading the inevitable day when you must sit for the SAT or the ACT, there is good news. According to US News, when the ACT recently released test results from the graduating class of 2018, the higher education community was shocked; for a second year in a row, the number of test takers dropped.
They speculate that the reason for this drop is that more than 1,000 schools have adopted test-optional admissions policies. Over the last five years, a substantial number of schools have joined in. Bowdoin College, a private liberal arts school in Maine, was the first to make college entrance exams optional 50 years ago.
Whitney Soule, their dean of admissions, emphasizes the importance of making tests optional rather than eliminating them altogether. She says that when test scores are present, she uses them and does not disregard them. However, she feels that her admissions department can make a very solid academic assessment using only the materials they require—two essays, a school transcript, two teacher evaluations, and a recommendation from a college counselor.
This fall, the University of Chicago was among the most recent schools to announce that it is making the ACT and SAT optional for students. It is the first elite research institution to do so.
Grace Chapin James, deputy director of admissions at the University of Chicago, said, "There are some students for whom the tests don't accurately reflect their academic potentials.” She points out that the new policy is simply an option students can take or not: "If you feel it's a good highlight of you, then we are going to recognize that and notice that.” But if students decide not to take the ACT or SAT, admission team will not hold it against those students.
Despite this progress, College Board President David Coleman is not ready to surrender. He says, "SAT scores offer real insight as long as they are complemented by other data.” Coleman wants all students to continue to take the ACT or SAT, according to US News
US News’ “Best Colleges” points out that students should keep in mind that even test optional schools may require scores to give out their merit aid awards and decide class placement. So if a good financial aid package is important, check school policies to be sure you won't lose out by holding back.
"We want to remove fear and frenzy from the application equation,” says Martha Allman, dean of admissions at the test optional Wake Forest University. "We are more interested in who you really are.”
All students have the choice of whether they want to take a test to submit to colleges. This is a tough decision to be made, but at the very least, knowing the choice exists may ease your stress.
--Christopher Johnson 21'