The SAT: To test or not to test?
Reports of the SAT’s death have been greatly exaggerated.
Over the past several years, in response to the economic and educational disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, many colleges and universities implemented “test-optional” or even “test-blind” SAT policies. Test optional meant that students could choose to report their SAT scores as part of the admissions process or not submit them and rely on the strengths of other aspects of their applications (GPA, extracurriculars, recommendations, etc.). These policies led many students and parents to believe — erroneously — that the SATs were obsolete and there was no need to take them.
The truth is, over the past several years, even for schools who went “test-optional,” SAT scores were still a very big factor in college admissions. For one thing, many students WERE still submitting scores, so those who chose not to were giving the schools one less factor to consider in their applications. If all things are equal, and one student submits a good score and one student opts out, which one do you think admissions officers would give preference to? Additionally, SAT scores remained a key factor in the awarding of merit-based financial aid and scholarships.
With the news last month that Georgetown, Purdue, Yale, and a host of other colleges are now re-implementing SAT requirements for admissions, the question remains: to test or not to test? Your guidance counselor can help you determine what is best for your personal situation. Should you decide to take the SAT as you prepare to apply to colleges, give yourself the best possible chance of scoring well into your goal range by enrolling in a respected, proven SAT prep course. The exceptional educators at Absolute Value Academy are ready to help you be your absolute best.