Over the last several years, many colleges and universities have chosen to forego SAT/ACT admissions requirements which were previously considered standard. Other schools made these requirements optional for prospective students. Largely due to the pandemic, this adjustment was made in an effort to promote student body diversity and equitable education conditions. However, new data from the University of California suggests that eradicating standardized tests as part of admissions criteria may not lead to a more diverse community of students.
In January 2020, UC released a report stating that mandating SAT and ACT results actually promotes diversity and protects against prejudice during the admissions process. The report claims “because each applicant’s test scores are viewed within the applicant’s local context, they offer a means for protecting the diversity of the applicant pool.” Test scores are weighed against location, socioeconomic status, and other exterior factors, leading to a more well-rounded understanding of each applicant. Because of this research, some schools are rethinking their admissions policy regarding standardized tests.
Among them, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has recently decided to re-institute its standardized test admissions requirement. Previously, MIT made test scores optional as part of their pandemic adaptations. Despite this, they have found that they will be able to foster a more diverse student body by once again requiring these tests and strategically reviewing them. Stu Schmill, the Dean of Admissions at MIT, has stated that not requiring test scores “tends to raise socio-economic barriers” since access to these tests is available in virtually all communities. Therefore, MIT is set to make the transition back to standardized test scores in the coming years.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
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Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/02/politics/sat-act-standardized-tests-what-matters/index.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mit-reinstates-sat-act-mandate-will-colleges-follow-rcna22093