Reply to The Misguided War on the SAT

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]There’s no war on the SAT. Test optional means optional, not banned. You can still send your scores and they will be considered. My kids have. [/quote]
Problem is that the diamonds in the rough - the would-be high-scoring kids in the disadvantaged high school - are being advised that they do not need to test, and if they do test and have a score very high for their high school but a bit on the low end for the college, they are being advised not to submit scores. That is all turning out to be bad advice per comments from the Yale AO.[/quote]

And on the flip side if this, instead of those high-potential disadvantaged kids, super-polished affluent kids who have all the bells and whistles on their application, but aren’t actually that bright or ready for rigorous elite college work, are slipping through with TO.[/quote]

It's complex, but THIS is one of the things I worry about in terms of equity and fairness. One of the major arguments about the SAT was that it is a reflection of opportunity, more than it is an indicator of potential. That's a good point. But in isolating the SAT to throw out (or make optional), we're ignoring that all of the OTHER indicators of merit/readiness/specialness are likely JUST as loaded with opportunity. I'm noticing now that admissions care a lot more about extra curriculars. And I'm watching my upper middle class friends figure out how to get their kids into the right balance of activities, pay for them, drive them there, etc. I just find it disingenuous to act like this is LESS biased and loaded with opportunity.

That being said, I like test optional because students CAN use that SAT as one way to demonstrate readiness, but they don't have to use the SAT. That feels to me like it leaves more paths open. [/quote]

Yeah, I think ECs should be the least important factor, but it seems like colleges are making them more and more important. Which is absolutely inequitable.[/quote]

This x1000!!! It’s performative and probably more often than not, absolutely not an indicator of the students’ character, but instead, they’re racking up a resume that looks good to the outside. Not for my kid. I want my child to succeed by being himself.

That said, if ambitious pursuits are reflected in self directed achievements, then more power to the student. That’s awesome. But doing study abroad charity work with the goal to pass your resume, that’s just disingenuous. Blech [/quote]

ECs are a unavoidable factor when selecting from applicants who have more or less identical academic profile.  Imagine your child and another applicant with identical GPA, AP/SAT scores, class rank, etc, and same ethnic race, but the other applicant has ECs and your child does not, and only one spot to fill at a competitive university major.  who should they make the offer to?   [/quote]

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