Harvard has reversed course and will require applicants to submit standardized tests scores in the next application cycle.
“For the Class of 2029 admissions cycle, Harvard will require submission of scores for the SAT or ACT. In exceptional cases in which applicants are unable to access SAT or ACT testing, other eligible tests will be accepted.”
Harvard had previously announced it would remain test optional through the next two admissions cycles.
The reasons given for the change are similar to those offered by other colleges, i.e., withholding tests scores hurts some students during the admissions process.
Test-optional policies were widely adopted during the pandemic, when it was difficult to sit for standardized tests, and many remained in place even as the threat of illness faded. The tests were thought to disadvantage lower-income students and those from under-resourced high schools. But a working paper coauthored in 2023 by Ackman professor of public economics Raj Chetty, Black professor of political economy and professor of education and economics David Deming, and John Friedman, a professor of economics at Brown, found standardized tests are a useful means of identifying promising students at less well-resourced high schools. In a statement, Chetty said “Critics correctly note that standardized tests are not an unbiased measure of students’ qualifications, as students from higher-income families often have greater access to test prep and other resources. But the data reveal that other measures—recommendation letters, extracurriculars, essays—are even more prone to such biases. Considering standardized test scores is likely to make the admissions process at Harvard more meritocratic while increasing socioeconomic diversity.”
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
Do you believe relying on essays and recommendations over standardized tests would make college admissions more inclusive, or could it increase bias?
@9LKNC5L 2mos2MO
I feel standardized tests are very our of date, and hearing someones experiences is more important to see if they would fit the school
@9LHFQFX2mos2MO
college admission are meat for future student to find unique individuals that are the right fit for colleges and university that individuals are able to talk about there personal aspect and their achievement, and strengths as a whole.
@9LHD3XT2mos2MO
I believe that it could be more biased because people would write recommendations for the people they like so if a principal liked specific students he could write letters for them and not exactly the people who deserve it
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
If standardized tests can be both biased and a tool for uncovering hidden talent, how should colleges navigate their use in admissions?
@9LHDB2L2mos2MO
Shows the real intellect within a person.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
Considering that standardized tests can be prepared for, does it seem fair to use them as a major factor in college admissions?
I certainly don't think it's unfair. To prepare for a standardized test also means you have the drive to actually study for it, and that you actually care about your education. I think just because a test is able to be prepared for does NOT mean that it makes the test invalid, and that there's more nuance to this than just "number higher or lower".
We were forced to take PSATs since 6th grade but never took any preparatory ACTs. I took multiple SATs in high school and did not get a good score. I did an ACT in 12th grade as a last resort because my SATs were low. I got a relatively high ACT score. If I had taken annual practice ACTs starting in 6th grade the same way we took PSATs, I could have gotten a score for an Ivy League level school. The government should either give both preparatory SATs and ACTs starting from the same grade or get rid of them completely
@9LHG3NB2mos2MO
I think that it probably isn't super fair
I think that it is good for those who are stronger at taking test rather than project and others assignments, however for those who tend to stress our, or don't have the bets memory it's kind of unfair because it leaves them stressed out and at a disadvantage
@AmiableRobinDemocrat2mos2MO
Does anyone know if there has been an expansion of remedial education at the Ivies?
@L1beralJasmineGreen2mos2MO
If you mean since they went test-optional, I'm not sure. My guess is it would be hard for them to respond that quickly in a formalized way. It's more likely they're seeing too many students struggle and finding it hard to help them, so that's one of the reasons they're going back to testing.
Most places already have various programs in place: year-long reading/writing courses for freshmen, summer programs for onboarding certain groups of students, easier intro courses in STEM, tutoring services, cohort models, etc., etc.
A recent op-ed in the Daily Princetonian listed some of these (and still wanted more to be done for equity).
@E1ectoralCaribouMountain2mos2MO
Do equity backers think that the requirements in college amount to white supremacy or that the requirements aren't necessary? Why would they want the standards lowered?
@FondSalamiForward2mos2MO
@BureaucratGarlicRepublican2mos2MO
is racism over?
@LivelyFeder4l1stLibertarian2mos2MO
that was a quick fix. They should tell the rest of the nation how they did it.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
Standardized testing doesn't have a religon, ethnicity nor skin color! It is merit based and should be utilized to provide a color blind standard for students! Everyone should be able to excel!
@BisonScarlettUnity2mos2MO
Now that the standards have been lowered, it doesn't matter. Send your kids to trade schools. They can start their own business. Debt free except for start up costs.
@9LHJ6YL2mos2MO
This is good because it means Harvard is returning the focus to actual knowledge rather than focusing on race/gender/sexuality etc. because those things should not be a deciding factor in college education. What you know and how well you can learn are more important.
One proclamation isn't going to change the deep seated racial and political turmoil that exists at Harvard or any other institution for that matter. It's going to take a complete review of all professors and administrators and terminate the ones that instigate the hate.
@RelievedPublicPolicyPatriot2mos2MO
Turns out, if your brand is “the best and the brightest”, then you actually need people who are, in fact, the best and the brightest. Ironically, the people who believe themselves to be the best and the brightest didn’t anticipate this becoming a thing. The world is hilarious.
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