Harvard University recently announced that it will reinstate the requirement for applicants to submit standardized test scores, starting with students applying for admission in fall 2025 (the class of 2029). This decision marks a shift from the test-optional policy that had been in effect through the class of 2030. This change at Harvard follows similar decisions by other prestigious universities like Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown, which have also decided to require standardized tests for the class of 2029 and beyond.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges, including Harvard, adopted test-optional policies. This change was primarily because it was challenging for students to take standardized tests in a safe and accessible manner. Additionally, there was a growing concern that standardized tests might unfairly disadvantage students from lower-income backgrounds and those attending under-resourced schools. Despite these concerns, a test-optional approach remained even as the immediate threats of the pandemic lessened.
However, a recent study coauthored by Raj Chetty, a Harvard professor of public economics; David Deming, a professor of political economy and education; and John Friedman, an economics professor at Brown University, suggests that standardized tests are valuable tools. Their research indicates that these tests help identify talented students from less privileged high schools who might otherwise be overlooked. Professor Chetty pointed out that while standardized tests are not free from bias—higher-income families often have better access to test preparation resources—they might still be a more objective measure compared to other application components like letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and personal essays, which can be even more biased.
Echoing this sentiment, MIT, which reinstated a testing requirement the previous year, recently reported that it had enrolled its most diverse class ever. This diversity achievement was attributed in part to the reinstatement of testing requirements, highlighting the potential benefits of standardized tests in promoting a meritocratic and socioeconomically diverse student body.
Harvard’s updated policy will not only require SAT or ACT scores but will also accept other standardized tests like AP exams and International Baccalaureate scores in exceptional cases. This approach is somewhat similar to Yale’s recently announced “test-flexible” policy, which also allows a range of standardized test scores to be submitted by applicants.
Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi Hoekstra explained that standardized tests provide crucial information that can predict a student’s success in college and beyond. She emphasized that when students choose not to submit their test scores, they might withhold information that could have supported their application based on the context of their educational background.
Professor Deming also highlighted the universal aspect of standardized tests. He argued that while not everyone can afford a private college consultant to enhance their application essays, standardized tests offer an equal opportunity for all students to demonstrate their capabilities. He believes that the availability of these tests provides a fairer admissions process, especially for disadvantaged applicants.
Despite the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that prohibits considering race in admissions, Harvard and other institutions continue to evaluate applicants holistically. This means they consider all aspects of a student’s application to understand their strengths and potential weaknesses fully. William Fitzsimmons, the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Harvard, noted that while test scores are important, they are just one of many factors considered during the admissions process. He acknowledged that students from less affluent backgrounds or those who are the first in their family to attend college might not have had as many opportunities to prepare for standardized tests, which is considered in their comprehensive review process.
This article is based on the following article:
https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2024/04/standardized-tests-for-admission-reinstated
Background Information
By understanding these aspects, readers can better grasp the significance of changes in admissions policies and how they might affect future college applicants.
1. Standardized Tests (SAT and ACT)
- What are they? The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) and ACT (American College Testing) are standardized tests commonly used for college admissions in the United States. They are designed to assess a high school student’s readiness for college by evaluating mathematical, reading, and writing skills.
- Purpose: These tests aim to provide colleges with a common measure to compare the academic capabilities of students from different educational backgrounds and schools.
2. Test-Optional, Test-Flexible, and Test-Required Policies
- Test-Optional: Colleges that adopt this policy do not require applicants to submit their standardized test scores, though students can still choose to submit them if they believe the scores enhance their application.
- Test-Flexible: This policy allows students to submit scores from a range of tests, which might include SAT, ACT, Advanced Placement (AP) exams, International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, and others, giving students more control over the parts of their academic strength they wish to highlight.
- Test-Required: Institutions with this policy mandate that all applicants submit SAT or ACT scores as a part of their application process.
3. Impact of COVID-19 on Admissions Policies
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, many standardized tests were canceled or postponed, which led numerous colleges and universities to adopt test-optional or test-flexible policies temporarily. This was done to alleviate the stress on applicants who might have found it difficult or impossible to safely sit for these exams.
4. Socioeconomic Factors in College Admissions
- Access to Resources: Students from higher-income families often have better access to resources such as tutoring, test preparation courses, and guidance counseling, which can give them an advantage in preparing for standardized tests.
- Bias in College Admissions: Critics argue that reliance on standardized tests can perpetuate inequalities, as not all students have the same level of access to preparation resources. Conversely, some argue that standardized tests provide a more objective measure of student capability than more subjective criteria like essays or letters of recommendation, which can also be influenced by a student’s socioeconomic status.
5. Holistic Admissions Process
- Many colleges, including Harvard, use a holistic review process. This means they consider the whole applicant, including academic achievements, personal essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and life experiences, in addition to standardized test scores. The aim is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the student’s strengths and potential to succeed in a diverse academic environment.
6. Recent Legal and Social Debates
- Recent legal decisions, including those by the Supreme Court, have affected how colleges can consider factors like race and ethnicity in admissions. This has reignited discussions on the best ways to ensure diversity and equality of opportunity in higher education.
Debate/Essay Questions
- Do standardized tests promote equity in college admissions by providing a uniform measure of student ability, or do they reinforce socioeconomic disparities?
- Is reinstating standardized testing requirements a necessary measure for academic assessment, or does it potentially exclude talented students who perform poorly on these tests?
- Given the disparities in access to test preparation resources, is it fair to require standardized tests for college admissions?
- Are there viable alternatives to standardized tests that colleges could use to assess student readiness for college that might be more inclusive?
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