Rethinking Admissions: Should Colleges Still Look At SAT Scores?

Once, the almighty standardized test score could mean the difference between getting into a top university or a mediocre one. But the popularity among competitive institutions of using the SAT or ACT score as a key factor in determining admission has started to fade.

A check of universities around the country shows that a growing number have stopped requiring prospective students to submit SAT scores.

Indeed, the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges 2012” guide released last month ranks more than eight dozen undergraduate schools with test-optional admissions policies as among the best in the nation, according to the non-profit National Center for Fair & Open Testing.

Wake Forest University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and American University are among the highly ranked national universities that do not require all or many applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores before admissions decisions are made. At the top of the liberal arts college category are such test-optional schools as Bowdoin, Smith, Bates, Holy Cross, Mount Holyoke, Sewanee, Union, Furman, and Pitzer.

“The test-optional movement now includes many of the most selective schools in the nation,” explained Bob Schaeffer, National Center's public education director. “Students who do not want to be judged on the basis of their ACT or SAT scores are welcome at a growing number of top-notch colleges and universities of every type in every region.”

Since 2005, nearly 80 colleges and universities have adopted “test-optional” policies, he said.

Montclair State University has not relied on SAT scores as the sole success indicator when considering students for undergraduate admission for the past 10 years, said Bryan Terry, associate vice president for enrollment and student academic support.

"While the SAT serves a purpose, strong GPAs, high school rigor, teacher recommendations, and personal essays are stronger indicators of success at Montclair State,” Terry said. “Utilizing a variety of assessment factors, the university has seen greater student achievement and a rise in graduation rates.”

Those in favor of phasing out the use of standardized test scores say it's a way of equalizing the playing field for applicants. They point out that wealthy parents often hire expensive tutors, giving their children a better chance of scoring well on tests.

But those against it say standardized test scores are still one of the best predictors for college success, and they argue that most universities use them in a responsible and equitable manner.

 Roger Ochoa, the owner and director of Chyten Educational Services in Upper Montclair, said the SAT still means a lot to most universities.

"I think one of the reasons that some schools are making it optional is to satisfy that segment of the college-bound population that says 'I'm not a good test taker but i still want to apply to that school' and indeed there are kids who aren't good test takers," he said. "But the SAT is a coachable test and if you get a low score you can coach to that."

Ochoa warned students against believing that the application process will be a lot easier at schools that don't pay great heed to SAT scores.

"Often the schools make you write additional essays and if you aren't a good essay writer then you could be in trouble," he said. "Don't believe the application process will be easier at schools that don't consider test scores because that might not be the case."

Meanwhile, some institutions, like Wake Forest University, found that dropping the SAT requirement increased their student body's diversity—the percentage of undergraduate minority students climbed from 18 to 23 percent once Wake Forest joined the ranks of SAT-free schools.

So what do you think? Do you think the SAT should be phased out? Let us know in the comments section.