Are We Better Off Without SAT?from Students Perspective

By Hasti Sharif

In recent years, we have seen colleges pull away from considering SAT scores for admission purposes. California is the prime example of the top institutions such as UC and CSU universities no longer requiring the SAT score as part of the application process. After discussing this change with the school counselor, it seems that many colleges are doing this due to numerous factors.

What is typically seen is students who are from low-income housing, have a lower test score compared to more affluent students. After interviewing students at Olympian High School who are preparing for the SAT, it does not take long to realize how expensive this process can be. When taking the test students must prepare and the majority pay for a private tutor. The cost of these tutors, according to Olympian students, range from 30-80 dollars per hour. Due to this factor, the question of whether or not the SAT is discriminatory arises. By not requiring this test, universities are hoping to make college applicants start at a more level playing field. However, many people who support the SAT testing argue that without this system, universities may not be able to accurately assess who is college ready. It is clear that universities are looking for something different now; something different from what was being deemed as a top student years ago. Will students have to aspire to be more individualistic rather than just focusing on grades and test scores? Some of my peers feel like they do not know what colleges are looking for now. So, does this put students under more or less pressure now that the SAT score is not being taken into account for admission purposes? Going deeper into this question, I interviewed students at Olympian High School who have finished their applications (the seniors) and asked how they felt about this new change. While the majority expressed their liking for this new approach to the admission process, there were a couple of students who felt this change was making their application process even more stressful. The students who did not appreciate this change