In My Humble Opinion
A New Option for Admission By Sammy Basu
For the past eight decades, sitting for an SAT or ACT test has been an essential step in students’ admission to higher education. But are such standardized tests needed to determine whether a student will succeed in college? A growing number of colleges think not, amid increasing evidence that first-generation college students and those from traditionally underrepresented groups are less likely to undertake or have access to preparation for these tests. Over the past two years, Willamette reviewed its holistic admission policies and committed to revising them. Since education is a critical component of a just and equitable society, widening access fulfills our motto — Not unto ourselves alone are we born. Beginning in fall 2017, prospective undergraduate students applying for admission will have the option either to submit an SAT or ACT score or instead to reflect in writing on how their educational and career goals might align with Willamette’s values and motto. Either way, all students will have their high school records holistically assessed. This new approach better reflects the university’s commitment to underrepresented students from minority groups or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, whose lived experiences and perspectives in turn enrich and enlighten our entire campus community. Since some of those talented students may be deterred from applying to Willamette if they are required to submit SAT and ACT scores, it was deemed vital to signal and share the promise of higher education at Willamette for all students who are smart, curious, creative and well-rounded and who manifest our values about caring for others and community. The new policy also brings Willamette into line with many other institutions of higher education across the country. Of U.S. News & World Report’s top 100 liberal arts colleges this year, 45 have made standardized tests optional for all or many of their prospective students. In addition, the change reflects Willamette’s alignment with another movement in higher education. “Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern for Others and the Common Good through College Admissions” is a collective effort by leading colleges, including Willamette, to “reshape the college admissions process and promote greater ethical engagement among aspiring students, reduce excessive achievement pressure and level the playing field for economically disadvantaged students.”
The College of Liberal Arts Faculty Admission Committee reviewed a number of studies about going test-optional before recommending this change. For two years, the committee of faculty and student representatives reviewed research and talked to members of the campus community at Willamette and other institutions. Among other information, they learned that a recent eight-year study of 33 test-optional colleges and 123,000 students found only a “trivial” difference of 0.05 percent cumulative GPA and 0.6 percent graduation rates between students who had and hadn’t submitted test scores. Other researchers found that students with strong high school GPAs and weak test scores did well in college, while students with strong test scores and weaker high school GPAs earned lower grades in college. Overall, while the SAT and ACT remain strong predictors of firstyear college performance, informed consideration of an applicant’s high school record can be comparably predictive of college success. In fact, an analysis of the last two years of incoming Willamette students found that a holistic review of high school performance, including GPA, was a stronger predictor of first-year students’ grades than the SAT alone. In addition, the SAT continues to be unduly sensitive to demographic factors, such as where and to whom students are born rather than to their abilities, raising concerns about impact on underrepresented and first-generation students. A University of California analysis of data from 1994-2011 that looked, in part, at how well the SAT predicted successful completion found that the test was a relatively poor predictor of whether students, especially those from underrepresented groups, would graduate from a UC school. On the basis of such national studies and the university’s own research, the committee concluded that Willamette could go test-optional and recruit more widely while maintaining — if not improving — academic quality and graduation rates. Of course, helping qualified students gain admission to a Willamette liberal arts education is only the first step. We also need to ensure we offer the financial aid resources, curriculum, teaching and support services to help our undergraduates navigate the transition from high school to college and then flourish here. Our goal is to help all our students succeed during and after their time at Willamette — doing otherwise is not an option.
Politics professor Sammy Basu chaired Willamette’s Faculty Admission Committee, which recommended a test-optional admission process. Read the committee’s full report online at willamette.edu/go/testoptional.
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SUMMER 2016