A variety of Ivy League establishments have adopted insurance policies the place standardized take a look at scores, such because the SAT or ACT, should not a compulsory part of the applying course of. This permits college students to decide on whether or not or to not submit their scores for consideration. For example, an applicant with sturdy grades and extracurricular actions however a lower-than-expected standardized take a look at rating would possibly decide to not embrace that rating of their utility.
The adoption of those insurance policies goals to broaden entry to greater training for a extra numerous vary of scholars. This contains these from deprived backgrounds who might not have had entry to the identical take a look at preparation assets as their extra privileged friends. Traditionally, standardized exams have been criticized for doubtlessly perpetuating socioeconomic inequalities. Eliminating the requirement can shift the main focus to different points of a pupil’s profile, akin to their tutorial document, essays, and letters of advice, thus offering a extra holistic analysis.
