NO SATs or ACTs????

[gtcam]

Just heard that those seeking undergrad admissions to UConn won't have to be required to take the SATs or ACTs over next 3 years. Those damn SATs stopped me from getting into 2 or 3 schools (I'm a math idiot) in the early 70s. Confused as to why can't students take these tests under some type of controlled environment. Wish I had this opportunity.
Just wondering how that will impact overall enrollment in terms of numbers and quality.

 

[krinklecut]

Just heard that those seeking undergrad admissions to UConn won't have to be required to take the SATs or ACTs over next 3 years. Those damn SATs stopped me from getting into 2 or 3 schools (I'm a math idiot) in the early 70s. Confused as to why can't students take these tests under some type of controlled environment. Wish I had this opportunity.
Just wondering how that will impact overall enrollment in terms of numbers and quality.

That's a good thing. SATs and ACTs were already dying. They're a better test of privilege than intelligence. Now it's accelerated.

 

[temery]

I wonder how many rich people had already paid a bundle to someone to take the test for their kid?

No refunds

 

[HooperScooper]

Many schools have done this already. And many schools were already test optional (FairTest | The National Center for Fair and Open Testing). Some colleges have been saying that they don't need a standardized test to assess a student's credentials and that the scores on these tests are not a great predictor of success in college. I expect you'll continue to see these standardized tests become less utilized in the future.

Colleges are making the SAT and ACT optional now. Will that stick? - The Boston Globe

The coronavirus may hasten the end of required tests for college admissions.

www.bostonglobe.com

 

[8893]

I wonder how many rich people had already paid a bundle to someone to take the test for their kid?

No refunds

Worse yet, think of how many test takers this is going to put out of work.

 

[goskis2018]

That's a good thing. SATs and ACTs were already dying. They're a better test of privilege than intelligence. Now it's accelerated.

Someone was a bad test taker, eh?

 

[UConnTrumbull]

The state of Connecticut gives the SAT for free now, once per year for juniors. I doubt it’s going away. Public schools have basically kept SAT alive.

 

[intlzncster]

Worse yet, think of how many test takers this is going to put out of work.

It's a billion dollar industry.

 

[sledog]

Did Lori Laughlin's kid ever get into USC? or anywhere?

 

[intlzncster]

That's a good thing. SATs and ACTs were already dying. They're a better test of privilege than intelligence. Now it's accelerated.

Eh, it's just gonna shift things more to the privileged. Those kids from 'good' schools (ie wealthy people) will be even more favored now, as there's not balance for the 'lesser' kids to prove themselves.

 

[intlzncster]

Did Lori Laughlin's kid ever get into USC? or anywhere?

Why bother? This whole thing made her famous on her own. She now has 1.3 million insta followers and probably clears $250-500k per year

 

[krinklecut]

Someone was a bad test taker, eh?

No lol my scores saved me. No way was I getting into UConn with my grades.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Eh, it's just gonna shift things more to the privileged. Those kids from 'good' schools (ie wealthy people) will be even more favored now, as there's not balance for the 'lesser' kids to prove themselves.

It is going to be this, on steroids. How can getting rid of SAT's possibly help those from disadvantaged or even middle class backgrounds?

 

[nadavtheman]

I'm a teacher and do a lot of SAT/ACT tutoring in a privileged CT community so I will feel the pinch. Kids with borderline grades will still take take it to put them over the top. Kids who kill it in the classroom will pass.

 

[goskis2018]

I won't pretend to know which way favors the privileged more, what I do know is that this would have been very bad news for me going through the College application process. My standardized test scores carried my overall applicant portfolio and, frankly, I think they were a very strong indicator of my success as collegiate student. As a student I was built to succeed in collegiate class structures (less emphasis on busy-work/homework and greater emphasis on tests/projects) and I feel like my standardized test scores exhibited that potential to College Admissions offices.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Eh, it's just gonna shift things more to the privileged. Those kids from 'good' schools (ie wealthy people) will be even more favored now, as there's not balance for the 'lesser' kids to prove themselves.

I won't pretend to know which way favors the privileged more, what I do know is that this would have been very bad news for me going through the College application process. My standardized test scores carried my overall applicant portfolio and, frankly, I think they were a very strong indicator of my success as collegiate student. As a student I was built to succeed in collegiate class structures (less emphasis on busy-work/homework and greater emphasis on tests/projects) and I feel like my standardized test scores exhibited that potential to College Admissions offices.

There are several ways this plays out and all of them end up with those having money and access ending up better than those without.

As far as underprivileged kids being disaffected some state schools are going to a straight top 5 percent get in to first tier, the second 5 or 10 percent go second tier and the rest go to directional schools.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Nothing to kill or die for

 

[HuskyHawk]

Just heard that those seeking undergrad admissions to UConn won't have to be required to take the SATs or ACTs over next 3 years. Those damn SATs stopped me from getting into 2 or 3 schools (I'm a math idiot) in the early 70s. Confused as to why can't students take these tests under some type of controlled environment. Wish I had this opportunity.
Just wondering how that will impact overall enrollment in terms of numbers and quality.

Yeah, my daughter had two SAT tests cancelled without notice. Looks like almost every school will have to be test optional next year. That will help some and hurt others. I certainly wish we hadn't spent a bunch of money on a prep course.

The main concerns I have are that we really now have very poor ability to know where a 2020-21 senior will get in. Even guidance counselors will be guessing as it will be new at most schools. Also, visits, will they happen at all? I hope so. Committing to go somewhere for four years without visiting isn't something I think they should have to do.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The state of Connecticut gives the SAT for free now, once per year for juniors. I doubt it’s going away. Public schools have basically kept SAT alive.

They aren't letting them take it. No mass gatherings.

 

[Austin316]

Hard Take: Shift in UConn population from thinkers to drinkers. How Covid19 moved UConn from a top 25 public institution to the #1 party school in the nation. UConn is back to the Big East.

 

[NJHusky]

That's a good thing. SATs and ACTs were already dying. They're a better test of privilege than intelligence. Now it's accelerated.

So every priveleged kid does well on std tests? Didn’t know that. Figured there would be a range of scores. Is the correlation linear between level of privilege and scores? So the top 1% $$ Are all in the top 1% of test scores?

 

[HooperScooper]

Yeah, my daughter had two SAT tests cancelled without notice. Looks like almost every school will have to be test optional next year. That will help some and hurt others. I certainly wish we hadn't spent a bunch of money on a prep course.

The main concerns I have are that we really now have very poor ability to know where a 2020-21 senior will get in. Even guidance counselors will be guessing as it will be new at most schools. Also, visits, will they happen at all? I hope so. Committing to go somewhere for four years without visiting isn't something I think they should have to do.

Is this the first child of yours going through the college search? I've gone through this process (and it is a big process these days!) with both of my sons and was extensively involved. The SAT/ACT isn't as important as you would think. Other things a student has are much more important. Although my sons mostly looked at small liberal arts colleges and I will admit the bigger schools did place more emphasis on standardized test scores than the LACs.

I know when using Naviance the only quantitative data sets they can put on the graph are GPA and standardized test scores. It's impossible to analyze the extra curriculars and a student's involvement/leadership in those activities but they are just as important, if not more important, than standardized test scores.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Is this the first child of yours going through the college search? I've gone through this process (and it is a big process these days!) with both of my sons and was extensively involved. The SAT/ACT isn't as important as you would think. Other things a student has are much more important. Although my sons mostly looked at small liberal arts colleges and I will admit the bigger schools did place more emphasis on standardized test scores than the LACs.

I know when using Naviance the only quantitative data sets they can put on the graph are GPA and standardized test scores. It's impossible to analyze the extra curriculars and a student's involvement/leadership in those activities but they are just as important, if not more important, than standardized test scores.

First and only. I am glad we started looking in the fall. She has good grades in all honors/AP classes at a private HS. So a good weighted GPA. Extracurricular are so-so, nothing great. No SAT may help her, or hurt her. We really don't know.

I am hoping we get some opportunity to visit colleges by late summer/fall. That was supposed to be a big activity for the family this summer (canceled a trip over April break).

 

[Chief00]

In my opinion, bad for academics, great for the recruiting Grind.