As many high school students know, the college application process can be very stressful. Essays, recommendation letters, grades… it seems never-ending! The college admissions process has been dramatically affected by the events of the past couple of years. Perhaps the biggest adjustment of these is the shift to a test-optional admission process.
Due to a gradual, years-long shift to holistic admissions, many universities no longer require students to submit standardized test scores (like the SAT or ACT) in their applications. There are various benefits and harms in this new system. The typical student may be glad they don’t have to take a 4-hour-long test on a Saturday morning at 8 am. However, it shifts colleges’ focus from exams to other aspects of an application–such as grades, essays, and extracurriculars.
Standardized tests are designed to level the playing field by giving all students the same test. Since all schools have different classes, GPAs, and sports, it’s important to measure all students with one condition that is the same no matter where they live. However, some aspects of standardized testing have contributed to greater inequity. The SAT costs about $50 to take, an unreasonable price for numerous American students. Furthermore, wealthy students can pay large sums of money for specialized tutoring to improve their scores, giving them an advantage over other students who lack these financial capabilities.
Furthermore, the average standardized exam score for schools has increased, since only students with exceptional scores submit them. For example, Boston University’s average SAT Furthermore, the average standardized exam score for schools has increased, since only students with exceptional scores submit them. For example, Boston University’s average SAT score from the Fall 2021 applications is 1420, but only about 50% of applicants submitted their test scores.
Students may like the option to submit standardized test scores, however, it does create a notable disparity in the college admissions process. It seems that this change is one that will be hard to revert and the majority of schools will remain test-optional for the foreseeable future.
Since this new system is here to stay, we must make the most of it. Extracurricular activities will be a determining factor in which colleges you can go to. Spotivity can help you get a head start on finding the perfect extracurricular opportunities you need! Start now and pursue your passion!
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Be #neverbored again by using the spotivity app and find activities that fit your needs. We help you find programing that can lead to your passion. Whether that is an art program to practice graffiti, a sports program to engage in competition, an education support class to improve your grades, or just finding someone to talk to – spotivity has your back. Backed by research and continually informed by users, spotivity is the tool to help you unlock your world and expand the list of options you can take advantage of.
