MBA Career: Elite Colleges Reintroduce SAT as Admission Requirement

Last Updated on March 1, 2024 by Robert C. Hoopes

Elite schools such as Yale and Dartmouth have sparked controversy by reinstating test requirements, arguing that standardized exams like the SAT are the best predictors of academic success on their campuses. This move has reignited the debate over standardized tests and their impact on students of color.

Research by Opportunity Insights has shown that SATs can actually help identify talented students from low-income backgrounds who may not have access to other academic opportunities. However, critics argue that the SAT is biased against students of color and benefits those who can afford expensive test preparation services.

The removal of race-based affirmative action in college admissions has forced schools to reevaluate their admissions processes to ensure diversity. While some schools like MIT believe that test scores provide valuable insights into student success, others like Amherst College maintain a test-optional policy, prioritizing high school performance as a stronger predictor of success on their campus.

Education consultants have noted that wealthy clients often pay high fees for services to boost college applications, but the focus is not always on SAT preparation. Despite this, many colleges are still considering the role of test scores in their admissions process and are weighing the pros and cons of making standardized tests a requirement once again.

In the end, the debate over standardized testing continues to rage on, with arguments on both sides regarding the effectiveness and fairness of using test scores as a determinant for student success in college. With elite schools taking different stances on the issue, it remains to be seen how the role of standardized testing will evolve in the college admissions process.