Omar Jennings’ Post

With only 6 test dates left for fall applicants - Harvard makes standardized tests mandatory again! Not sure the Crimson’s stated reasons for this reversal are accurate - but tests do predict something and scores are malleable (which generally translates to “fair”) and valuable in academia. (Indeed one could argue that even outside of academia, Life is a test) . The pervasive issue with using tests as proxies for intellect, is the distribution of false negatives — which corresponds to certain groups that historically lack access to test prep and early exposure to academic English. The scores also start to lose value around the 90th percentile (tho Harvard’s mean SAT score is higher than that). But for some reason the K-school dean quoted by Crimson claims. that tests are fairer than other admissions criteria which are far less important (like personal statements). I can’t see how that’s true when it takes a lot more to prep for an exam than to write an essay (also diverse students tend to have interesting subject matter for their essays)..hmmm “In a press release Harvard referenced a study from Harvard-affiliated initiative Opportunity Insights, led by Brown University economist John N. Friedman ’02 and Harvard economists Raj Chetty ’00 and David J. Deming, which found that SAT scores are a particularly strong predictor of college success – much more so than a student’s high school grade point average. Some experts also said that a return to requiring standardized test scores could help universities like Harvard increase the racial and socioeconomic diversity of its student body. Deming, a finalist to serve as dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, wrote in a statement that the requirement of standardized test scores provides the “fairest admissions policy for disadvantaged applicants.” “Not everyone can hire an expensive college coach to help them craft a personal essay. But everyone has the chance to ace the SAT or the ACT,” Deming wrote.

Standardized Test Scores & Admissions – The oscillation in policies and adversity in students’ selection. Review and Current Trend Standardized tests are the gateways to higher education. With the GRE and GMAT for graduate admissions, the latter is exclusively for business school admissions, while the SAT and ACT are for college admissions. This has been a trend for many decades since the 1950s. However, there has been a recent shift towards dropping test requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading many universities to adopt test-optional or no-test-required policies. In the past two to three years, a significant number of U.S. institutions have dropped the requirement for standardized test scores, being particularly critical of the SAT, GRE, and ACT, while being more lenient with the GMAT. Nevertheless, universities are now fully committed to assessing the abilities and success potential of students admitted without standardized test scores. Many professors have expressed reservations about this new practice, as they await the graduation of the first batch of test-free admits in 2025. There have been movements in America advocating for equal rights for underprivileged children, demanding that educational institutions admit students without requiring standardized tests. These voices were especially prominent during COVID-19, when test-taking was difficult and application numbers dropped. Although there was optimism about the current test-free admissions process, recently, some elite Ivy League members, such as Harvard, Caltech, Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown, have reinstated the SAT requirement. Industry experts believe other schools may soon reinstate the SAT or ACT requirements for college admissions. It is expected that nearly 1.3 million ACT test-takers and 1.9 million SAT test-takers will apply to these universities. Many of these applicants are prepared to submit their scores despite universities' stated disinterest in test scores. Similarly, the number of GRE and GMAT test-takers has remained stable, with nearly 300,000 for the GRE and 100,000 for the GMAT. Since not all universities have dropped the GRE requirement, reinstatement of GRE scores could be expected at any time, causing uncertainty for applicants. Such oscillation in test requirements could disadvantage students by affecting their commitment to preparing for the exams thoroughly. It is also expected that graduate programs might reinstate the GRE requirement for Fall 2025, once the academic performance of the first batch of test-free admits has been fully evaluated. Indeed, we should fall the traces of universities's oscillation. #collegeadmissions #sat #gre #gmat #grad #msinusa #studyabroad #usadmissions #highereducation Anand G Shankar GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT Mentor & Study Abroad Admissions Coach

Why SAT Prep is Crucial for College Admissions Success Stanford University will reinstate its requirement for standardized tests, such as the SAT or ACT, for undergraduate admissions beginning with applicants for the fall 2025 term. This decision follows a review by the faculty Committee on Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid, which concluded that standardized test scores are an important predictor of academic performance at Stanford. The university had previously adopted a test-optional policy during the COVID-19 pandemic but has decided to return to requiring these scores to ensure they have the fullest array of information to evaluate each applicant holistically https://lnkd.in/gpSwEPR7 Yale has announced it will also reinstate its requirement for standardized test scores for admissions, citing that these scores are strong predictors of academic success. This change will take effect for students applying for the fall 2025 term https://lnkd.in/gXk2BrdU... https://lnkd.in/gKEMNMCp Harvard will require standardized tests again starting with the Class of 2029, reversing its temporary test-optional policy. The decision is based on studies that highlight the predictive value of standardized test scores for academic success https://lnkd.in/gzCbuBVT... Caltech has reinstated the requirement for SAT or ACT scores for undergraduate admission beginning in fall 2024. The university emphasized the importance of these tests in evaluating the academic preparedness of applicants https://lnkd.in/gaCqV_94... These articles reflect a broader trend among highly selective universities reassessing the role of standardized tests in the admissions process. The return to requiring SAT and ACT scores indicates a renewed emphasis on these exams as valuable tools for predicting student success and ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of applicants. #SATPrepMatters #CollegeAdmissions #FutureSuccess

Harvard Brings Back the SAT/ACT – What Does This Mean for College Admissions? Harvard's announcement that it will require standardized test scores for fall 2025 admissions has reignited one of higher education's most enduring debates. It's reigniting those fiery debates about fairness, opportunity, and what makes a good applicant. 📌 The Pros & Cons: Why Harvard says tests = opportunity, and why others disagree 🖇 Harvard's message? Tests help them find overlooked talent from all backgrounds AND are strong predictors of college success. 🖇 Critics say no way, the SAT/ACT advantage those who can afford prep, perpetuating existing inequalities. 📌 Did COVID Kill Test-Optional? What this means for other schools The pandemic made a lot of colleges go test-optional. Harvard's move is a major signal. ❓ Will others follow suit? And what if you applied relying on that test-optional promise? 📌 What's a Fair Way to Judge Applicants? ⁉ Holistic admissions sounded great, but are schools truly using it to diversify their student body? Maybe it's time for new assessment tools entirely. Bigger Picture: Will this change college admissions as we know it? 📌 Possible scenarios: 🔍 Prestigious schools may reconsider test-optional policies. Could this create a renewed disadvantage for applicants who truly have no testing access? 🔍 Expect renewed arguments about what "educational opportunity" means, maybe even policy battles. 🔍 Maybe this fuels better test prep access, and a serious push for fairer, less biased assessment tools 📌 What's YOUR take? 🤔 Does mandating tests level the field OR create new barriers? 🤔 What qualities should colleges REALLY prioritize when reviewing applicants? Hit the comments! #highered #collegeadmissions #standardizedtesting #thefuture #equityinopportunity #college #graduates https://lnkd.in/gfDWtXDm

Harvard Reinstates Standardized Testing Requirements for Admissions! 🏫💫 In a notable shift in admissions policy, Harvard University announced that starting with applicants for the fall 2025 semester, standardized test scores will once again be required. This move aligns with similar decisions made by other prestigious institutions like Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a few others, marking a departure from the temporary test-optional policies adopted during the pandemic. Harvard's decision reflects a broader trend among elite universities to revert to using standardized tests as part of a holistic admissions process. Despite an earlier commitment to maintain a test-optional policy through the class of 2030, Harvard noted that most applicants in recent years chose to submit their scores regardless. The rationale provided by Harvard underscores the value of standardized tests in ensuring a level playing field, allowing students from all backgrounds to demonstrate their potential in a uniformly measurable way. According to Hopi Hoekstra, a Harvard dean, these scores can be crucial in providing context to an applicant's academic abilities and potential for success in higher education. It's important to note, however, that while some prestigious universities have resumed requiring test scores, a significant number of U.S. colleges and universities continue to uphold test-free or test-optional admissions policies. This ongoing divergence in admissions strategies highlights the complex and evolving landscape of higher education in the post-pandemic era. Where do you stand on standardized testing in college admissions? Are they a fair measure of a student's potential, or do they present barriers to access for certain groups? Let us know in the comments section!🤔⤵ #jitinchawla #centreforcareerdevelopment #highereducation #admissions #standardizedtesting #harvarduniversity #testoptional #collegeadmissions #educationtrends Bharat Bhardwaj Sumer Broota Vikram Soni Akshaiy Srivastav Dr.Rishi Mishra Bhawna Tanvar Vinita Suri Bhavika Bhambri Ribhu Chadha Kirti Dixit

An interesting take. Regardless of whether Theo's claims are right we need to consider what our IB values are. this post I just read resonates the same type of question https://lnkd.in/dvxUVB3f

Harvard has announced it is immediately returning to standardized SAT scores for determining admissions: https://lnkd.in/eEsNBtCq Ironically, Harvard discontinued its undergraduate education program several years ago https://lnkd.in/et_sijnq, while at the same time maintaining influence over the IBO and its curriculum development: https://lnkd.in/ecDwt56s If my understanding is correct, the IBO is currently developing and testing its next-generation curriculum with a university partner that no longer educates student teachers, and so can not be seen as being at the forefront of new ideas in K-12 pedagogy. Further, by insisting on SAT scores for entrance, Harvard is perpetuating the traditional hierarchical education model that serves an extractive economy that is pushing humanity past the limits of its planetary boundaries. By working with the IBO at the highest level to help develop new IBO curricula, is Harvard transmitting its conservative education views to the IBO? If so, this runs 100% contrary to the stated opinions of the IBO leadership regarding the need for innovation in education. How does a return to standardized entrance exams represent innovation in education? I think the IBO should clarify its stance on the use of standardized assessment versus more holistic assessment models (portfolio's etc.) for university entrance purposes. Olli-Pekka Heinonen Faith Abiodun Lutfey Siddiqi James Godfrey-Faussett Sameer Arora. Tim Logan Isela Consuegra Jean-Christophe Deberre Totty Ellwood Aris Christoph HammerFerdinand Kobelt Cyrille NKontchou Monique Seefried Benjamin Freud, Ph.D. Jan Dijkstra Dr Nicole Bien Shehzad Jeeva Marco Dondi Giles Hutchins Laura Storm Marija Uzunova Dang

We so desperately need more studies on university contextual admissions. We know that students who enrol with lower entry grades are as likely to secure degrees. But amid wider school divides, more evidence is needed to develop best practice on which specific indicators and practices should be best used for admissions to help widen access into universities. https://lnkd.in/eZPZhktK

SCORES needed at more #colleges & #universities esp for #scholarships, #parents of #highschool #students be aware! https://lnkd.in/ehQDxPqT "Want to go to the The University of Texas at Austin ? You’ll need to submit your #SAT and #ACT scores. The University of Texas at Austin has reinstituted a standardized testing requirement in its admissions process. This test-optional policy was adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, like many other schools. It is also not the first school to go back on such a policy, as UT joins Georgetown, MIT, Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, Purdue, and the entire university systems in Florida and Georgia in #requiring standardized test scores. The University of Texas has provided some numbers showing why test scores are valuable. Submitters had a median SAT score of 1420, while non-submitters had a median score of 1160. The school also found that the submitters also had a higher college #GPA once enrolled, and were less likely to have a failing GPA in their freshman year. While that’s the University of Texas’s data, don’t expect things to be different at other major universities. These findings are in line with what MIT, Dartmouth, and Yale gave as reasons for reinstituting their test-required policies. Schools are increasingly saying they view standardized test scores as a positive in a holistic #admissions process." cc: CMH Tutoring And Consulting