Changes in the college admissions process may not help applicants

[roethlisburger]

An “average” kid, raised in a poor family, without good nutrition, decent healthcare, safe places to study, while missing breakfasts, having to work after school, and having a poor school, and their SAT score will likely be below 800. Provide them with decent meals, space in school to study, some extra time after school, and their SAT will likely be around 1000. Provide them with their own room, private tutors and SAT prep, etc, and their SAT score will likely be around 1200 or higher. Take an above average kid, and the scores will be more like 1000, 1200 and 1400or a bit higher.

Money won’t allow a below average student to get a 1500, but family income will help a smart kids get a 1500 instead of a 1200. Since most “elite” colleges won’t look at a student with an SAT score of 1200, it is fair to say that money is a critical requirement for many wealthy kids with SAT scores of 1500.

The studies I’ve seen on paid test prep classes is that on average they add about 30 points to the SAT, not 300. There’s a lot of conjecture here. Going to better schools and not sharing a room with siblings may improve SAT scores, but where are the studies to prove it? There are assumptions about time availability. Most businesses, including menial fast food jobs, don’t want to hire anyone under 16 to work during the school year. Even if they wanted to work, those under 16 may find it difficult to find an employer willing to hire them during the school year.