<p>This is the title of an email that I got today (from College Board) and it just rubs me the wrong way!!! What are they trying to say? The ACT is inferior and students better take the SAT because as it says in the email - "Put your best foot forward. Sign up now to take the SAT: the test colleges want."</p>
<p>Oh well, too late with my kid, he took both, liked the ACT better and retook it! Colleges will just have to make do with it!</p>
<p>I thumb my nose at you College Board!! :D</p>
<p>Maybe with all of the problems the college board has had over the past year, they are losing students to the ACT and this could be part of an all out marketing blitz to bring people back.</p>
<p>Newsweek had a recent article:</p>
<p>Test Wars
Despite repeated promises of reform from the SAT's keepers, critics still find plenty to talk about. Could the ACT finally conquer all?</p>
<p>For one brief moment, after years of fear and loathing, America seemed ready to make peace with the SAT. When the University of California several years ago threatened to treat the test like a bad batch of cafeteria food and tell applicants not to buy it, the College Board junked the bewildering analogy questions (warthogs are to pigs as politicians are to what?), created a writing section (including producing an essay), added tougher math questions and more reading analysis—and had everybody talking about the new-and-improved SAT. </p>
<p>Then the first students to take SAT: The Sequel were seen stumbling out of the testing centers as if they had just run a marathon, and all the happy talk ended. The students, their parents, their counselors and the $1,000-per-course SAT prep companies said the new test was too long and exhausting, with the three hours and 45 minutes stretching to five hours with breaks and instructions. And it got worse. Nobody is sure how, but moisture in some SAT answer sheets caused pencil marks to bleed or fade, producing more than 5,000 tests with the wrong scores. Even after that was fixed, several universities reported a sharp drop in their applicants' average scores, which many attributed to exhaustion, and more colleges told applicants they would no longer have to take the SAT. </p>
<p>All of which stoked interest in the ACT, the SAT's less famous and less feared rival based in Iowa City, Iowa. The shorter test is now becoming a welcome alternative for many high schoolers who no longer see a need to endure the usual SAT trauma. "I think the ACT is a true player in the college-admissions game these days," says Robyn Lady, until recently a college counselor at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. </p>
<p>Here we go again!</p>
<p>A week would not be complete without an article--or post on CC--belittling the Ivy League, Haravard, or the SAT. As they say in the Netherlands, tall trees gather the most wind, but one has to question the motives behind the bashing.</p>
<p>What do we exactly learn from comments such as "I think the ACT is a true player in the college-admissions game these days?" The ACT has HAD a substantial presence in the US and a geographical advantage in the flyover part of the US. The only recent "phenomenom" is that a few super selective have published a higher degree of acceptance of the ACT. In certain cases the acceptance of the ACT offers a number of distinct loopholes--which I expect to be close soon, if the schools believe in the term integrity.</p>
<p>In the meantime, the differences between the two tests remain visible, yet hard to define. I frankly do not understand the discussions about length. Both tests require the investment of a morning, and one is not more of a torture than the other. As far as one being better than the other, people should simply take the one that fits their own individual test better. The tests are simply different. </p>
<p>PS The College Board has been known to send emails in the past. Should we blame them to use today's technology to spread their message? After all, for the detractors, there is a delete key on most computer! Me, I rather use the key on the garbage written by Jay Mathews, the duffus who is masquerading as a Newsweek "journalist." :D</p>
<p>The SAT has a reputation of being more of an "IQ" test than the ACT. The perception is that smart people from less competitive high schools (e.g., rural schools, for example, that don't have as much to offer) find the SAT welcome because its IQ like test attributes do not punish them for their less than spectacular high schools. I think there is something to this - most all of the borderline NCAA clearinghouse athletes (a depressingly large number in the major revenue sports of football and basketball) are pushed to take the ACT under the guise, accurate or not, that it is more of a knowledge test and a passing score can be earned more easily than with the SAT. Although these generalizations are frought with error and statistical interpretation - I think they make sense to a degree. The DNA of the SAT's is hard wired - the test was developed so that less privileged people could be measured more fairly than those with privileges and connections. So they may not find it easy to change.</p>
<p>I'm not bashing the SAT per se, just the marketing campaign from the College Board. Way to spread fear and insecurity among those applying to schools in the fall. Can't you see some poor uninformed kid reading that after taking the ACT and thinking, "Oh God, have I made a horrible mistake? I better sign up for the SAT because IT IS THE TEST COLLEGE's WANT!!" The whole thing is scary enough! Geez! </p>
<p>And mam, interesting post. I will be curious to see the responses you get.</p>
<p>Is the email REALLY that wicked?
[quote]
</p>
<p>SAT® Alert
August 16, 2006 </p>
<p>Dear LAXstar,</p>
<p>Fall SAT Registration Is AvailableRegister Now!</p>
<p>Sign your child up now to take the SAT: the test colleges want.</p>
<p>Why should my child take the SAT this fall? (a) Fulfill important college requirements.
(b) Take the test before college application deadlines.
(c) Show readiness for college-level work.
(d) Get noticed by more colleges.
(e) All of the above. </p>
<p>If you chose any of the answers above, consider registering your child, now.
Nearly all four-year colleges use SAT scores in admissions. Your child should take the SAT now, to get an important college applications requirement out of the way early.</p>
<p>Register for fall SAT tests</p>
<p>SAT Date Registration Deadline
October 14, 2006 September 12, 2006
November 4, 2006 September 29, 2006 </p>
<p>*Why you're receiving this email: Either you created a collegeboard.com account as a parent or your child gave us your email address when registering for the PSAT/NMSQT®. *</p>
<p>
[/quote]
</p>
<p>"In certain cases the acceptance of the ACT offers a number of distinct loopholes--which I expect to be close soon, if the schools believe in the term integrity."</p>
<p>Care to share?</p>
<p>xiggi, you read cc don't you? When people are hyper concerned about the whole college admissions process, a seemingly innocuous statement can send them into a tail spin. Implying that colleges want the SAT over any other standardized test (ACT) is in my opinion emotional blackmail. Whatever.. Like I said in my first post..It rubbed me the wrong way. </p>
<p>Plus, the email you quoted is not the way mine was written. Where is the line - Put your best foot forward! Sign up to take the SAT - The test colleges want! </p>
<p>Yeah, OK.. I'll jump on that.</p>
<p>Ag54, I believe I do read CC. Obviously, I do not know how many different versions of the email were sent, but mine was quoted in its entirety, except for the title that read, "The SAT - It's What Colleges Want." To the untrained eye, it seemed to be the same message you received. As far as the implications, I found the contents to be rather innocuous, especially when considered the deluge of college material in one's email or mail boxes. </p>
<p>ZoosterMom, several highly selective schools are accepting the ACT as replacement for several SAT Subject Tests. I have not checked many schools but Pomona was one of them. Also--subject to verification for this year--an enterprising applicants might use the ACT as the sole test required at Yale. I thought this was only open to foreign applicants, but the recent QA seems to indicate that it is now universal. Why selective schools consider the ACT Science section as a bona fide substitute to a SAT Subject Test remains entirely mysterious to me. Why the ACT could replace the SAT+3 Subject Tests is mind boggling. </p>
<p>Here are a few excerpts:</p>
<p>Which standardized tests does Yale require?
Yale requires either the SAT I or the ACT. Students who submit scores for the SAT I are also required to take three of the SAT II Subject Tests. They may take any three subject tests of their choosing. The middle 50 percent of Yale's entering class this year had scores between 700 and 790 on both the verbal and the math sections of the SAT I.</p>
<p>In evaluating SAT or ACT results, does Yale consider scores from previous test dates?
Yes, in the sense that readers of the application will see all of the test results that are in your file, since you are asked to self-report your scores from all test dates. The formal admissions committee that meets to vote on applications, however, will see only the highest score you received on any individual test, if you have repeated any of the tests. ** For the SAT I, the admissions committee will consider the highest score from each of the test's three sections. For the ACT, the admissions committee will consider the highest composite score.</p>
<p>Does Yale require the writing sample on the ACT and SAT I?
Yes.</p>
<p>** It is nice to see Yale acknowledging something I have repeated time after time when dicussions about taking the tests multiple times start. It has always been my contention that low-level technicians transfer the HIGHEST scores onto a reading card, and that no analysis of scores is made (trends, numbers of sittings, or other non-sense.) For the record, I also believe that very little is done as far as analyzing the HS transcript, except for marking down the GPA and the comments about challenging curriculum. Inasmuch as I believe that this information MIGHT come in play to help decide between two candidates--something schools tell us does not happen--I strongly believe that many, many lower GPA/test scores students have been summarily eliminated by the time a fuller analysis is made. Again, it is my speculation!</p>
<p>So, the loophole you are referring to is the fact that by submitting the ACT, an applicant can get away with not taking three SAT II's which are CLEARLY a better indicator of how someone will do in college. And school are showing a lack of "integrity" by accepting the lowly science section of the ACT in lieu of an SAT II science test.</p>
<p>Your SAT snobbery is showing.</p>
<p>And, to my wholly untrained eye, your email is not the same one that I received. But I completely bow to your substantial knowledge of all that is SAT.</p>
<p>"Your SAT snobbery is showing."</p>
<p>Ag54, feel free to consider my position as snobbish, if it makes you feel better. </p>
<p>However, would you please tell us why you DO think that the ACT is an acceptable substitute for the SAT Subject Tests, and maybe, tell us your perception of the extent of the differences between the SAT and the ACT that could justify this position? </p>
<p>However, I also have a rather simple question. Is the ACT Science comparable to any SAT Subject Test?</p>
<p>PS Ag54, why not copy/paste the text of your mail for comparison?</p>
<p>My D is going to be a junior this year.
Her sister took the PSAT in 10th & 11th
I may or may not have her take it- I haven't decided yet- she generally has a great deal of difficulty in tests and isn't an accurate representation of how she will do in college-because she is planning to take at least one year off before college, which will give her more time to mature, and more time to find a good fit school.
I also know that she will need accomodations for testing & while she does recieve them in school,COllege board has been denying some students accomdations, while ACT has been more * accomodating*</p>
<p>So I will probably suggest that she do the ACT instead.
Schools are accepting either/or, even though the regionally the ACT in years past has been a midwest thing, I also know students who submitted ACT scores in the past few years from this coast, to apply ( and were accepted) by schools on that other coast ;)</p>
<p>I also have a bias against companies who are doing their damndest to become a monopoly.</p>
<p>For God's sake xiggi, are you questioning the quote I took from the email I got? I hate to tell you, but CC discussions do not get me inflamed enough to lose my integrity and lie. But, I will copy and paste for you.</p>
<p>SAT® Alert</p>
<p>August 16, 2006 </p>
<p>Dear Student,</p>
<p>Fall SAT Registration Is Available—Register Now!</p>
<p>Put your best foot forward. Sign up now to take the SAT: the test colleges want.</p>
<p>Why should you take the SAT this fall?
(a) Fulfill important college requirements.
(b) Take the test before college application deadlines.
(c) Show your readiness for college-level work.
(d) Get noticed by more colleges.
(e) All of the above. </p>
<p>If you chose any of the answers above, register now</p>
<p>SAT Date Registration Deadline
October 14, 2006 September 12, 2006
November 4, 2006 September 29, 2006 </p>
<p>There, does that make you feel better? And, I really don't care much about the differences or if one is perceived to be better or any quantified B..S. that is spouted on this forum. All I care about is if colleges will accept one or the other, and according to the schools my s is applying to, they will and they won't hold it against him if he sends ACT scores. I think the hysteria is a contrived thing, and I think that anything that perpetuates that is wrong. Not all people read college forums or are knowledgeable about college app processes, and I think they are vulnerable to feeling insecure about the choices that they are making, such as whether to take the SAT or ACT. I think it is wrong to prey on those insecurities. </p>
<p>How many threads are there about whether someone should take the SAT or the ACT, or if colleges prefer one over the other, etc. To me, the email implies that colleges prefer the SAT and that, to me, is preying on people's ignorance of the fact that they will accept either.</p>
<p>And, I think your snobbishness shows when you question the integrity of colleges for choosing to take ACT scores in lieu of the SAT and SAT IIs. Don't you think that they have done the research or made the informed decision that they should accepte the ACT. I don't think admission officers make capricious decisions inclined to bring in less qualified matriculants. And, I assume they have come to the conclusion that a high scorer on one test will be a high scorer on the other, AND will be a valuable member of the incoming class.</p>
<p>Ag54, obviously I did not read the TCB message in the same way as you did. That is why I asked you to copy/paste the email!</p>
<p>As far as "any quantified B..S. that is spouted on this forum" there is not much I can say about that. Everyone comes here to share a bit of knowledge or seek answers to pesky questions. For many subjects, there are NO black and white answers, and in addition, the process of college admission is not a a static one. The perception of the ACT is indeed an example how things do change. </p>
<p>As far as using the ACT for 3 SAT-II (using the old name) I do believe it IS a loophole for everyone who DOES have access to SAT testing facilities. I also believe that the reason schools accept the ACT without asking for SAT-II is simply because you cannot require a test from people who cannot take it. This means that I do not think that the decision was based on the equivalency of the tests. The question worth asking is not if the ACT is comparable to the SAT, but WHY SAT takers have to take 3 additional SAT Subject Tests. </p>
<p>As a final note, I would also ask you to ascertain what my position is about the SAT and the ACT before judging it. I would be more than happy explaining my position and providing the reasoning behind my conclusions. </p>
<p>Fair?</p>
<p>
[quote]
** It is nice to see Yale acknowledging something I have repeated time after time when dicussions about taking the tests multiple times start. It has always been my contention that low-level technicians transfer the HIGHEST scores onto a reading card, and that no analysis of scores is made (trends, numbers of sittings, or other non-sense.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yale's statement doesn't appear to acknowledge that, if anything they are distinguishing between their procedure and one that never uses the non-highest scores. If something unusually strange or negative is visible in your SAT scores, a reader will notice, and if it's important enough in the context of your application, it can have an effect on what they write (either about SAT's specifically or in forming the more general comments that are seen by the formal committe if the app gets that far). That is consistent with not analyzing the score reports under a microscope, but it is different from never making such analyses at all.</p>