I’m just interested in seeing what everyone thinks about these tests and their prevalence.
Personally, I am electing not to take them at all because I am fundamentally against using a test that is completely unrelated to my major of choice to be judged. I realize the effects of that decision and have questioned it extensively throughout high school but I am okay with having my options for schools reduced.
Side note: I realize that some people will disagree with me but I would appreciate not having any comments directly targeted towards me and instead I would like to see the overall opinion on students in general purposely skipping these common sources of anxiety and frustration.
Okay, I see you don’t read well. I suppose a better way to word it would have been “Screw the SAT/ACT because it’s pointless and I don’t feel like being unnecessarily judged, certainly not when I’m in the top 2% of my class which is a pretty great achievement considering that I go to an online public charter with 13,000 other students and I don’t feel the need to conform to some stupid one-size-fits-all standard test.” Better? And yes, I realize that I have taken classes that won’t relate to my major. Early Childhood Education and everything I learned in that class probably won’t help me as much in marketing as the set of business classes that I completed will. I obviously didn’t need you to comment and tell me that. Instead of picking from the given options of either giving me a legitimate and relative opinion to my inquiry or moving to the next post, you felt like I needed to see yet another instance of the same thing I’ve gotten from many people when I absolutely did not and when frankly, I do not care what you have to say.
Because you did not give me your opinion. I asked for your thoughts on not taking the SAT and you wanted to demean the way I worded my short explanation even though it would have sufficed very well.
My opinion is that it is a way to compare everyone (“standardized”) and that very little of an app is directly related to a major. Because you (general “you,” as singular “you” seems to confuse the two) aren’t IN it yet.
Sometimes you have to pick your battles. So it is fine if you are okay limiting yourself to the test optional colleges. There are plenty of them and there are very good ones, but if you are seeking specific things elsewhere or really good aid you may be out of luck. http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional
I sympathize with your philosophy, and respect your decision to live what you believe. Are your parents supporting you in this decision? I only ask that, because test decisions can play a role in determining scholarship awards (even at test-optional colleges), and most public colleges require test reports. If your parents aren’t worried about those financial considerations, then I think your choice is valid and admirable.
Sometimes we don’t like the way things are set up. It’s a fair to say “You knew what? I’m not playing by those rules.” Others may shrug their shoulders and decide the rules are fine or decide they are not worth challenging, given the consequences. As long as we recognize and accept the consequences and outcomes of rejecting the set up, I think standing by your convictions is fine.
It’s when one begins to demand a special set of rules that is the problem. So I/you/we can’t say “I don’t want to take the SAT/ACT/subject tests, but I should be able to get into Georgetown/Berkeley/Penn”. That doesn’t seem like the case here.
Entering ninth grade, D decided how she would approach high school. I pointed out possible consequences of her approach. She thought about it; decided her way was best for her. (In hindsight I not only agree, I’m impressed a 14 year old was wise enough to know and choose that approach). She too was seeking to reduce anxiety and stress she saw among her friends and classmates.
I agree with woogzmama, whatever your philosophy, include your parents in the conversation.
Personally I believe that not taking the SAT/ACT on principle is a little shortsighted. But since you’ve already weighed the pros and cons for yourself, I’m going to assume you know what’s best for you.
I think the tests are necessary because they are the only way to produce scores to compare student to student. While the test isn’t the best indicator of ability, it does help compare students ways that GPA and APs cannot. As long as your family is down with the choice, and you like whatever options it leaves to you, then all the power to you!
The issue is, no matter what you believe in, any top schools require them. Whether its ivies, good state schools, top 20 liberal arts colleges, etc. That’s the reality and you cannot get around it. Unless you want to go to a so-so school or one that’s not your top choice, then take the SAT/ACT. Colleges do not care what you think of the tests, they just simply have them as a requirement for admission.
Make a list of schools that are test optional which you can afford, have the grades for and would like to attend and see if it is practical not to take the tests.
@CJMac02
I empathize with your position. I personally don’t hold a lot of value for standardized testing. But, my kids need scholarships and most scholarships require test scores, so they test.
But if your parents are onboard with your position and your decision doesn’t limit your career choice in terms of major/school, it sounds like you have made an informed decision. Just make sure it is a decision you can afford to make.
I also want to note, not just for this OP, but for any student applying under test-optional rules, you will probably need to begin putting together a portfolio of good, graded writing assignments and classroom tests; letters of recommendation; and essay ideas. Most elite, test-optional schools have additional application requirements. Bard has the most intriguing: students can submit four essays on assigned topics, instead of transcripts and test reports.
Also, I have to argue against anyone who says that “all the best” liberal arts colleges require test scores, when Bowdoin was one of the first colleges to go test-optional, in the 1970s, and Wesleyan went test-optional last year. I’d say they are probably ranked very near the top.
Happykid never took the ACT, PSAT, or SAT. Some people are naturally good test takers, and she isn’t. Knowing that she wasn’t going to score anywhere near the range on the PSAT to qualify for NMSF meant that there was no reason for her to waste a morning taking the PSAT. Knowing that her scores were not going to be in the range for merit-based aid meant that there was no reason to take the ACT or SATreason unless she decided to apply to a college or university that required a standardized test. Had one been, I would have sent her to a good prep course so that she would have gone into the testing situation with confidence and able to do her best. She did take the English Lit AP, submitted two AP art portfolios, and took a foreign language CLEP exam. She didn’t get any credit for the APs where she ended up studying, but that CLEP exam landed her two full years (12 semester hours) of college credit.
If the OP has a college list that he/she is happy with, that his/her family can afford, and that doesn’t require a standardized exam, then that is terrific!
I respect OP’s choice. Test scores don’t make or break a student. The score doesn’t determine the worth of the student or predict the success of the student in college and the workforce. It only shows how well a person does on a test. Some people are naturally not good test takers and there’s nothing wrong with that. There are plenty of test-optional schools out there but some want an arm and a leg from the black market to even build a complete application. (portfolios, essays etc.)
I feel you should always try something once. If you take the SAT/ACT/PSAT once and you then feel the anxiety or the plummeting self-worth in the room, that’s fine. If you don’t get the best score in the world even though you’re a good student, that’s fine too. You realize it’s not for you and you amend the search. But I don’t think you should just shut it out right away. Give it a shot, see how you do, and then make the guillotine chop or spare. The tests exist for a reason (albeit some could debate that it’s a shoddy reason) and they are considered nationwide. It’s a way for colleges to muddle through the weighted GPA’s and AP regimens of our school system and see a portion of you. Even though more schools are going test-optional, you’re limiting yourself by running to first base, if you could go to third.
I read over all of your replies and I really love that nobody has absolutely tried to discourage me and that you heard me out! I do appreciate that! I also want to thank you for bringing up the list from FairTest which is one of the first resources I took advantage of after I’d made my decision and it really is a testament to all of the wonderful test-optional institutions, for which there is an abundance of. I look at it at least once a week.
I think that it is worth noting that I was eligible to take the PSAT both this year and last year, and I did take it both times. That was when I was in a traditional brick-and-mortar school, of course. It’s fair to say that I didn’t have a problem with it and I excelled in every section. It was a good experience and I do think that given the option, no student should just go against the SAT/ACT without getting that practice in because it is THE best indication possible.
Financing and scholarships and how my parents feel were mentioned by almost everyone, so I do think that it is important for me to address that. I am blessed to have some of the most supportive parents in the world. They do understand the seriousness of my decision, but support me so long as I am rational. We both know that I will be taking out quite a lot of loans at any rate because I live in Georgia and there are just not very many schools that fit what I am looking for, so all but two of the schools that I am seriously considering applying to are out-of-state which makes them more expensive. I know that taking out loans is a major responsibility because not only will I have to pay them back, but I can’t determine what I will be paying per month and to some extent, I can’t control how long I’ll have to pay back my loans. Loans are also expensive because of the high interests rates and there is absolutely no debt forgiveness for student loans. As far as scholarships go, I do know that many also require test scores, but for the most part, I am looking at outside scholarships. I am a very good writer when it comes to formal essays and letters and such and I have even been published so I am using that gift to my advantage. As of today, I have $1,100 between three scholarships based on my writing and I am applying to at least three per week from now until the end of August as well, so prospects in that regard are good.