by Sadahrie Mandujano, Staff Writer
Since the start of the pandemic, many colleges and universities have been making decisions not to require standardized test scores when applying, as they felt that students were being negatively affected by the effects of virtual learning and the sudden switch in education. Since then, many schools have stated that they would no longer find the scores necessary when applying; however, no ivy league has made the same decision until recently when Columbia University became the first ivy league in the United States to do so after making the decision to drop requirements for ACT and SAT scores for anyone interested in applying.
Previously, Columbia typically accepted students with an SAT score between 1440-1570 or an ACT score of about 34-35. With this new change, more students of different backgrounds will be able to attend the university. When the pandemic first impacted students, the university made the scores optional; this led to an increase in admitted students of color.
For many years there have been debates on whether or not standardized testing is an actual measurement of one’s success when it comes to academics. These tests require students to go through multiple subjects and answer questions in a certain time frame. Many have argued that standardized testing is not an accurate measure of one’s intelligence but rather comes down to how well someone can work under pressure while being able to comprehend what the questions are asking of them.
As more colleges and universities make the decision to drop standardized test scores, more and more students have begun to worry less about what they will end up scoring and many have questioned if the test will even be necessary for future students to take. It’s unknown just how many colleges will require these scores, but as each year passes, more schools are becoming lenient and not requiring these scores; instead, they are paying more attention to students’ GPAs and academic achievements.
This change will likely bring a major impact on future education and will be able to ensure that more people of diverse backgrounds are able to attend these prestigious schools. Students who don’t have resources such as tutors or simply don’t have the time to study for the ACT or SAT tests will have a better opportunity when applying to these schools which will make for a more diverse student population.