Pandemic or not, college admissions play a large role in our academic life. We have been told throughout our high school career that to experience success in this process, we need a high GPA, a solid SAT or ACT score, strong extracurricular activities and well-written essays.
But this year, with the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world, there are certain changes to how admissions officers will review applications, one of them being how SAT and ACT scores will be perceived.
Many students across the country will not have the opportunity to take either test because testing centers have been closed due to the pandemic. According to the College Board, about half of the testing centers that were supposed to be open on Aug. 29 were not.
Our students have an opportunity to take the SAT during these unprecedented times. Principal Greg Louie announced on Aug. 24 that seniors can take the SAT on Oct. 14, and juniors can take the PSAT on Oct. 17. The SAT will cost $120 and the PSAT $30.
Despite the fact that many colleges have made the test optional — and the fact that the SAT normally costs $64.50 with essay and $49.50 without — students ought to seize this opportunity and feel no guilt.
Some argue that being able to take the SAT at the school is a blatant example of privilege afforded to wealthy students, but the school has already offered the SAT, and students would be foolish to turn this opportunity down. The problem is not with Saratoga High offering the tests; the problem is that all high schools ought to find ways to offer the tests to interested students in a socially distanced way.
A good SAT score will only add to a student’s application, even if a school is test-optional. Students can take this opportunity to improve their score or to get a score in the first place. If they do not do well on the October SAT, they can choose not to report their scores to colleges.
Having an SAT score will help take the weight off of extracurricular activities, GPA and essays in the application process. With the pandemic still in full swing, extracurriculars during this time are especially difficult to do because there are far fewer opportunities. In short, if any of those aspects in a student’s application are not particularly strong, then they should take the SAT so that their score can help boost their application, even if it is time-consuming.
SAT scores will also have an impact on the available financial aid. According to the college application website Get Schooled, many schools will still be using SAT and ACT scores to award scholarships. Sixty percent of scholarships require an SAT or ACT score to apply. SAT scores still affect merit-based scholarships, so higher scores will lead to better scholarship opportunities.
Studying for the SAT is a stressful process, and it is a test that most of us want to be over with as soon as possible. Even though colleges are not requiring SAT scores as part of the application process, students should still take a shot at the test on Oct. 14 since there is no downside in the application process.