A student reading outside Harvard's Widener Library. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images ... [+]
Harvard has announced that it will require standardized test scores from all applicants to the college, starting this fall. As a Harvard Crimson editorial said, “The timing of the announcement is hardly ideal.” The following tips may help you or your teenager cope with the stress and prepare for the test.
Why Did Harvard Reinstate Standardized Testing?
"In its press release, Harvard referenced a study from Harvard-affiliated initiative Opportunity Insights, led by Brown University economist John N. Friedman ’02 and Harvard economists Raj Chetty ’00 and David J. Deming, which found that SAT scores are a particularly strong predictor of college success – much more so than a student’s high school grade point average,” The Crimson wrote.
This is the same reasoning presented by Brown, Dartmouth and Yale to justify their recent return to the SAT.
The startling fact is the timing: Harvard is no longer test optional as of this fall. Students are scrambling to cope. Here are some tips to get you through the shock and onto the right track.
Do Not Waste Time Lamenting
It is certainly tempting to join a collective wail of resentment. Colleges that admitted older siblings, friends or schoolmates without requiring standardized tests now expect the next class of applicants to quickly add SAT prep to their busy schedules.
Higher education experts have the responsibility to analyze this decision and some will object to it. However, this fall’s cohort of college applicants do not have a choice. Students who wish to pursue admission to colleges that require standardized testing must follow the rules.
Wallowing in the unfairness of it all will not change the college’s decision. Students need all the energy they can muster to prepare for standardized testing.
Do Not Neglect Final Exams
Do not let concerns about the new SAT requirement get in the way of studying for final exams and end-of-year projects.
While the return of standardized testing is in the news, this should not detract from the other components of successful applications to highly competitive universities. Solid grades in rigorous academic classes bolstered with significant extracurricular activities remain the core of a student’s high school record.
Do Start Studying
Students sometimes think that studying for the SAT means mastering an arcane set of tips and tricks, or mindlessly running through a seemingly endless battery of practice questions.
While familiarity with the format of the test certainly helps, it might be more valuable to think of SAT prep as a chance to finally focus on basics you may have missed.
Remember, the research cited by Harvard and other colleges shows that the better you do on the SAT, the higher your grades are likely to be in college. So, use these last weeks of the semester to strengthen your command of mathematics and critical reading. These skills will benefit you long after the test.
Do Reserve A Seat Now
Last, but far from least, register for whatever test dates are appropriate for your prep schedule. The news from Harvard may prove to be a wake-up call for students who assumed they would simply skip standardized tests, and test centers may be filling up.
Some students are reporting difficulty finding seats to take the SAT, now that four Ivies (plus MIT and CalTech) have reinstated standardized testing requirements.
Andrea Sparrey, a past president of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants, wrote in correspondence on LinkedIn, “There were no tests in all of Washington State in June (when I looked in March).” In such a case, it is advisable to book whatever is open, but remain persistent. “I kept checking the site and a spot opened up in May,” Sparrey says.
Bear in mind that the cohort of students applying in 2025 may see the writing on the wall. Next fall may see not only seniors, but also juniors, lining up to take the SAT or other standardized tests. If you foresee wanting to take a test next fall, it would be wise to sign up as soon as that schedule is posted.
Above All, Do Not Despair
As announced on its website, “Harvard College will require the submission of standardized test scores from applicants for admission as part of the comprehensive application process that takes a whole-student approach.”
It’s important for students to do their best on the SAT, but standardized test scores are only part of the picture.
Because things are changing so rapidly, it is critical that students check the official website of each college to which they plan to apply, to be sure they have the most up-to-date information on application requirements.
