An Immodest Proposal: "Conscientiously Object to the SAT"

[coldcomfort]

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I realize that this may seem like hersey, but I am in full SUPPORT of the sat and other standardized tests. Please understand, I hated preparing for these tests, resented paying for them, did not enjoy the experience of taking them, and could live without the anxiety as I waited for the results. But, as a student at a rural high school that does not have a reputation or a relationship with top schools to fall back on, the sats, sat IIs, and ap are the best tools I have to show these schools that I am every bit as bright, motivated, and prepared as the students applying from prep schools and other top high schools. An “A” from East Podunk High is probably not worth the same as an “A” from Exeter. But an 800 or a 5 on an AP is. Since I’m a senior the jury is still out on my applications, but I bet that my standarzied test scores will at least assure that the adcoms at top schools with take a good hard look at my application. Without them, I’m not sure how much of a serious candidate I would be.

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<p>I am bringing up my quote from this thread because now college admission decisions are in. I have been accepted by Colgate, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, and Princeton. While I don’t think that my high standardized tests scores secured my acceptances, I do stand by my original prediction that they would earn my application a serious look by the admissions committees. My school has absolutely no track record with the most selective colleges and has a very low average sat score combined with a low percentage of students going on to four year colleges. My sat, sat II’s, and two AP scores probably said a lot more to these colleges about my being prepared for college than the easy A’s I earned at my academically weak high school.</p>