Those interested in an expert’s assessment of the grade compression problem are advised to look at the thread, “when did SAT scores get so high.”
As set forth therein, even students with modest academic skills now have 4.0 gpa’s; some colleges use tests to distinguish among them, some do not.
Harvard is bringing back testing for next year according to an email we just received.
The Crimson was right on top of this as well:
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They’re trying to rebuild some credibility
Smart parents have smart kids. Genetics is the root commonality.
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“Thorsmom66 - Why are you bothering with the SAT for a 12 year old? There is zero need to start prepping at that age. That is especially true for the digital test which is brand new - by the time he needs to take the SAT there will be many more resources to decode the digital SAT than exist today.”
This is both off topic and really it violates social norms to question someone else’s parenting. Read - Rude.
As for 12 year olds taking the SAT, thousands do, for example, to qualify for CTY - the Johns Hopkins program as I did 40 years ago.
Incidentally, my son completed BC calc in 5th grade is continuing with his third college math class and the person he most wants to meet is Terence Tao. It’s a family thing. I also earned an associates degree in math while in High School, and when my son showed interest, I taught him. Not unlike family traditions in sports, music and any other field of achievement.
Have a problem with that?
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This is a great point. I agree. I am pro-standardized test, but it doesn’t have to be the SAT or ACT. It could be AP scores or something new.
We need some standardized, fair (or as close to fair as is reasonable) and transparent way to evaluate applicants from different schools & districts at public universities with taxpayer money involved in every way.
Yale has done a much better job than most (including other Ivies) in “walking the walk” in terms of fairness and inclusion especially in the area of socioeconomic hardship. My wife and I were just talking about how large “aid packages” used to include work-study and how Yale was thoughtful in phasing that out as those committments were disruptive to students who had to study and wanted to socialize.
One can completely see how Yale would want to grab that diamond in the rough who could not always sustain school excellence but who has amazing potential based on SAT scores. That’s great for Yale.
Yale is also a thought leader, though, and I’m saddend to think of how their actions toward “test optional” will trickle down to other schools that may not share their resources, committment to diversity and “pick of the litter” positioning.
No chance that when this trickles down, the result may tend to perpetuate privilege? As the pendulum swings back, It’s too bad that Yale, Dartmouth and now Harvard saw fit to give it a push.
Perhaps other schools would like to find that diamond in the rough too?
Most colleges accept most who apply, and the presence or absence of tests is not relevant to them.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Hopi E. Hoekstra wrote in a statement that “standardized tests are a means for all students, regardless of their background and life experience, to provide information that is predictive of success in college and beyond.”
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Except it is colleges that have said they can determine proficiency without standardized tests. I’ve said they should be able to decide for themselves
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This entire discussion is only relevant to highly selective universities, and we are seeing many of those (and more all the time) reverse this position.
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If you had put your comment in a post about gifted kids or about the Johns Hopkins gifted program, I would have responded differently. This post is about the use of the SAT in college admissions. There are many parents who worry about getting started prepping well before it’s necessary. Not to mention that many colleges don’t accept SAT scores from tests taken before HS. At your son’s level of academic talent, the SAT is liable to be a moot point. If your son completed AP calc BC as a fifth grader he is well past anything the math SAT could measure. I’m not sure how you took my comment to be a reflection of your parenting as it was certainly not meant that way.
Bwaa-haa-ha-ha-harvard-cough-cough. I will see myself out now.
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Is that the same Harvard that was test-optional though the class of 2030 until four weeks ago - or some other one? 
Seriously? Are you an adult?
I have said repeatedly on CC that I expect more highly rejective schools go back to required testing, and they should have the policy that corresponds to what their internal data show.
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I don’t see how my not being up-to-speed on the body of your CC work changes the fact that Harvard’s handling of the matter is utterly ridiculous.
“Prospective Harvard applicants will not be required to submit test scores until at least 2026”
Source: the four-week old article cited above.
Got it, thanks for clarifying. It seemed your reaction was directed at me (as did others who alerted me to your post)
I was just citing my own semi-jocular prediction of some upcoming mind-changing - and your cue that was necessary to provide the context for it.
Certainly nothing personal.
Surprised this made such waves that third parties felt the need to get involved 
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Caltech too!
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