UC System Drops the ACT and SAT
In a landmark decision, the University of California regents decided on Thursday to end the SAT/ACT requirement for the entire UC system by 2025. The vote was unanimous, 27 – 0 in favor. Opponents to these standardized tests have been calling for such action for decades, citing the advantage that wealthier, mostly white students have over others. The UC faculty, however, had recommended that the ACT and SAT remain in use until a new test is developed. The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly helped push this decision through, as many universities across the country have already made the ACT and SAT optional (even if temporarily) for students applying in Fall 2020.
Immediate Impact
Students will have the option to self-report standardized test scores through 2022. In the meantime, UC staff will begin a feasibility study over the summer that will attempt to identify an alternate test for determining “college readiness.” The study is likely to last six months.
Long-term Impact
Starting 2023, the ACT or SAT can still be used for scholarship determinations, summer programs, and post-enrollment class placement, but will have no impact on the admissions process of UC schools. The new policy also states that even if the UC system does not come up with a replacement test by 2025, the ACT and SAT will not be reinstated.
Other Complications
While the economic disadvantage argument is not without merit, it begs the question: what is the recourse for those same disadvantaged students now? If applications come to rely solely on grades and extra-curricular activities, wealthier students will still have the advantage and maybe even more so. Wealthier students generally attend better schools with more clubs and programs, have resources for private tutors to boost their grades, and are more likely to have access to a wide variety of extra-curricular programs.
Colleges can tout a “holistic” admissions process all they want, but the “first pass” round is always based on how a student looks on paper, and that means GPA and activities, which will be even more important in the absence of test scores.
