For many University students, taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test was a key point in finishing high school. Some may have found it a stress-free experience, but others began studying for the test months ahead of time in hopes of impressing college admissions offices.
But now, some leaders in higher education are beginning to question the value of the SATs.
Last month, University of California President Richard Atkinson sparked a national debate when he suggested making the 75-year-old test optional for all 10 schools in the University of California system. Atkinson has said he believes the test fails to adequately measure a student’s intelligence, because it focuses on inconsequential details instead of larger concepts.
The SAT debate in California won’t be settled for some time, and the Oregon University System has no plans to open that discussion in this state. On campus, however, opinions about the test differ.
Dave McDonald, director of enrollment services for the OUS, said the SAT is only one factor used in the admissions process. He said many schools have minimum SAT score requirements for applicants, but schools in the OUS do not.
“The axiom we like to use is the SATs can help admit a student, but it will not be used to deny a student,” he said. “It’s just one piece of the puzzle, but it doesn’t stand by itself.”
McDonald said Oregon schools pay close attention to grade-point averages, but the SAT scores are useful because they give the schools additional information about a candidate.
“If you were buying a car, you wouldn’t look just at the price tag,” he said. “We’re not going to admit a student or deny them based on their test score.”
Philip Romero, dean of the Lundquist College of Business, said he supports using the SAT.
“The SATs seem to be the best predictor for new college freshmen,” he said. “Until we find something better, I feel we should definitely use it.”
Romero said most schools have flexible enough admissions processes that if a student does not do well on one part, they can make it up in other areas.
“For example, at the University, a student can write an essay if they’re weak in a certain part of their application,” he said.
However, Carla Gary, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the University Advocate, said she hopes the use of the SAT is eventually discontinued, because she said the test is a poor method of judging how people learn.
“The SAT is a measure of what you’ve already done, not what you’re going to do after your first year,” Gary said.
She said some people learn visually or by experience, so the SAT is not the best judge of intelligence.
Joy Nair, a sophomore business major and diversity recruitment and retention coordinator for ASUO, said she never took the SATs too seriously, and only spent one night studying for it.
“I heard from a lot of people before I took the test that the SATs don’t matter,” she said.
Nair said she often reassures prospective students in her recruiting program that the SATs are not as important as they seem to be.
“We assure them that it’s not the biggest of concerns and to not feel pressured,” she said.
Nair said even if the SATs were a major factor for being admitted to the University, the admissions office would help students.
“I think they’re very fair and would try to work with students,” she said.