It’s that time of year – yeah sorry not the turkey, tree-trimming time of year, but rather the “we’re freaking out because the last tests of the ACT and SAT of the year are almost over.”
I just read the Education Week’s article: Importance of SAT, ACT Scores Dwindling in College Admissions and I fully agree that the importance of the SAT and ACT have lessened over the years at schools. And yet, there are three clear areas SAT and ACT scores matter – highly selective schools, homeschool students, and academic scholarships.
Highly Selective Schools-
Highly selective schools (which include NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill, not just Duke) rely on tests scores to deal with their overwhelming amount of applications. It is used as a weeding out process – you don’t have a certain score and you are put in the “no thanks” pile.
Homeschool Students –
Colleges really love homeschool students. They find they are usually more prepared for college than their traditional school peers because they are usually strong writers and independent learners. The only hiccup for colleges is making sure the homeschool student really has the college chops as GPAs are usually not as valued. This is where the tests come in. It is a clear sign to colleges that the homeschooler is just as qualified as a traditional student.
Academic Scholarships –
Academic awards for financial aid are highly coveted. One way they are allocated is based on your GPA and test scores. If you are looking for academic awards at a school where it is a reach for your student, they are less likely to get much in merit aid. However, if you are looking at merit aid at a school where you are an academic star, you are more likely to get more merit aid.
Check out this article from Education Week and their thoughts on the weight of SAT and ACT test scores.
Education Week’s Importance of SAT, ACT Scores Dwindling in College Admissions