The Cheshire Cat of the SAT/ACT

In the famous 1865 Lewis Carroll book, Adventures in Wonderland, Alice is introduced to a Cheshire cat who is, quite literally, not all there. Sometimes she sees a fully embodied feline, and at other times, just a set of grinning teeth suspended in the air.

Such appears to be the current status of the SAT. In just the last three years this test has gone from being hotly contested, debated, but still essential to the college admissions process, to banishment and irrelevancy as more and more schools advertise themselves as test-optional.

According to the late January press release, the SAT will go digital in 2023 for international students, and 2024 for U.S.-based students. The test is being shortened to 2 hours from the current 3 plus, will be fully digital, and will provide a unique digital code for each student. This will help get you results in days, not weeks or months, and prevent “tossing'“ of entire groups of tests on allegations of irregularities. Even better, calculators are allowed in the math section. Finally, no more #2 pencils and bubbles to fill in!

Here’s where I am going to agree with college consultant Sara Harbison in Pennsylvania. It may all be too little too late. Not to dump everything on the pandemic, but when colleges started suspending SATs & ACTs in their admissions process, they found out they could make admissions decisions just fine without those numbers.

There has been a long-standing argument that the SAT and ACT tests did not really measure aptitude as much as they measured educational experiences, specifically those available to certain ethnicities and financially strong groups. It is no secret an entire industry sprung up coaching testing techniques to gain points for admissions and money. Once again, access and money came into the equation.

As has always been true, neither test could ever measure motivation. Motivation is a powerful “X” factor in handling all the challenges and issues of being a college student. To succeed, you gotta have problem-solving skills, that result in “finding a way.” In addition, focusing on meeting short-term goals to get to the goal of a timely graduation is essential. Some people sum these skills up in one word, grit. You need grit to get a degree on time and with the lowest possible cost.

Assuming SAT/ACT scores will be optional, soon. What should you do right now? Here are three key issues.

First, make sure you have a well-rounded yet strong high school resume. Admissions counselors are looking for examples of service work, leadership, and something you are passionately acting upon. They also expect you to make good grades in challenging courses. Not perfect, but showing evidence you can handle a college-level workload.

Second, your essay is now THE thing. You need to take this seriously, and you need to spend time crafting it. If you are not a writer, now’s the time to work on that issue. Don’t send something you scribbled in between the 4th and 5th periods. You must take the time to reveal the best you have to offer. That takes focus, work, and editing. Lots of editing. (I have learned there is NEVER enough editing.)

Third, don’t take either the ACT or the SAT unless you are very good at those kinds of tests. Some folks are wired to do well, but many, many are not. You likely know where you stand. Just know the grades, activities and the ESSAY are now what will be evaluated if you choose NOT to take a standardized test.

Never did like that test. It was exhausting, mind-numbing, and made even the smartest people feel dumb and uneducated. And that weird perfect score of 1600 never made any sense.

Right now, about all of the Testing Cheshire Cat you can see is the face and the tail. And, both are disappearing fast. There’s a good chance, someone, starting middle school this fall, will never know the heart-wrenching terror those letters stood for.

That might be a really good thing.

Next week- a flawed but informative study that tries to measure college costs in the light of income results. It’s worth knowing it is out there. The rest is on you.

Until Next Time,

All My Best,

Bonnie Burkett