Harvard Test-Required Again in Major 180°!
TLDRHarvard University has announced a major policy reversal, deciding to reinstate the SAT and ACT requirement for first-year applicants starting in August 2024 for Fall 2025 entry. This move comes as a surprise after Harvard had pledged to remain test-optional for at least two more admission cycles. The decision aligns Harvard with other Ivy League institutions such as Dartmouth, Brown, and Yale, which have also reinstated testing requirements. However, Princeton, Columbia, and Cornell continue to maintain a test-optional policy. Harvard's decision emphasizes that SAT and ACT scores are among the least manipulable aspects of an applicant's profile, aiming to ensure a fairer admissions process.
Takeaways
- 📣 Harvard has announced that for the 2024-2025 admission cycle, SAT or ACT scores will be required for first-year applicants.
- 🔄 This decision is a significant reversal from Harvard's previous commitment to remain test-optional for at least two more admission cycles.
- 🏫 Harvard is joining other Ivy League schools, such as Dartmouth, Brown, and Yale, which have also reinstated testing requirements.
- 🤝 However, Princeton, Columbia, and Cornell remain test-optional, with Columbia having previously declared a permanent test-optional policy.
- 🌐 For students unable to take the SAT or ACT, Harvard will accept AP, IB, or national exam scores as alternatives.
- 💡 The SAT and ACT scores will be considered in the context of the applicant's environment and background, not in a standardized manner.
- 📉 The reinstatement of test requirements reflects a response to criticisms regarding the admission process and the diversity of the student body.
- 🎯 Harvard's decision highlights the ongoing debate about the role of standardized tests in college admissions and their impact on meritocracy.
- 🔄 The term 'standardized' in the context of SAT and ACT has become less about uniformity and more about individualized assessment.
- 🌟 Despite the return to test requirements at some schools, the overall admission process remains holistic and considers various aspects of an applicant's profile.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is Harvard University's decision to make SAT or ACT scores required again for first-year applicants starting in the 2024-2025 admission cycle.
When did Harvard announce this change in admission policy?
-Harvard announced this change in admission policy on April 11th, 2024.
Which other Ivy League schools have returned to being test-required?
-Dartmouth, Brown, and Yale have also returned to being test-required in the 2024-2025 admission cycle.
What are the reasons given for Harvard's decision to require standardized test scores again?
-Harvard's decision is based on the belief that SAT and ACT scores are the least gameable and least capable of being altered by privilege or wealth among all elements of the first-year application process.
What options are available for students who cannot take the SAT or ACT?
-Students who cannot take the SAT or ACT can submit their AP scores, IB scores and predictions, national testing like A-levels, or other alternatives for international students such as the Duolingo English Test and TOEFL.
How will Harvard consider the test scores of applicants?
-Harvard will consider the test scores in the context of the applicant's environment and background, meaning the consideration will not be standardized.
What does the speaker suggest about the impact of this policy change on the student population at Ivy League schools?
-The speaker suggests that if Ivy League schools held all applicants to the same standard, the student population would be vastly different in terms of complexion, nationality, and sex.
What is the term used to describe admissions practices that aim to achieve a specific demographic background?
-The term used is 'Equitable admissions'.
How does the speaker describe the current state of selective college admissions in the United States?
-The speaker describes it as not holding everyone to the same standard and using a holistic or equitable admissions process, which considers various factors and backgrounds of applicants.
What advice does the speaker give to students applying to selective colleges?
-The speaker advises students to have as strong an application as possible, including essays, interviews, letters of recommendation, and resumes, and to seek one-on-one college admissions coaching if necessary.
Outlines
📚 Harvard's SAT Policy Reversal
The video discusses the recent announcement from Harvard University that it will require SAT or ACT scores for the 2024-2025 admission cycle, a reversal from its previous policy of being test-optional. This decision aligns with other Ivy League schools such as Dartmouth, Brown, and Yale, which have also reinstated testing requirements. However, Harvard has clarified that students unable to take these tests due to geographical or financial constraints can submit AP, IB, or national testing scores as alternatives. The video also touches on the broader implications of standardized testing in the context of college admissions, highlighting the debate around meritocracy and the varying standards applied to different applicants.
🤔 SAT Scores and Campus Diversity
This paragraph delves into the argument that SAT and ACT scores are the least susceptible to manipulation by wealth or privilege among all elements of the college application process. It suggests that Harvard's decision to require test scores is an attempt to maintain a level of academic rigor in admissions. The video also discusses Harvard's commitment to consider test scores in the context of a student's environment and background, indicating a move towards a more equitable admissions process. This approach, however, is criticized for not adhering to a single standard of excellence, as different applicants are held to different standards based on their circumstances.
🎓 Navigating the Selective College Admissions Landscape
The final paragraph summarizes the current state of selective college admissions in the United States, highlighting the divide among Ivy League schools regarding testing requirements. It emphasizes that Harvard's policy change does not necessarily signify a return to a meritocratic system, as the concept of meritocracy is subjective and varies by institution. The video concludes by encouraging students to prepare robust applications, including strong essays, interviews, and recommendations, and offers the speaker's services for one-on-one college admissions coaching. It also calls for viewers to stay informed about changing policies that could impact their college admissions journey.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Harvard
💡SAT
💡ACT
💡Test-Optional
💡Admission Cycle
💡Meritocracy
💡Holistic Admissions
💡Equitable Admissions
💡Standardized Test Scores
💡Ivy League
💡College Admissions Coach
Highlights
Harvard has made a major policy change, reverting to SAT/ACT test requirements for the 2024-2025 admission cycle.
This decision comes as a surprise after Harvard had pledged to remain test-optional for at least two more admission cycles.
Other Ivy League schools, such as Dartmouth, Brown, and Yale, have also returned to test requirements in the 2024-2025 admission cycle.
Despite previous expert predictions, Harvard's reversal indicates that the test-optional trend may not be permanent for all institutions.
Harvard's official statement argues that SAT and ACT scores are the least gameable elements of the application process.
Students in exceptional circumstances can still apply without SAT/ACT scores, provided they submit alternative testing credentials.
Harvard will consider test scores in the context of an applicant's environment and background, rather than through a standardized lens.
The SAT and ACT have undergone several name changes, with the term 'standardized' losing its original meaning.
Harvard's admissions process is not based on a single standard of excellence, but rather a holistic review of each applicant.
The Ivy League schools have adopted different approaches to testing, with some remaining test-optional or even test-free.
Harvard's shift in policy may influence other institutions to reconsider their own testing requirements.
The video discusses the potential impact of non-academic factors on the admissions process at elite institutions.
Craig, the admissions coach, encourages students to strive for excellence in all aspects of their college applications.
The video serves as a reminder that the admissions landscape is dynamic and subject to change with new leadership or societal pressures.
Despite the return to test requirements by some schools, the concept of meritocracy in admissions remains a complex and debated topic.
Harvard's decision highlights the ongoing conversation about equity and representation in higher education admissions.
The video provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of testing policies in the Ivy League and beyond.