RSS
Facebook
Twitter
E-PrinceStarting in March, the College Board will allow students to withhold some of their SAT scores under a program known as “Score Choice.” Students who have taken multiple SATs and SAT Subject Tests will have the option of sending results ...(back to the article)
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual commenters and do not necessarily represent the views of The Daily Princetonian Publishing Company, Inc. We do not take responsibility for the opinions, facts, or claims presented by individual commenters, and reserve the right to moderate or delete inappropriate comments.
Part of this editorial seems driven by the assumption that the SAT itself is a crucial measure of scholastic aptitude. Yes, under the Score Choice option, students could increase the likelihood that their test score sent to Princeton is more of a high statistical outlier that overestimates their scholastic aptitude. However, it also decreases the risk that the score is a low statistical outlier that underestimates their scholastic aptitude. Princeton should welcome any change that that decreases their likelihood to overlook exceptionally qualified students, even if it means increasing the likelihood at looking too long at underqualified students. Our admissions office should be up to that task.
The argument that high schoolers will now be more stressed out about taking the SAT is much more reasonable. A student who wants to come to Princeon and received a 1580 (or what is it now, a 2380?) will be much more inclined to retake the test if he knows that there is no downside risk to doing so.
Would you rather spend $900 on a Princeton Review course that gives you 4 mock SATs or study on your own, take the SAT four times at a cost of $180 and hope you have a good day at least one time. The fact is that for ambitious middle-class students, Score Choice is a wonderful option.