Do test scores really define you? Does it prove how intelligent you are? What matters the most to colleges is how deep and how intensely you have been devoted to several interests, how much time you designate and prioritize to them, what leadership roles you have started, and what you have accomplished. Many colleges also require recommendations from your teachers, and look at your class rank. Colleges should use other admission criteria other than SAT scores and grades because of school related activities, standardized test effects on students health, and because of cheating scandals.
Some students are involved in different organizations and other events that is also beneficial in the future at colleges and other outside places. Organizations like Student Council and National Honor Society are helpful and extremely beneficial. One of the databases states that “Starting in the 1920s, Harvard applicants had to submit essays, recommendations, and lists of extracurricular activities.” (College admissions: What matters most — SAT scores, grades, or just luck?) Being in organizations like Student Council and National Honor Society can provide you with community service hours which can help you with scholarships later in life. It provides numerous opportunities that will help you lead yourself to become more successful. Importance of knowledge and education can lead to benefits such as Financial Aid opportunities. “The state attorney general interpreted the ruling as prohibiting the consideration of race or ethnicity in all internal school policies in higher education institutions across the state, including admissions, financial aid, scholarships and fellowships, and recruitment and retention. This interpretation is currently the law of the land in Texas.” (New Citeria for College Admissions.) The smarter you are, the more benefits you will receive from colleges. Being active in activities like sports can also be helpful. Being in Sports helps you build better time management skills. It also develops a relationship with people, builds team bonding, and stronger friendship bonds.
Standardized tests brings too much stress to student lives which tends to reduce their energy for socializing and interacting among peers. Standardized tests causes stress which leads to negativity. “The University of Texas, unlike the University of California, accepts all students from the top 10 percent of their high school classes, regardless of SAT/ACT scores. After accepting the top 10 percent, the university considers other applicants based on 18 criteria. Some of these more conventional criteria include a consideration of essays, the number of college units taken, leadership abilities, work experience, and community service.” (New Citeria for College Admissions.) Numbers are not the only thing that defines a person. Their experience is also significant in what they are going to do. You can not go further anywhere without having a personal experience. Not only that, but if stress increases, then your scores are highly going to be affected. Having a lack of energy in yourself is extremely contagious. It can make other people feel the same. It could lead you to less socializing among peers.
Students can cheat their way to get a 4.0 GPA and still get into a decent college while others try hard to get into a good college but can not because of their testing anxiety. People could pay someone to do their work. “Let’s leave aside the question of what “smart” means, or whether SAT scores and grades provide a useful measure of it. Colleges don’t want classes composed solely of kids with perfect grades and scores. They also want “diversity” – of enthusiasms, experiences, and, yes, ethnicities.” (College admissions: What matters most — SAT scores, grades, or just luck?) “Other leading universities quickly followed suit. So for a few years anyone with a high enough score – and a big enough bank account – could get in. But the result, to the chagrin of America’s WASP gentry, was a steep spike in Jewish students.” (College admissions: What matters most — SAT scores, grades, or just luck?) “Steven got nearly perfect SAT scores, but he didn’t get into Princeton. Suzanne has straight A’s, but Brown rejected her. And Samantha – Samantha! – got into both schools, even though her scores and grades are pretty mediocre.” (College admissions: What matters most — SAT scores, grades, or just luck?) Test anxiety increases stress. “Rebecca’s analysis sheds light on the ongoing tension between maintaining college selectivity and promoting equal opportunity.” (College Admissions in Twenty-First- Century America: The Role of Grades, Tests, and Games of Chance.) If stress increases, then your scores are highly affected.
Opponents, however, may feel that it is not a good thing because some people may have higher GPA or greater scores on standardized tests. They may believe that Standardized tests are a much reliable and sincere measures of student’s achievement and intelligence. It focuses on significant basic skills that all students need to master their skills on. But it is still unfair to those who try their hardest but still do not get good grade results while someone could be playing their video games everyday and still ace a test in a matter of minutes.
Colleges should use other admission criteria other than SAT scores and grades because of outside school activities, standardized test providing stress to students, and because of suspicious cheating activities. Furthermore, some great students are bad test takers due to stress which could lead them to college denial for admissions. Multiple choice exams really do not prove or reveal much about a student. Every student should have the opportunity to get education in college. A simple score number should not define one’s smartness. There should be other opportunities and criteria to get into college other than standardized test scores and grades.
Works Cited
- Kirst, Michael W. “New Citeria For College Admissions.” Education Week 18.32 (1999): 48. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.
- “Passing On The Test.” Career World 36.2 (2007): 5. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
- Wongsurawat, Winai. “Does Grade Inflation Affect The Credibility Of Grades? Evidence From US Law School Admissions.” Education Economics 17.4 (2009): 523-534. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
- Zimmerman, Jonathan. “College admissions: What matters most — SAT scores, grades, or just luck?.” Christian Science Monitor 13 Apr. 2010: N.PAG. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.
- Zwick, Rebecca. “College Admissions In Twenty-First- Century America: The Role Of Grades, Tests, And Games Of Chance.” Harvard Educational Review 77.4 (2007): 419-429. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.