Recruitment-"my child does no wrong"

[Sciencewoman]

The ACT and the SAT have becoming optional at so many schools, I don't think we'll be seeing them have much impact moving forward. The latest statistic I saw is that over 80% of schools are now test optional for admissions, as is the state university where I teach. As a department chair, I get the weekly admissions and enrollment reports. For this year's incoming class, 58.3% did not submit test scores. Last year was 30%.

https://fairtest.org/test-optional-list/

There is mixed data on whether test scores predict college success -- check the source, because there is "pro test" data from studies that were funded by the the test companies themselves. Other data indicate a stronger correlation with HS GPA.

[AnchorAlumna]

I've seen plenty of girls (and guys) with low ACTs/SATs and great grades. I think it shows they're willing to work hard for good results.
Do they work to Phi Beta Kappa level?
Usually no, but they still pass with decent grades.
Regardless, that first and second year of classes is what sorts them out.
High ACTs/SATs don't guarantee anything.

[andthen]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

I've seen plenty of girls (and guys) with low ACTs/SATs and great grades. I think it shows they're willing to work hard for good results.
Do they work to Phi Beta Kappa level?
Usually no, but they still pass with decent grades.
Regardless, that first and second year of classes is what sorts them out.
High ACTs/SATs don't guarantee anything.

This!! I was one of those who scored poorly on my SATs and yes when I went to college it had an impact on my application (I got rejected from some schools), despite the fact that I had a good GPA. In college I did well, in part because the classes I was taking were classes that were of interest to me and of course classes associated with my major.

I am glad there is less emphasis on SAT scores, I've seen plenty of people with high scores either 1. barely graduate high school, or 2. flunk out of college due to poor grades.

On the flip side yes there are people who get fantastic scores and do well grade wise in college but to just lump people into this or that, just stinks. And nope my parents never called anyone to intercede on my behalf. I had a high school guidance counselor tell me to not apply to one state U because she said I likely wouldn't get in. I applied anyways and got in, and while I didn't go there, I did it more just to spite the old bag. And yes I made sure I stopped by her office after i got the acceptance letter from that particular school.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

The ACT and the SAT have becoming optional at so many schools, I don't think we'll be seeing them have much impact moving forward.

There is mixed data on whether test scores predict college success -- check the source, because there is "pro test" data from studies that were funded by the the test companies themselves. Other data indicate a stronger correlation with HS GPA.

My completely anecdotal experience is that the people who test "well" don't always get where they want because the testing doesn't reflect their actual grades or success in school. My husband's nieces both took the LSAT during the summer of 2021: one is super smart but has okay grades, didn't study, and got a 174; the other had excellent grades, studied her butt off and got something like a 170.

Who actually got into her first choice law schools during the first round, and who ended up being waitlisted every place she applied?

Long story short, there isn't much correlation with retention after freshman year. With that in mind--my take is that an SAT score is irrelevant for sorority recruitment. They've already gotten into the college!

[aggieAXO]

I was one of those students that tested poorly on the SAT. I was a straight A student and knew how to study and take tests in various courses but was horrible at standardized testing. My brother was the same way. I succeeded in college despite this - getting into veterinary school at Texas A&M on early admissions which was very difficult to do. My brother, who made only 1 B in college,graduated Summa cum laude in computer/software engineering. I went to undergrad with several of my high school friends who were merit scholars and they were very mediocre students, one almost failing out. I truly believe standardized tests are useless and do not show what a student can really accomplish.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by aggieAXO

I was one of those students that tested poorly on the SAT. I was a straight A student and knew how to study and take tests in various courses but was horrible at standardized testing. My brother was the same way. I succeeded in college despite this - getting into veterinary school at Texas A&M on early admissions which was very difficult to do. My brother, who made only 1 B in college,graduated Summa cum laude in computer/software engineering. I went to undergrad with several of my high school friends who were merit scholars and they were very mediocre students, one almost failing out. I truly believe standardized tests are useless and do not show what a student can really accomplish.

I was the other way around. I took the SATs for the first time as a 7th grader as part of a Talented and Gifted Program and *nailed* the math section and later after taking Latin as a language the verbal as well. (went of to college with a 760M/740V. Never got school grades either in HS or College to match them. I actually looked forward to taking standardized tests. (Had a friend with similar SAT scores who almost failed out!)