From Fortune:

1. Dartmouth College has reinstated its standardized testing policy for applicants, following a brief pause during the pandemic. The college policy begins with the class of 2029 and is based on a study that suggested the test-optional policy might have disadvantaged some students from submitting their scores.

2. Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock said the decision was based on a research study, which indicates they potentially missed out on great applicants without test scores. This could have impacted students from less resourced families who feared submitting low scores and averages based on schools. The decision was framed as a way to help those students really excel in a less than perfect environment.

3. The college admissions process has become a pressure cooker, affecting the mental well-being of high schoolers. Critics argue that it disproportionately benefits the elite and affluent who have greater resources to navigate the system. Affirmative action’s end and a widening gap in the admissions process raise questions about the system’s fairness and inclusivity.

4. Dartmouth’s move to reintroduce standardized testing comes amidst today’s growing skepticism of the value of a private school degree. Yet, the allure of prestigious institutions and promise of high-paying post-graduate jobs remains strong. The SAT and ACT remain controversial in the college admissions process and have been criticized for elitism and racial inequities.

5. Standardized testing is said to magnify wealth disparities, with children of the 1% being 13 times more likely to score higher on the tests than those from low-income families. While the process may lack fairness, research shows a positive correlation between high test scores and college success, regardless of high school background or income.

6. Dartmouth maintains that test scores are an important predictor of student success and have potential to boost admissions chances. However, the concerns about diversity and inclusivity in admissions process linger, prompting a substantial reconsideration of standardized testing across Ivy League and prestigious schools.



Read more: Darmouth brings back SATs, standardized tests, to help ‘less resourced families’