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Harvard University Won’t Require SAT, ACT for Admissions Next Year

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Re: Harvard University Won’t Require SAT, ACT for Admissions Next Year

#3

What a weird way to attempt to be "egalitarian" - Harvard's only purpose is to be selective and exclusionary. You can't be both.

Harvard is selective and exclusionary but it doesn't need to select the objectively best people, it just has to select people that are "good enough". Most of the value of an undergrad degree at Harvard comes from networking rather than the education itself. It's a club.

Re: Harvard University Won’t Require SAT, ACT for Admissions Next Year

#5
A simple IQ test could separate the weeds from the chaff reasonably reliably. Of course, in these bizarre times, suggesting that an intelligence test influence admission to a top university would have many calling for my head.

The cynic in me says less objective data will allow obscuring nepotism even further, so the universities would be jumping on this opportunity. Synagogue attendance will be more important than ever.

Re: Harvard University Won’t Require SAT, ACT for Admissions Next Year

#6
important to consider distinction between test blind and test optional like harvard is doing.

test blind - don't even consider SAT/ACT even if submitted

test optional - will be considered if submitted, but not required.

My view is that more colleges will start going test optional as August rolls around, but only colleges that have committed to eventually phasing out testing (UC system) have gone test blind for next year.

Re: Harvard University Won’t Require SAT, ACT for Admissions Next Year

#7

What a weird way to attempt to be "egalitarian" - Harvard's only purpose is to be selective and exclusionary. You can't be both.

Maybe they found that SAT/ACT were not good criteria for selecting the best candidates.

May or may not be related to the lawsuits they’ve been dealing with recently.

Re: Harvard University Won’t Require SAT, ACT for Admissions Next Year

#8

What a weird way to attempt to be "egalitarian" - Harvard's only purpose is to be selective and exclusionary. You can't be both.

Don't forget that we're in a global pandemic that is severely limiting students' ability to take the test.

Re: Harvard University Won’t Require SAT, ACT for Admissions Next Year

#9

What a weird way to attempt to be "egalitarian" - Harvard's only purpose is to be selective and exclusionary. You can't be both.

Harvard is selective and exclusionary but it doesn't need to select the objectively best people, it just has to select people that are "good enough". Most of the value of an undergrad degree at Harvard comes from networking rather than the education itself. It's a club.

(Unrelated, but I love, love, love your username.)

Re: Harvard University Won’t Require SAT, ACT for Admissions Next Year

#10

What a weird way to attempt to be "egalitarian" - Harvard's only purpose is to be selective and exclusionary. You can't be both.

Maybe they found that SAT/ACT were not good criteria for selecting the best candidates.

SAT/ACT tests provide "objective" data that can then be used in lawsuits to prove discrimination.

Can't win the lawsuit? Eliminate the proof!

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