Why go back?
Brown said in the announcement that the test results are a clear indicator of future success.
“Our analysis shows that SAT and ACT scores are among the key indicators that help predict a student's ability to succeed and thrive in Brown University's competitive academic environment,” Providence College in Rhode Island said in a statement. It has become clear.”
Professor Brown also echoed concerns expressed by both Dartmouth College and Yale University that suspending test requirements would have the unintended effect of negatively impacting test takers from low-income families.
A Brown University committee charged with reviewing admissions policies found that some students from disadvantaged backgrounds with lower scores may actually have had a better chance of being admitted. , were concerned that they were choosing not to submit scores based on the test-optional policy. .
“A powerful test, interpreted with a student's background in mind, can help demonstrate the ability to succeed at Brown University,” the announcement said, adding, “Due to the lack of scores, admissions officials There is a possibility that government officials are hesitant about admitting students.”
During the exam selection period, applications to highly selective universities surged. Brown announced last year that more than 51,000 people applied for the fall 2023 class.
Is this a growing trend?
Not completely.
As part of the growing test-optional movement in the United States, many educational institutions are moving in the opposite direction as schools are reinstating standardized tests. According to the anti-test group Fair Test, about 2,000 universities no longer require entrance exams.
Supporters of test-optional policies say they level the playing field by eliminating the advantage afforded to high school students from wealthy families who can afford test preparation courses and score coaches. .
Many universities have chosen to maintain test-optional policies even as the pandemic subsides. Columbia University announced last year that it would be test-optional, and Harvard University said it would be test-optional through the graduating class of 2030.
In February, the University of Michigan, one of the most selective public universities in the United States, announced it would make testing optional, eliminating its “flexible testing” policy that allowed students to use other tests, such as Advanced Placement.
California's university system has a “test blind” policy, meaning it does not review scores even if they are submitted.
What about other admissions practices?
Brown said a committee analyzing admissions practices has considered the issue of legacy preferences, which give a boost to children of graduates, but has not yet reached a conclusion.
About 8 percent of the students in Brown's first-grade class are legacy.
Brown University's admissions committee says, “The question of admissions is how to balance equity and access, merit and passive income, affinity, loyalty, the tangible and intangible influence of the community, and attractive but competing values.'' “This raises complex questions about how to weigh this against other countries.” summary.
On the other hand, the committee found that students whose parents attended Brown University tended to have higher academic performance and higher qualifications. You are also more likely to accept an offer of admission. And legacy creates “a sense of community and loyalty among alumni.”
On the other hand, the analysis found that reducing admissions to traditional students could lead to small increases in the number of low-income students, first-generation students, and students from historically underrepresented groups. The Committee found that this suggests that.
Brown University said it will also maintain its early decision admissions program. Critics say such programs help students from wealthy families.