Standardised tests have become a rite of passage for high school students – in the US just as much as in Hong Kong. Decades of American university can remember the anxiety of studying for the tests that, more than anything else, can shape your academic future. The long-reigning SAT has recently been joined on the throne by the ACT; one or the other will be needed to apply at most US schools.
But the dominance of the standardised test isn’t what it once was. A growing group of universities and colleges in the US are downplaying the importance of the SAT and ACT. This July, Bryn Mawr, a respected women’s college in Pennsylvania, announced that it would make standardised test scores optional; applicants can submit the scores if they want, but the college will base its decision on the applicant’s high school grades, application essay, interviews, and other factors. Temple University, also in Pennsylvania, announced a similar policy, the so-called “Temple Option”, this year.
We at NTK are sympathetic to complaints about the SAT and ACT. And we can understand the desire to deemphasise the tests. But at the same time, it’s possible that Hong Kong students who apply to these schools will face steeper competition than they would at other institutions. The reason? Different standards for international and US students.
Take a closer look at Bryn Mawr, for example. Their standardised testing policy states that “Non-US citizens and Non-US permanent residents are required to submit standardized test scores (SAT I or ACT)” along with proof of English ability. Temple is similar, requiring international students to submit standardised test scores unless they have attended a US high school for at least three years.
This isn’t to say that the schools are engaged in active discrimination against international students. It’s understandable that they would want an additional guarantee of your ability when you come from a completely different educational system. But there’s a real possibility that this could create a disadvantage for international students, who will, in addition to performing well in their high school classes, have to study and prepare for a test that is not required for competing students from the US.
If you are set on applying to Bryn Mawr, Temple, or another of the more than 800 schools that have made the SAT and ACT optional, that’s great! Study hard, prepare well for the test, and do your best. But if not, perhaps you could consider a school where you will be on a bit more of an even footing. And no matter what school you decide on, always check the admission requirements thoroughly to make sure you don’t miss anything. Good luck!
