Harvard is the fourth Ivy League college to make standardized testing necessary once more, reversing an earlier shift away from the SAT and ACT by the nation’s prime universities.
All eight Ivies made testing non-obligatory when facilities shuttered through the pandemic. On the identical time, debates began about whether or not the exams had been an precise measure of potential or simply financial alternative.
However now the exams are again at Harvard.
Harvard’s reversal echoes these of Brown, Dartmouth, and Yale — and goes into impact this subsequent admission cycle. College students can select between the SAT or ACT, Harvard mentioned.
Harvard mentioned the transfer will truly assist it establish promising college students at less-well-resourced faculties.
“Standardized exams are a way for all college students, no matter their background and life expertise, to offer data that’s predictive of success in faculty and past,” School of Arts and Sciences dean Hopi Hoekstra mentioned in a press release.
At the same time as prime faculties are bringing again exams, most faculties in America are remaining test-optional.
Nonetheless, the timing of the announcement is elevating eyebrows.
The Harvard Crimson known as the transfer a “sudden reversal,” noting the college had beforehand dedicated to remaining test-optional by means of 2026.
Plus, the SAT and ACT are solely provided seven occasions a 12 months, with the Crimson noting that one sitting for every take a look at has already handed.
The window will get even tighter for these seeking to apply by Harvard’s early motion deadline of Nov. 1. The ACT suggests college students take a look at a minimum of two months forward of their deadline, whereas the SAT says scores are usually out there inside two to 4 weeks.
Harvard didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Enterprise Insider.
