The SAT is a standardized test that teachers like to push onto students for college admissions. While many college admission advisors are looking for your SAT score, college applicants often wonder why. As an applicant myself, I stressed myself out over my SAT/ACT scores. I spent a lot of time studying, taking practice tests, and learning how to take the test. Even after months of preparation, I took the test, received my scores, and was not fully satisfied with the score I had. With the amount of preparation I had done, the score did not reflect the dedication I had. I did not feel like I had enough time to take the test. I felt rushed, I panicked when time was low, and I did not get to answer all the problems to the best of my ability. I was frustrated when I realized that I had also run out of days to retake the test to get a better score. I was forced to turn in a score that did not guarantee admission according to the website of my dream school, Purdue University.
After I submitted my college applications, I thought about why colleges cared so much about the SAT scores. They are able to see your grades throughout high school, your extracurriculars, community involvement, volunteerism, and take a look into your life through essays. I believe with more than four hundred community service hours, sixteen dual credit classes I’ve taken, and passed with an A, and the thought-out essays are plenty for colleges to see me as a person. Every administrator at my school told me that colleges would be crazy not to accept me with the track record I have. Even still, I was still worried my scores would let me down.
SAT/ACT do not fully show the knowledge of students because it only shows the standards put out by the College Board. Not all standards are taught to students. There may be standards that get skipped through in schools, not allowing students to fully understand a concept. There is a reason that over 50% of colleges are becoming test optional. Colleges are beginning to realize that a test score truly does not show who you are as a student.
An example of someone whose life does not reflect their SAT score is my grandma. In High School, she had terrible SAT scores. Throughout her life, she became an educator in a Christian school that her husband created. Eventually, they decided to create a charter school in order to become government funded while having the same core values of the Christian school. This would allow families to get a private school feel with public school admission. She eventually became the principal of the charter school, and went on to expand to a $15 million dollar building after 10 years in the building that became too small. She has touched the lives of many families, students, staff, and the community she has created. An SAT score will never be the determinant factor on your success. Only you can do that.