What Happened to Diversity and Equity When Admissions Tests Became Optional?

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

In the 2022 admissions cycle, over two thirds of US bachelor granting schools were SAT/ACT optional; a 50% increase compared to 2019 (FairTest, 2021). Some argue that this change could increase equity in admissions, since racial and income-based test score disparities have been a longstanding issue for admissions tests. Others, however, hold that test scores help to level playing fields, and that without them, admissions will focus more on “gameable” factors, such as essays, high school grades, and recommendation letters–all factors that are also known to vary by race and income. In this session, we bring together distinguished speakers from academia, admissions, and industry to discuss these perspectives, what happened in the 2022 admissions cycle, and to chart a more equitable future.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chairs

• Emma Klugman, Harvard University

• Elizabeth Tipton, Northwestern University

Moderator

• Emma Klugman, Harvard University

Panelists

• Dominique Baker, Southern Methodist University

• Li Cai, University of California - Los Angeles

• Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, University of California - Los Angeles

• Jenny Rickard, The Common Application

• Michael E. Walker, Educational Testing Service