BAILEY: Why the SAT and ACT still matter

With graduation season upon us, a lot of high school seniors will soon be college-bound. You’re probably thinking, why write about standardized tests at this moment? Because education never sleeps and perhaps you have a budding college student at home.

I am sure most of you are familiar with the SAT and ACT, the multiple-choice exams commonly used by colleges and universities to make admission decisions. Well, to attract students from diverse backgrounds and enhance access to higher education, many colleges have adopted a test-optional approach, abandoning the requirement for these exams, including Daemen University D’Youville College, and Niagara University, to name a few. Each of SUNY’s 64 campuses has the authority to determine whether to make test scores optional.

A few reasons prompted this policy trend. Colleges argue that standardized tests present a restricted outlook on a student’s intellectual potential. Test-optional policies allow for consideration of qualified candidates with low test scores and evaluation based on other factors, such as grades, essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and courses.

The policies also motivate a higher volume of candidates to apply. Enrollment is about numbers and dollars. Many admissions offices at public and private universities have struggled to enroll enough students to stay open. Private colleges in Western New York face stiff competition from the state’s public universities, which benefit from greater financial support, higher endowments, and lower tuition fees.

So why should a student go through the hassle of filling out a bubble sheet when they can apply to test-optional colleges instead? Because the competition is strong, and the challenge will make them stronger.

The college landscape is very, very competitive, especially for schools which have more academic course offerings and research opportunities for undergraduate students. As a college essay and scholarship consultant, I have firsthand experience working with college bound high school students in Niagara County, some submitted standardized test scores, many did not.

Although “test-optional” means that a university does not require a student to submit an SAT or ACT score as part of the application, the admissions team will review it if submitted. Earlier this week I attended a virtual webinar offered by the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) titled, “Industry Insights:

College Admissions Case Study: High-achieving Domestic & International Students”. Colleges and universities with a test-optional policy still favor students who submit decent SAT or ACT scores, as I suspected.

This is especially true for schools that offer a wider range of academic courses, internships, state-funded programs, and research opportunities for undergrads.

Standardized exams are often criticized for being biased, unfair and stressful. The truth of the matter is that the real world can be biased, unfair and stressful. Does that mean that kids should not attempt to rise to the occasion? Shouldn’t schools demand more, not less from students?

Students are becoming more academically risk averse, admissions offices recognize this, and they want to see less risk averse applicants. Kids are discouraged from pushing their limits due to reduced academic standards, limited extracurricular involvement, and fewer opportunities for introspective thinking and writing.

It’s important to urge college-bound students to challenge themselves academically and take the SAT or ACT exams.

Taking the exam will give students more options and flexibility in their school choices. A student will have a wider range of colleges to apply to and choose from. It will also increase the chances for scholarships, honors programs, and other opportunities that require or prefer to see test scores.

The SAT or ACT can help a student show off their academic potential and college preparedness. Although grades and coursework are significant measures of academic achievement, they might not portray a student’s actual talents and abilities, particularly if they attend a school with restricted resources, low standards, or grade inflation. When a student submits a good SAT or ACT score, colleges know the student is ready for college-level skills such as reading, critical thinking, problem-solving, and math.

While test scores are not the most important factor in college admissions, they can still make a difference. Admissions teams consider the whole person. The decision to take the SAT or ACT can imply to colleges that you possess motivation, ambition, and a willingness to face challenges. For students inclined towards STEM, attempting the SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics or Science can showcase their aptitude and enthusiasm for these areas.

For non-STEM students, improved test scores can also be an indicator of a student’s progress, particularly if there is a positive trend over time or if the scores have increased since the last test. Suppose a student improved their SAT score by 200 points from sophomore to junior year, that’s hard work and shows they’ve learned a lot. A student who consistently scores a 32 on the ACT showcases a strong foundation and proficiency.

Test scores could be essential to secure external programs or awards from honors colleges, national scholarships, or dual enrollment courses. Taking the SAT or ACT can help students access benefits and opportunities they might not have had otherwise.

Since college admissions are so competitive, it’s a good idea to take a standardized test anyway and send in the scores with the application if they are respectable. These tests may be optional, but students shouldn’t dismiss or avoid them. Admissions officers gain context and high school students gain valuable experience and increase their options.

NEET UG 2023 Result Declared - Full List of Toppers

Prabhanjan J from Tamil Nadu and Bora Varun ChakravarthiI of Andhra Pradesh scored a perfect 720/720 marks and emerged as Joint Topper of NEET UG 2023. Read More

NEET UG 2023 Toppers: Prabhanjan J from Tamil Nadu and Bora Varun ChakravarthiI of Andhra Pradesh scored a perfect 720/720 marks and emerged as Joint Topper of NEET UG 2023 the result of which was declared by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on its official website ntaresults.nic.in Tuesday.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared on its official website neet.nta.nic.in today i.e. Tuesday June 13, 2023 the result of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2023 conducted for admission to undergraduate medical courses including MBBS, BDS, BUMS, BAMS and BHMS.

According to the NTA, Prabhanjan J from Tamil Nadu and Bora Varun ChakravarthiI of Andhra Pradesh scored a perfect 720/720 marks and emerged as Joint Topper of NEET UG 2023. Following is the list of Top 10 Toppers of NEET UG 2023.

1. Prabanjan J (720 Marks)

2. Bora Varun Chakravarth (720 Marks)

3. Kaustav Bauri (716 Marks)

4. Pranjal Aggarwal

5. Dhruv Advan

6. Surya Siddharth N

7. Shriniketh Ravi

8. Swayam Shakti Tripathy

9. Varun S (715 Marks)

10. Parth Khandelwal

Rank 11: Ashika Aggarwal

Rank 12: Sayan Pradhan

Rank 13: Harshit Bansal

Rank 14: Shashank Kumar

Rank 15: Kanchani Geyanth Raghu Ram Reddy

Rank 16: Shubhamm Bansal

Rank 17: Bhaskar Kumar

Rank 18: Dev Bhatia

Rank 19: Arnab Pati

Rank 20: Shashank Sinha

A total of 11,45,976 candidates have qualified. Highest from Uttar Pradesh (139,961) followed by Maharashtra (131,008).

Students can check their NEET UG scorecard 2023 at neet.nta.nic.in and ntaresults.nic.in.

This time, the cut-off marks have increased as compared to the last two years. In the case of General candidates NEET cut off has increased from 138 in 2021, 117 in 2022 to 137 in 2023, and for SC, ST, and OBC candidates, the cut off has increased from 108 in 2021, 93 in 2022 to 107 in 2023.

The other highlight of NEET UG is that the number of candidates who appeared increased by 15.5% as compared to 2022 whereas the number of candidates who qualified increased by 48.5%.

NEET UG 2023 was held on May 07, 2023 when more than 20 lakh students from India and abroad appeared for the important medical entrance exam conducted for admission in MBBS, BDS, BUMS, BHMS and other courses.

The NTA had released on June 07, 2023 NEET UG 2023 Provisional Answer Key. Last date to challenge the NEET Answer Key was June 12, 2023.

NEET is held for admission to MBBS, BDS Courses in Indian Medical and Dental Colleges run with the approval of Medical Council of India, Dental Council of India under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India except for the institutions established through an Act of Parliament i.e. AIIMS and JIPMER Puducherry.

After the release of NEET UG result, medical counselling for admission to MBBS, BDS, BUMS, BHMS and other medical courses is conducted - centerally by Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and different states.

Candidates should note that MBBS, BDS, BUMS medical admission counselling 2023 will start soon after the declaration of NEET result today. NEET UG Counselling will be done at centre level by Medical Council of India, and at state level by respective states.

Separate notification will be issued by MCI and state level admission authorities. The counselling will be done online through dedicated websites launched by MCI and different states.

Detailed counselling schedule will be published by MCI and respective education board on their official websites.

Rajasthan girl Tanishka had bagged the All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) followed by Vatsa Ashish Batra and Hrishikesh Nagbhushan Gangule in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG 2022),

NEET UG 2021 reesult was declared on November 01. Three students - Mrinal Kutteri, Tanmay Gupta and Karthika G Nair have bagged 720 out of the total 720 marks in NEET UG 2021 and secured AIR 1, AIR 2 and AIR 3 ranks.

A number of Muslim students were also among the NEET toppers in 2021.

In 2020, a total of 06 Muslim students had found their place in the list of NEET toppers. Among them was Shoyeb Aftab from Assam who had secured AIR 1 in 2020. Aftab is currently studying at AIIMS, New Delhi.

For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.

Feds to appear in court over Prince Harry’s visa after drug use admissions

The US government will appear in court next week to answer questions about Prince Harry’s visa application after a conservative think tank demanded that it be unsealed, given his admitted drug use.

The Department of Homeland Security will face off on June 6 against the Heritage Foundation, which filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit earlier this month to compel the agency to release the Duke of Sussex’s immigration records, arguing that they are of “immense public interest.”

So far, the US government has refused to make the 38-year-old royal’s visa application public.

Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, tweeted Tuesday that the hearing will be in DC federal court and open to the press.

Gardiner touted the upcoming hearing — likely the first of many to come — as a “very significant development.”

“It significantly raises the stakes here,” he told the Telegraph. “I think that so far the Biden administration has been stonewalling the freedom.”

Any foreign national seeking to obtain a US visa or permanent resident status is required to answer questions about their past drug use.

Under US immigration law, a visa applicant who is “determined to be a drug abuser” is deemed “inadmissible” — although immigration officials are permitted to make exceptions.

In his bestselling tell-all memoir, “Spare,” as well as in multiple TV interviews promoting the book, Prince Harry came clean about using cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.

“Widespread and continuous media coverage has surfaced the question of whether DHS properly admitted the Duke of Sussex in light of the fact that he has publicly admitted to the essential elements of a number of drug offenses in both the United States and abroad,” the Heritage Foundation’s complaint reads.

The think tank also questioned whether the Duke of Sussex’s immigration status in the US should be “reconsidered” in light of the revelations contained in his book.

Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, moved to the US in March 2020 and bought a home in Southern California after stepping back from being working members of the British royal family.  

Sources close to Harry have previously said he answered questions on his application seeking a US visa truthfully.

The Heritage Foundation argued that it is in the public interest to know exactly what Prince Harry wrote in his application — and how it was handled by the Biden administration.

“Did DHS in fact look the other way, play favorites, or fail to appropriately respond to any potential false statements by Prince Harry?” the think tank said in a statement Tuesday.