Jul 5, 2008

Colleges weigh school, SAT scores differently

By Jason Katz / Daily News columnist

Q: I have a high school age daughter, and I was wondering what is the best predictor of college success - high school grades or the SAT?

A: A recent study released by The College Board, the company that administers the SAT, found that high school grades "continue to be a slightly more accurate predictor of college success than SAT scores," states a recent U.S. News & World Report article.

However, according to the study, the best predictor of college success is the combination of grades and SAT scores. I tend to think that high school grades are a better predictor of college success than scores on a standardized test.

High school grades make up a four year body of work; SAT scores are based on a three hour and 45 minute test. There is a much greater possibility that something unusual could affect the outcome of the SAT than could affect the outcome of the high school transcript.

I have worked with students who didn't get enough sleep the night before the SAT or didn't eat enough breakfast the morning of or didn't bring a substantial enough snack to keep them from getting hungry during the test or simply had horrible test anxiety. Any of these factors could cause a student to score lower on the SAT.

On the other hand, there are some students who score very well on the SAT but are not motivated to do the work necessary to earn good grades in high school. Sometimes these students are simply looking for more challenging work and thus will do well in college; however, others will continue to underachieve.

The fact that they score well on the SAT does not necessarily mean they will be motivated to accomplish college level academic work. However, just because high school grades may be a better predictor of college success, the SAT remains a very important aspect of the admissions process at many colleges. Many colleges believe that grade inflation is a problem and find that accurate GPA comparisons are difficult; earning an "A" at high school X may be easier than earning an "A" at high school Y.

Many colleges and universities - especially the larger ones that can't interview all their applicants - need some sort of standardized measuring stick. Nonetheless, more and more colleges are dropping the SAT or ACT requirement.

According to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, "nearly 760 four-year colleges do not use the SAT I or ACT to admit substantial numbers of bachelor degree applicants."

Just recently, Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Smith College, a women's college in Northampton, Mass. became SAT and ACT optional. It is important to meet with a college counselor to assess the importance of grades versus standardized tests at the particular colleges and universities you are considering.



Jason Katz is an independent college counselor and is founder of JKatz College Counseling in Redwood City. E-mail Katz at jkatz@jkatzcollegecounseling.