Why go back?
Brown said in a statement that the test results are a clear indicator of future success.
“Our analysis shows that SAT and ACT scores are key indicators that help predict a student’s ability to succeed and thrive in Brown’s demanding academic environment,” the University of Providence, Rhode Island, said in a statement.
Brown also echoed concerns expressed by Dartmouth College and Yale University that suspending testing requirements would have the unintended impact of hurting prospective students from low-income families.
A committee at Brown University that reviews admissions policies is concerned that some students from disadvantaged backgrounds with lower scores are choosing not to submit scores under the test-optional policy, even though submitting scores would actually increase their chances of admission.
“Strong testing based on a student’s background may help demonstrate their ability to succeed at Brown, while a lack of scores may mean admissions officers are hesitant to admit them,” the announcement said.
There is a surge in applications to highly selective colleges during the selective testing period. Last year, Brown said it had received more than 51,000 applications for fall 2023 classes.
Is this a growing trend?
Not entirely.
For every school that returns to standardized testing, many institutions are moving in the opposite direction as part of the growing test-optional movement in the United States. About 2,000 colleges and universities have said they will no longer require admissions tests, according to the anti-testing group FairTest.
Supporters of test-optional policies argue that they level the playing field and eliminate the advantage high school students from wealthy families have because they can afford test-prep classes and score-boosting coaches.
Even as the pandemic recedes, many colleges are choosing to remain test-optional. Columbia University announced last year that it would be test-optional, and Harvard University said it would be test-optional for the graduating class of 2030.
The University of Michigan, one of the nation’s most selective public universities, announced in February that it would become test-optional, abandoning its “test-flexibility” policy that allowed the use of other exams, such as Advanced Placement courses.
The University of California system has a “test-blind” policy, meaning it does not review scores even if they are submitted.
What about other admissions practices?
Brown said a committee analyzing admissions practices has weighed the question of legacy preference, in which children of alumni would be promoted, but has not yet reached a conclusion.
About 8% of Brown’s first-year students are of descent.
“The issue of admissions preferences raises complex questions about equity and access, merit and unearned advantage, the tangible and intangible impacts of affinity, loyalty and community, and how to weigh the compelling But competing values.” Summary.
On the one hand, the committee found that students whose parents attended Brown tended to be of higher quality and perform better academically. They are also more likely to accept an offer of admission. The legacy creates “a sense of community and loyalty among graduates.”
On the other hand, the committee found that an analysis suggested that admitting fewer traditional students could result in a slight increase in the number of low-income and first-generation students and students from historically underrepresented groups.
Brown University said it will also maintain its early admissions program. Critics say such programs help students from wealthy families.