The Digital SATs are coming….

Test Prep Classes

The big news: the SAT is now digital.

Now to handle the confusing news: how much do the SATs matter?

Less than before.

But still a reasonable amount, particularly for any “typical” suburban kid from Shoreline, CT.Those from Old Lyme, East Lyme, Essex, Old Saybrook, Madison, Guilford, and other shoreline towns in Connecticut are not the reason why SATs are now optional at many colleges.

This is not an anti-DEI rant.  Instead, it’s simply a commentary on the realistic view: test scores – historically, the main advantage for admission and scholarships – for most students from the suburbs of Connecticut is….. STILL THE MAIN ADVANTAGE for most students from the suburbs of Connecticut.

How is this possible?

Grade inflation.  This is a subject for another day.  But a simple search will reveal the extent of grade inflation.  This does not help those who attend strong high schools.  Those who are getting As in East Lyme High School are among the brightest students in the state. Those who get As in [Insert whatever you think is a lower level school] are not.

But on paper the A grade is identical.  Test scores were the main way to separate students with similar GPAs.  Those from East Lyme would differentiate themselves with great scores.

As for subjective criteria, this has been the main focus of our college counseling.  Also, a subject for another day.

In the meanwhile, parents of high school juniors – SAT time is coming.  Use it to your advantage.

By both anecdotal observation and statistical analysis, the SATs will likely still matter for your child.