Level Up Your SAT Score: How the New Adversity Score Can Help You Ace the Admissions Game

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Thu Dec 7, 2023

Leveling the Playing Field: The SAT's New Adversity Score

Increases your chances of getting into top schools: Stand out from the crowd and impress admissions officers.

In a groundbreaking move to address concerns about inequality in college admissions, the College Board has announced the introduction of a new "adversity score" on the SAT. This score aims to level the playing field by taking into account students' social and economic backgrounds, creating a more holistic picture of each applicant.

Understanding the Adversity Score:

This score is calculated based on 15 factors across three categories: neighborhood environment, family environment, and high school environment. Factors like crime rate, poverty rate, family income, and access to AP classes are all considered. Scores range from 1 to 100, with 50 considered "average," above 50 indicating "hardship," and below 50 signifying "privilege." This score will appear alongside the traditional SAT score on the "Environmental Context Dashboard," providing admissions officers with additional context about each student's accomplishments.

Benefits and Potential Concerns:

Proponents of the adversity score argue that it will help colleges identify talented students who have overcome significant challenges, leading to a more diverse and representative student body. Additionally, it could alleviate concerns about the fairness of standardized tests, which have been criticized for favoring students from privileged backgrounds.

However, some critics remain skeptical, arguing that the score may perpetuate existing biases or lead to unnecessary categorization of students. Others express concerns about data privacy and the potential for misuse of the score.

The Future of College Admissions:

The introduction of the adversity score represents a significant step towards a more equitable college admissions process. While there are valid concerns to consider, this initiative opens doors for talented students from all walks of life. Further research and ongoing dialogue will be crucial in determining the long-term impact of this score on college admissions and educational opportunities.

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{{Sameer Kumar}}
I graduated from IIT Kharagpur and have been teaching Physics and Maths to Engineering (IIT-JEE) and Medical (NEET) entrance examination aspirants for the last six years.