Letter: New ‘adversity score’ on college admission tests unneeded

Adding ‘adversity score’ to
admissions test redundant

Regarding the May 18 article titled “Is the SAT’s new ‘adversity score’ a privilege check or blow to faith in college admissions?” (Mercurynews.com), the implementation of this new “adversity score” system is redundant.

The adversity score is presented as a measure of students’ economic and social adversities when they are taking the SAT. However, my college application and my financial aid documents have already provided admissions officers with sufficient information on my socio-economic background.

In particular, I used the essay portion of my college application to share with admissions officers the challenges that I have overcome in my academic journey in order to succeed.

Every student in America who wishes provide colleges with their own personal journeys to success can do the same. So, an additional system that provides admissions officers with the same information is unnecessary.

Long Nguyen
Gunderson High School senior
San Jose

 

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