In a shocking reversal of previous announcements, Harvard has declared that they once again will require students to submit standardized test scores. These requirements will take place in order to apply for the incoming freshman class as soon as this fall, impacting the Class of 2029 and beyond. In a year where every last little difference can decide acceptance or rejection, these surprising developments are keeping families riveted.
Editor’s Introduction
We’re excited to feature guest author and Empowerly expert counselor, Daniel Malki, on this special admissions piece regarding standardized tests. Outstanding mentors like Daniel—and all the counselors at Empowerly—work tirelessly to remain up-to-date on collegiate news.
For fellow educators and counselors, our guest counselor articles provide a professional insider’s perspective on the college admissions landscape in the United States. Regardless of your starting point, however, we hope all readers will benefit from the clarity of the research presented.
As a team of collaborative leaders, sharing knowledge with our community is what we do.
Author: Empowerly Counselor, Daniel Malki
Daniel was born and raised in Los Angeles. In college, Daniel double majored in Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He then went on to attend law school at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law as a Dean’s Honors Scholar, where he served as his class representative and social chair.
Daniel balances his time between his legal practice, advocating for higher education, and demystifying college admissions as a College Admissions Counselor. He has independently coached his students to gain admission to universities and graduate programs including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Georgetown, UC Berkeley, and Harvard Law School, among others.
Harvard Will Require Standardized Tests Once Again, for the Class of 2029
Harvard College has announced it will reinstate its requirement for standardized testing for admissions, starting with the Class of 2029. This move marks an end to its temporary test-optional policy initiated during the pandemic. The decision aligns Harvard with other elite institutions like Yale, Dartmouth, and Brown, which have also recently reinstated testing requirements.
This policy change was influenced by recent studies, including those from Harvard’s Opportunity Insights, highlighting the predictive value of standardized test scores on academic success. These findings have reignited discussions about the benefits of maintaining test requirements. According to the research, standardized tests help identify capable students from diverse backgrounds, including those from lower-income and underrepresented groups.
Changing College Admissions, for the Better?
Harvard will still consider alternatives to the SAT and ACT, like Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate scores, but only under exceptional circumstances where traditional tests are inaccessible. The majority of Harvard’s recent undergraduate classes submitted standardized test scores, despite the test-optional policy.
Parroting the practices of its Ivy League peers, Harvard’s decision follows the evidence from a study conducted by Harvard professors Raj Chetty and David J. Deming, along with John N. Friedman. Their research uncovered the significance of standardized tests in identifying promising students from less-resourced high schools.
The Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Hopi Hoekstra, emphasized that the reintroduction of testing is based on multiple factors. “Standardized tests are a means for all students, regardless of their background and life experience, to provide information that is predictive of success in college and beyond,” Hoekstra stated. He added that withholding test scores could potentially disadvantage an application, advocating for the inclusion of such data to better identify talent across socioeconomic spectrums.
Critics Argue Against Harvard’s Decision
Critics argue that reinstating the testing requirement could disadvantage students from less resourced schools who might not perform as well on these exams. In response, Harvard declared that it will use test scores holistically to understand each applicant’s context and background better.
This policy reversal was unexpected, especially since Harvard had previously extended its test optional policy through the Class of 2030. The decision has sparked debate about the role of standardized testing in achieving educational equity. Harvard officials, while citing the research as a primary motivator, have not disclosed if they conducted their own studies on the impact of the test-optional policy on their applicant pool.
Editor’s Note
This year, Harvard only accepted about 3% of the students who applied. If you’re curious about what it takes to become one of those lucky few who call Harvard home, it’s never too soon to begin preparing. Standardized tests are only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to successful college admissions these days. Consider reaching out to an Empowerly college coach to discuss your academic journey and get started today.
Julia de Raadt