Abolish SAT-Emphasis
Post thumbnail-AP Students and/or students who have taken the SAT
“It is not often that a man can make opportunities for himself. But he can put himself into such shape that when or if opportunity comes, he is ready.” -Theodore Roosevelt
For years and years, high schools across the nation emphasize the aptitude test known as the SAT. There are those who have the necessary funds, those who know which direction to go in life, and those who are backed with the many scholarships they have earned who may just shrug off the difficulty that comes with nothing more than another qualification for college. For many, however, comes its blatant needlessness. There will be those who have an interest in vocational schools, those who work straight out of high school, or those who pursued an alternate route. Why must they receive the same emphasis if it’s not of their interest?
The SAT, in a sense, is an unnecessary test that has burrowed its way into high school life. Perhaps it wouldn’t be needless if something like junior college was not made available as an alternate route. Junior college, otherwise known as community college, is arguably the most efficient and helpful way to get into any four-year university. Unlike a generalized test such as the SAT, community college can provide students with a more specific goal for when they reach any of the local Cal-States or UCs. This is imperative to those who have yet to decide what they wish to pursue in life, what they know they’re good at, and what they’re the most comfortable with since it provides an extended two years of experience and flexibility that isn’t limited to mandatory classes in high school.
In hindsight, passing the SAT, ACT, or any form of aptitude test can prove a student’s worth in college life. However, in today’s society, debt has become the accepted snake that crawls up and down everyone’s spine. It almost always begins with student loan debt. As opposed to what the SAT promotes, unless the student pursued scholarships, they are walking into the loan traps set in place by a majority of colleges. Why must a student pay for general education classes in a four-year college? These classes do not favor their pursuit in their occupation whatsoever, yet they are still paying the full price for courses and semesters. Why isn’t it advertised that community college also covers general education classes? You can complete said classes for a fraction of the cost all while figuring out what career you want to pursue. Not to mention that transfers have a greater enrollment rate than freshmen going in straight from high school according to the statistics found on universityofcalifornia.edu.
As mentioned before, unless a student has access to adequate funds and/or scholarships, the SAT should NOT be emphasized in high school life without the consultation of alternate methods. Students should be aware and should know what they must endure if they decide to go directly into a four-year college directly from high school.
