Hamilton College is making the SAT-1 optional for high school students seeking admission to the highly selective, national liberal arts college.
"At a time when Hamilton has just completed its best admission year in more than two decades, we are making this change to ensure that the process is more fair and less anxiety-producing for prospective students," said President Eugene M. Tobin.
Effective with the students who will enroll in the fall of 2002, applicants to Hamilton can choose from a specified set of standardized test options.
"We are taking this step to encourage a wider and more diverse range of applicants," said Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Richard M. Fuller. "At the same time, the inclusion of some standardized test score as part of a student's application remains a valuable part of the admission process."
Fuller said the college still sees a place for standardized tests because of the decision by many high schools not to rank students, the inconsistencies in grading between and among high schools, and the variance of style and content of letters of recommendation. But, he said, the test is not without its faults.
"We are aware of the biases leveled against the SAT and other testing instruments," Fuller said, "and we will continue taking this criticism into account in our admission decisions." He said the college also changed its policy because of concerns that intensive and expensive test preparation courses were not available to economically disadvantaged students.
"When evaluating candidates for admission to Hamilton, standardized test scores have always been less important than a student's secondary school record, class rank and letters of recommendation," Fuller said. "We will continue to make admission decisions based on these criteria."
The new policy allows students to choose which standardized testing option will present their credentials most favorably.
Beginning with the class that will matriculate in the fall of 2002, candidates for admission to Hamilton may submit results from: the SAT-1; the American College Testing assessment test (ACT); three SAT-2 tests in different areas of study to include the writing test, a quantitative test (chemistry, math or physics) and one test of the student's choice; three Advanced Placement (AP) tests in different areas of study to include English, a quantitative test (computer science, chemistry, economics, math or physics) and one test of the student's choice; three International (IB) Standard or Higher level tests in different areas of study, to include an IB Language (A1, A2, or B in English only), one quantitative test, and one IB test of the student's choice; or three scores in different areas of study from any mix of the above to include an English test, a quantitative test and a test of the student's choice.
"By enabling students to present themselves in the most favorable light," Fuller said, "we hope to reduce as much anxiety from the college-selection process as possible."
The new approach will remain in effect for five years, at which time the Faculty Committee on Admission and Financial Aid will make a recommendation for a permanent policy regarding standardized test requirements.
The change in policy stemmed from a faculty resolution that received the full support of the college's senior administration and Board of Trustees.
For the class that will enter Hamilton in the fall, the college accepted only 35 percent of a record 4601 applications. The middle portion of accepted students have scores between 610 and 700 on the Verbal SAT and between 610 and 700 on the Math SAT.
