PARKS’ POST

Just recently, Siena Heights University decided to drop the requirement for the ACT and SAT scores of applicants. When I had first recently heard about this decision, I was upset. It frustrated me that I had to submit my score and I had to put my awful score out there for people to judge me. But then the more I thought about it, if I were someone applying for college right now, I would be celebrating.

With that being said, I went to a private, Catholic high school that provided a demanding workload and prepared me for college. But my ACT score did not show that. I took the ACT three different times, and my highest score was a 21.

I paid attention in my math class when the teacher would tell me exactly what type of math would be on there, and my dad even brought me home a book of things to study for the test. But after three tries, a 21 was the best I could get.

I graduated with a 3.5 GPA, played three sports and was a member of the National Honors Society, and yet I felt inferior to all of my friends because I scored a 21 while they all scored at least a 27 or above. I work hard at everything that I do and put all my effort into it, and I still was judged on my 21 as if it were a “scarlet letter.”

Now I think this is one of the best decisions I have heard, because why should one single standardized test determine how smart, hard-working and college-ready you are? Chances are if people are applying to colleges, they have already shown you that they are willing to work hard towards an education. If someone is willing to work, willing to give you their all and prove to you that they can do something, shouldn’t they be considered?

Some bigger schools wouldn’t have considered me a candidate to be accepted with my ACT score, but Siena saw who I was, how hard I worked, and how hard I was willing to work. I currently hold a 3.86 GPA. One single test score does not determine who you are, and Siena sees that.

It’s a great day to be a Saint!