According to the Washington Post, American University is joining a new trend among post-secondary school to eliminate the standardized test requirement for college applicants.  In other words, students applying to AU are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores to be considered for admission.  Admissions committees are instead focusing on the overall picture painted by the applicant's high school experience, admissions essay, and recommendations. 

How refreshing to know that some schools are finally listening to the research that indicates that SAT and ACT tests, and other similar tests, are biased.  And not only are they listening, but they are doing something about it.  My brother is an excellent example of why those scores can't be trusted to give the whole picture.  He was awarded the merit scholarship for achieving a perfect score on the SAT's.  He got a full-ride to a small, private, out-of-state college because his scores were phenomenal.  Had the admission committee studied the rest of his application they would have noted that his GPA and attendance in high school were less than stellar.  Unfortunately for him, my parents, and the small, private, out-of-state school, he flunked out after just two semesters.  He is extremely intelligent as evidenced in his test scores, however, he is not skilled at balancing academics and life.  High test scores are not equal to high achievers.

I am not a good test taker.  I have tried really hard to be one but I tend to freeze up or get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of test in front of me and become hopeless.  However, in the classroom I can maintain impressive GPA's and produce high quality work.  My academic abilility was not showcased by the SAT's or the MAT's when I took them.  Thankfully, I was accepted to college and, later, to graduate school anyway.  I think AU is taking the right step in reducing the amount of weight that these tests carry on a student's application.