In a surprising turn of events, Harvard College has announced that it will reinstate its standardized testing requirement for admissions beginning with the Class of 2029. This unexpected reversal may cause some students to scramble to take the SAT or ACT tests ahead of the fall application deadlines.

Harvard had previously committed to remaining test-optional through the admitted Class of 2030, a policy that was implemented during the pandemic. However, the university faced growing criticism from academics and admissions experts for sticking with this policy while its peer institutions, such as Yale, Dartmouth, and Brown, returned to requiring standardized tests.

All applicants for the Class of 2029 will be required to submit SAT or ACT scores, with exceptions made for those who are unable to access such exams. In such cases, scores from exams like the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate will be accepted as substitutes.

Hopi E. Hoekstra, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, stated that standardized tests provide valuable predictive information about a student's college success, regardless of their background or life experience. The aim of reinstating the testing requirement is to strengthen Harvard's ability to identify promising students across the socioeconomic range.

Although the majority of Harvard undergraduates in the past four years have submitted standardized test scores, the exact percentage was not specified in the release. Previously, Harvard officials were unsure whether the testing requirement would be reinstated. However, a study conducted by Opportunity Insights, a Harvard-affiliated initiative led by economists John N. Friedman and Raj Chetty, found that SAT scores are a strong predictor of college success, even more so than high school grade point average.

Experts believe that reintroducing standardized test scores could help enhance the racial and socioeconomic diversity of Harvard's student body. David J. Deming, a finalist to serve as the dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, stated that requiring such scores provides the fairest admissions policy for disadvantaged applicants, as not everyone can afford costly college coaches but everyone has the opportunity to perform well on standardized tests.

While Yale and Dartmouth's decision to reinstate testing policies focused on the predictive power of standardized testing, Harvard's announcement has faced criticism. The Generational African American Students Association at Harvard criticized the return to required testing, stating that it undermines efforts towards achieving equal opportunity in higher education institutions.

Applicants for the Class of 2029 were taken by surprise with Harvard's sudden policy change. They now have six remaining opportunities to take the ACT or SAT before the regular decision application deadline on January 1, and even fewer before the early action deadline on November 1.

Harvard's decision, though met with some criticism, aims to utilize standardized tests as a means to identify talent from diverse backgrounds and ensure a fair admissions process for all applicants.