The recent talk in California about abolishing the SAT has led to heated debate over whether the test is really necessary. At Mason, many students seem to relish the idea of eliminating the stress-provoking Scholastic Assessment Test. "I think they should get rid of the SAT so the grades I work hard for would mean more, and plus I wouldn’t have to stress out about it anymore," sophomore Nick Huizenga said. 

"Abolishing it is a great idea. The SAT doesn’t accurately show how a student will perform at college," said senior James Slaton.

On the other hand, some think that colleges need a way to compare students from various schools and different parts of the country. It’s decidedly harder to get an "A" at Mason than it is in many other high schools. (We are, of course, "the second most challenging school in the country.") "I think they should continue using measuring sticks like the SATs. There needs to be some way to judge students," said physics teacher David Applegate.

Many others feel like the SAT needs reforms, but should not be discarded completely. "The SAT should be more specific, it should incorporate more of what students have learned. I think the SAT II might accomplish that more than the SAT," said Career Counselor Judy Bracken. 

"The SAT is probably a good thing for colleges to look at, but it should in no way determine acceptance," said sophomore Laura Kenney. Many students seemed to agree with Kenney—that the SAT could be helpful, but shouldn’t be crucial. "It is a good measurement tool, but it is way overemphasized. The SAT puts too much pressure on people," sophomore Mia Logan said. 

The fact that there are so many SAT preparation courses are available seemed to vex some Masonites. "The SAT is a wonderful idea, however, I have a problem with the many classes offered to help students score better on the test. It seems unfair that if you have the money, you can take classes that teach how to take, and do well, on the SAT. In that respect, the SAT is not really showing what people know," said senior Drew Johnston. 

"Those courses are just money-makers, I sometimes wonder if they even help, they probably are just a waste of time," Logan said.

For now, the SATs are still a part of the college application process, but with all discussion, change could very well be on the way.