More than Just a number by Amanda

More than Just a number by Amanda - July 2022 Scholarship Essay

Junior year of high school is rumored to be difficult. The year where everything supposedly kicks into high gear, and focus shifts to college entrance exams. Although, as I recall it, my school could not even provide a basic information session on the topic. As a student of a minority, low income area, statistically the odds were against me, and it was through my own resources that I had to figure out how to get a decent score. So while I did try to study on my own, I was ironically overjoyed when I found myself sitting behind a screen on that fateful first day of my third year. In fact, I was even more excited when I sat down completely unprepared for the ACT.
A year later when scores were inevitably made optional, I got into my dream school, The University of Pennsylvania. However, I do not think I would have ever gotten in without waiving my score. In 10 years, I can only pray that these tests stay optional as they only work to wall off underprivileged students who are as equally deserving of a good education as anyone else.
A student may have the talents of memorization and a good work ethic, but the resources that they are provided can also greatly dictate their performance on paper. Tutoring sessions for example are not provided on every campus, and private lessons can be too costly for a low income student. The tests themselves also do not account for the fact that tested subjects are not taught in equal quality in every school. Additionally the high cost of even signing up for a single standardized college entrance exam can limit access to many. There are frankly a lot of factors that go into a student's performance, but no accommodations or changes have been made to bridge this gap. Ultimately, giving an advantage to well off students with an ability to access help, and making scores an unfair uphill battle for the economically disadvantaged.
More people want to go to college than ever before, and while it is in any institution's best interest to fill their class with qualified students, using a single score is not the route to take. Currently, the top 20 colleges in the nation have started looking towards the more personal and human qualities of a student and not just a singular score. Finally, choosing to look deeper and make a better judgment that can change someone's entire life. While this is only a small step in the right the direction, any dedicated student has the potential to do great things regardless of a number ,and I hope eventually in the future more will be able to accomplish them.