With the autumn chill reappearing, it’s that time of year — test prep season. And as I’m sitting in my uncomfortable chair waiting for the PSAT to begin, I think “does a score really define you?” That question has been dominating education lately, and more universities are claiming that the answer is no.

Prestigious universities among the ranks of Sarah Lawrence, New York University and DePaul are boasting a “test optional” application, meaning that a student’s high school success and personal statements define them, not their standardized test scores. This is a controversial topic, with the culminating with the US News and World Report emitting “test optional” colleges from their top schools reports.

So the big question still remains: how does a college know who is succeeding if ACT and SAT scores aren’t serving as a common measure of college readiness? Well, the simplest answer is that the ranking system is different. Common core is still recognized in a government-funded schools, so the majority of students are learning and being evaluated on the same critical topics at the same time. Also, many factors such as a student’s high school career, such as GPAs, AP tests and extracurriculars, are still reviewed. Students are still being compared to one another, but there is an increasing emphasis on student growth and participation.

This change is touted as a stepping stone for lower-income students. According to collegetransitions.com, schools that are considered “test optional” encourage students with lower test scores (usually students whose parents combined income is under $150,000) to apply. With many strides being made toward reducing social stratification on campuses, such a Barack Obama’s plans for free educations at community colleges, this decision will help lower-income students join the middle class. This will hopefully lead to a smaller lower-class. In theory, this would lead to lower crime rates, a better economy and more diversity in high-level government and corporate positions.

This change also aims to increase diversity in schools. Pitzer College, a “test optional” school, claims a 58% increase in diversity since making the switch. This statistic illustrates the “test optional” method’s outstanding effect. Students that normally wouldn’t apply are choosing to pursue a higher education, and that is catapulting them toward better futures. “Test optional” colleges are giving disenfranchised students that normally don’t have equal access to expensive test preparation the chance to succeed. Isn’t that something that we can all agree is needed in today’s day and age? I think so.

According the thebestschools.org, most jobs with starting wages of $50,000+ require a four year degree and students with low-incomes don’t normally have the resources to earn the education needed to obtain one of these jobs. Low-income students’ test scores normally handicap them from applying to colleges with endowments but the “test optional” method is changing that. Universities with the “test optional” distinction allow students a chance to attend college when they couldn’t before.

This question of the importance of standardized testing is often asked of the ever-changing college admissions process. Will your test scores actually limit your educational future? The answer is no.