Beginning with the class of 2012, students will no longer be required to take two SAT subject tests as part of the University of California (UC) admissions process.

According to College and Career Center Coordinator Leighton Lang, the mission of this new policy is to try to close the socioeconomic gap that exists between applicants. “The UCs believe that they are missing out on applicants who have good GPAs and grades, but don’t have the [SAT subject tests],” Lang said.

The elimination of the SAT subject test requirement is not a new idea. “Only two percent of all colleges and universities require the SAT subject tests, so there are institutions which can make decisions on students without these tests,” guidance counselor Myesha Compton said.

However, according to Compton, the policy will also decrease the number of students accepted. “It’s cutting the percentage of guaranteed slots for the UC,” Lang said. “It used to be that the top 12 percent applications were guaranteed a spot, because even if you didn’t get into the UC you applied to, you were guaranteed a spot in one of the other UCs. This percentage has now dropped down to the top nine percent.”

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the new policy will cause the UCs to do a more comprehensive review of incoming applications. This will cause certain students to have an increased chance of being accepted, while others will have less of a chance, according to Compton. “I think students with stronger academics but less extracurriculars might suffer, but it will allow those with a balance of the two to showcase their talents,” she said.

Compton believes there are benefits for students in the policy as well. “I hope it will help students be not quite as stressed and concentrate on more school-based academics if they so choose,” she said. “It will also give them more options, because those who originally weren’t considering the UCs because of the requirement would be able to apply.”

However, Lang thinks that the new policy will increase the number of UC applications. “I think it will benefit students, because basically, what the UCs have done is brought the requirements down so that students who would normally apply to state schools will now be able to apply to UCs,” Lang said.

Lang does not believe that the elimination of the requirement will affect Gunn particularly. “Our school is mainly UC-driven,” Lang said. “Most of the kids apply to the privates and all the UCs. But for schools who are not as academically strong, kids will be able to apply for UCs.” Freshman Amanda Tam agrees. “I would take [the SAT subject tests] anyway, even if it was not required [for the UCs], because I would want to apply for private schools too,” Tam said.

Overall, Compton is optimistic about students’ chances to receive higher education after Gunn. “In the end, all students will be able to find a college or university that fits them,” she said. “The UCs aren’t the only universities in the [United States].”