The SAT's 100-year grip on higher ed
Summary
Host Randi Bhattacharya explores the SAT’s century-long history, tracing its origins to Harvard President James Conant’s 1930s quest for a meritocratic admissions tool. The episode details how psychologist Carl Brigham’s aptitude test, rooted in eugenics, was adopted by elite universities and expanded nationally during WWII. It examines the test’s evolution into a billion-dollar industry, ongoing debates about racial and class bias, and its current resurgence as colleges move away from test-optional policies.
Topics discussed
Intro: SAT scores, anxiety, and privilege
The origin question: Why do we take the SAT?
James Conant's meritocracy dream at Harvard
Eugenics and the rise of IQ testing
Carl Brigham creates the Scholastic Aptitude Test
WWII logistics make the SAT national
The SAT becomes a billion-dollar industry
Test-optional trends and future of admissions
Outro and credits
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