University of California admissions policy faces scrutiny over math preparation

In a guest essay for The New York Times, historian Miriam Pawel defended the University of California’s decision to eliminate SAT and ACT requirements for admission in 2021. Pawel noted that the policy change led to a significant increase in applications from high-achieving Black and Latino students at UCLA and contributed to record graduation rates across the system.

However, Pawel acknowledged that students on UC campuses may struggle with basic mathematics. This admission aligns with concerns raised by over 680 UC professors in an open letter, which described severe preparation gaps. The faculty reported that instructors are often required to re-teach middle school mathematics while attempting to cover advanced material required for science, engineering, and economics courses.

Despite these academic challenges, Pawel argued that the university remains an engine of upward mobility, noting that approximately 40% of UC students are first-generation college attendees and more than half qualify for free tuition. She urged the system to maintain its commitment to diverse access despite growing pressure to reinstate standardized testing.