A shifting playbook for Barrington families
As Barrington-area students head into application season, a growing debate about artificial intelligence and authenticity in admissions is pushing standardized tests back into the spotlight. In a Post-Tribune op-ed published Oct. 16, 2025, college admissions consultant Gerald Bradshaw argues that, amid the spread of AI writing tools and evolving college policies, focused preparation for the SAT (or ACT) may be the safest way for applicants to demonstrate academic readiness.
Bradshaw’s advice comes as colleges reassess how they weigh essays and other subjective materials in an era when AI can generate or polish prose. He contends that a strong test score offers a clearer, more comparable signal of a student’s capabilities — and can still open doors to admission and scholarships.
Why tests are returning
Bradshaw notes that many institutions moved to test-optional policies during the pandemic, when testing centers closed and application flexibility became a priority. But he says a countertrend has emerged. According to the column, several prestigious schools — including Brown, Dartmouth and Harvard (for certain years) — as well as flagship state universities, have reinstated test requirements, citing a need for more objective academic measures.
He points to an analysis from Opportunity Insights, a Harvard-based research group, finding that standardized test scores carry more “predictive power” for college GPA than high school grades, particularly at selective institutions. Among students with similar high school records, those with higher SAT/ACT scores tended to earn stronger college GPAs, the analysis found, according to Bradshaw’s op-ed.
While some colleges argue that requiring test scores can help level the playing field for students who lack access to advanced coursework, critics caution that standardized tests can favor families who can afford coaching, multiple retakes and paid prep — a concern that keeps the debate unsettled.
Authenticity concerns in the AI era
At the heart of the current shift, Bradshaw writes, is trust. With AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Bard readily available, admissions officers are increasingly worried about whether essays and resumes reflect applicants’ own work. Bradshaw’s column cites a report indicating that nearly one in three applicants acknowledged using AI in their essays during the 2023–24 cycle.
Some institutions are experimenting with AI or algorithmic screening to flag questionable writing patterns, he writes, and Duke University has reportedly moved away from assigning numeric scores to essays. In this landscape, Bradshaw argues, a timed, proctored exam offers an “AI-resistant” measure of skills like analytical reasoning, reading under time pressure and math fluency — competencies that are harder to outsource without detection.
What it means for Barrington applicants
For Barrington families weighing test-optional policies against rising concerns over AI, Bradshaw’s message is pragmatic: a strong test score can still strengthen an application. The op-ed also emphasizes the scholarship and merit-aid upside at many institutions that continue to consider SAT or ACT thresholds. Even at test-optional colleges, Bradshaw argues, good scores can help an applicant stand out.
His view isn’t universally shared. As Bradshaw acknowledges, opponents of renewed testing requirements argue that prep access and retake costs risk widening socioeconomic gaps. But with selective colleges seeking consistent benchmarks, he contends that tests remain one of the few metrics admissions officers broadly trust.
What colleges still want
Bradshaw cautions that SAT prep is not a cure-all. He outlines elements that remain central to competitive applications, even as AI reshapes the process:
- Challenging coursework: Honors, AP and IB classes signal readiness for college-level rigor.
- Strong reading and writing habits: Deep reading builds critical thinking that AI cannot replicate.
- Original voice and insight: Brainstorm with AI if permitted, Bradshaw suggests, but ensure the final work reflects the student’s own thinking.
- Quantitative and data skills: Facility with logic, statistics and modeling remains valuable in a data-driven economy.
- Strategic use of AI: Let it help with brainstorming or fact-checking, he writes, while keeping reasoning, critique and style authentically the student’s.
A roadmap students can use
For Barrington students setting a plan, Bradshaw outlines a structured approach to test prep:
- Take a diagnostic SAT early (sophomore year or early junior year) to identify strengths and gaps.
- Set a target score aligned with colleges’ “middle 50%” ranges.
- Build a multi-month study plan that prioritizes concepts, error analysis and timing — not last-minute cramming.
- Retake strategically; many students improve on a second or third sitting.
- Pair test prep with deep reading, writing and math practice to develop durable skills.
- Document the journey with journals and drafts to keep an authentic voice alive.
- Use AI as a sparring partner, not a ghostwriter — for ideas, not finished text.
The local calculus
For Barrington-area students applying to selective colleges, Bradshaw’s argument frames a practical calculus: in a transitional moment for admissions, standardized tests can anchor an application that might otherwise be overshadowed by questions about AI-assisted writing. He writes that strong scores can reduce perceived risk for admissions offices and may unlock aid, even where policies remain test-optional.
Families here will still have to navigate trade-offs — from the time and cost of preparation to broader concerns about fairness. But as colleges search for credible ways to assess individual potential in an AI-enabled world, Bradshaw’s op-ed makes the case that focused SAT prep is a timely hedge. It is, he argues, a way for students to say they can think, reason and perform under pressure — the kind of signal that continues to resonate beyond algorithms.
According to the Post-Tribune column, that combination — rigorous coursework, authentic writing and a verified test score — is likely to carry weight this cycle. For Barrington applicants, it may be the most straightforward path to stand out on their own merits.
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Source: “In the Age of AI, SAT prep may be the best bet for students,” an op-ed by Gerald Bradshaw, Post-Tribune, Oct. 16, 2025. Bradshaw is an international college admissions consultant with Bradshaw College Consulting in Crown Point.
