The ongoing SAT cheating scandal, where 20 former high school
students from a wealthy Long Island community allegedly accepted
money to impersonate current high school students for the
purposes of taking the test for them, has cast a bright
spotlight on the enormous pressure high school students feel to
gain admission to the top colleges and universities.  As an
educator who works closely with high school-age students on a
daily basis, this is a matter I have paid close attention to.
While I in no way condone the alleged actions, a part of me can
understand the driving force behind their decision. From the
moment they start school, students are constantly exposed to
messages about the importance of a college education—from
parents, marketers and advertisers, the media, etc. The result
for many students is a high level of pressure.  Rather than
condemning these students, it would be far more constructive to
use this as an opportunity to further the dialogue regarding the
impact of SAT and ACT exams on college