theACT

In think it should depend on the person- if they want to take it or not.”

OSU, for example, has remained test optional for its 2022 and 2023 applicants. At least for the time being, they are continuing down the test optional trend that schools have been nowadays are starting to understand that grades aren’t everything,” said Dexter Bonds, junior. “You can’t just gauge a person’s intelligence with a number, so I don’t think it’ll be nearly as important in the future.”

I took the ACT a total of three times, as

I was not happy with my first two scores. I did this because I wanted to have a better chance of getting into my first choice college. However, even with a score that I was comfortable with, I was still not accepted. Instead, I opted for a second choice school that I was still very interested in, but the other school was completely test optional, meaning I wouldn’t have had to take the ACT any of those three times and I still could have been accepted.

Many students place more importance on the ACT than they should. This causes unnecessary stress on the students. It is hard to gauge the genuine knowledge of a student from just one test, but that’s exactly what colleges did for a while. Recently many colleges have realized this and have moved to a test-optional format, and I believe it has helped students in their college application process.

For some students who have a lower GPA than their ACT score correlates with, it could actually be beneficial to submit an ACT score alongside a transcript. But for many others, their GPA, which reflects a much more long-term picture of their overall grades, submitting an ACT score could potentially lessen their chances of being accepted.

The ACT should still remain a tool that students can optionally use to apply for college, but it should be a choice and not an expected prerequisite.

OPINION BY AIDEN BROWN

The popularity of chess has grown exponentially in recent years, and with that, Wadsworth High School has started up its first chess club in school history on March 1, 2023.

People around the world have been playing chess more than any other time in human history, thanks to the addition of chess websites like Chess.com and Lichess.com it has never been easier to learn the game.

“I remember watching my friends play during study hall and that’s what sparked my interest in the game. Ever since I have been playing,” said Casey Hoffman, Wadsworth Senior and chess beginner.

The most difficult part of starting a club at Wadsworth is finding an adviser and working out the scheduling together.

Chess club was no different.

“Finding time was the most challenging part,” said Mr. Boytim, adviser of the chess club. “I’d like to thank my wife publicly for watching the kids for an hour while we do this, she’s the real MVP.”

Chess club met for the first time on Wednesday March 1st after school. Mr. Boytim and many of the others in the club were pleasantly surprised at the turn out on the first day.

“Wednesday was good. It was just nice to play in a relaxed setting and it was a lot of fun.” said Jason Moore, senior and avid chess player. “I believe the appeal of chess is to play with your friends!”

With the rise in popularity of chess it was only a matter of time until a group was formed about it.

Here is a QR code leading to a Google form, there one can sign up for chess club if they wish to.