Prep classes. Practice tests. Cramming 12 years of education into one sitting. Math problems. Pointless essays. The list goes on.

The SATs can be a hassle. Who wouldn't want to avoid the time- consuming, hair-pulling Saturday All-morning Tests?

More than 730 schools across the nation, including two of top-ten liberal arts schools, are no longer requiring their applicants to submit SAT and ACT scores.

Instead of requiring students to take these tests, more schools are evaluating applicants based on their high school GPAs, extracurricular activities and family background.

But Penn State, which currently bases two-thirds of its admissions on GPA and the other third on SAT scores, extracurricular activities and personal statements, doesn't plan on making the SAT and ACT optional.

Randall C. Deike, associative vice president for enrollment management and executive director for undergraduate admission, said the SAT and ACT scores are useful in the admissions process because not all high schools grade have the same grading systems, and that standardized tests create benchmarks by which the university can evaluate students.

As much as it would make life easier to throw out SAT and ACT scores, Penn State has a point.

Different high schools set different standards for themselves, so it is nearly impossible to evaluate all students based on biased GPAs. SAT tests are consistent across the board and make a fairer playing field for prospective college students.

While SAT scores don't give a perfect indication of how students perform in the classroom setting, the scores are relatively accurate.

Although it does make sense for smaller schools to make taking the SAT and ACT optional, as those schools require more detailed applications and generally have fewer applicants, larger universities like Penn State should stick with the program until there is a better system.

As long as Penn State takes other factors into consideration, such as high school GPAs, extracurricular activities and personal statements, the system the university currently uses is the best way to evaluate prospective students.