Naeun Kim, Hanjin (Ryan) Lee, Hoseung Jung & Allison Gwak

Dear Admission Officers of Princeton University,

We are international students, approximately 6% of the population of American universities, and we write this letter not just as applicants, but as firm believers in the values that the best institutions put forward: diversity, equality, and global leadership. The diversity and vibrancy that we bring enriches campuses; international students bring different backgrounds, worldviews, and cultures. Yet, for many of us, the path for higher education is blocked not only because of the limited portion we are given, but by money: specifically, the cost of proving our proficiency in english. We ask that Princeton open its doors to Duolingo English Tests (DET): a more accessible, affordable and equally rigorous alternative. 

According to the NewYork Times, each foreign freshman at the University of Washington pays three times as much as the students at Washington State. In some cases, we are charged with separate international fees. To top it off, we are required to take overpriced english proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS, which can cost over $250 – score reports excluded. One standard pack of 12 toilet paper rolls is worth $20. The $270 spent on these tests could buy over 150 rolls, which would be enough to last a family months. That’s the price it takes for us just to prove we can speak the language of education. 

The problem, however, extends over the tests’ mere cost. Accessibility is another obstacle. Take Kichemy Dorcena, an international applicant from Haiti, who was unable to take the TOEFL exam because gang violence in Port-au-Prince made it too dangerous to reach one of the country’s only two test centers. Even if not for the domestic situations in specific countries, TOEFL online is still only offered in around 60 out of the 195 countries worldwide. 

Meanwhile, the Duolingo English Test (DET), born out of necessity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, has emerged as a more inclusive alternative, which is also starting to be recognized by many prestigious institutions. DET only costs $70, can be easily taken at home online, and as mentioned, is accepted by a handful of competitive institutions such as Columbia, NYU, and UCLA. Research published in Language Testing (2023) confirms its “predictive validity”, as it finds strong positive correlations between overall DET scores and first-year academic grades in college. The test is just as secure, adaptive, and reliable as the others currently provided at a wider range, meeting the standards of language assessment that top institutions demand. 

Princeton University promises “a high quality education accessible to all”. But what does accessibility mean if the very first step to it requires hundreds of dollars and unaffordable travels? Accepting the Duolingo English Test won’t be a compromise of quality; it will be a commitment to fairness. We plead to lead by example: to welcome and offer chances to students based on our capabilities, not our privileges.

Sincerely,

Youth Activists