Malala Must Take SATs Before Stanford — Why The Surprise?

Recently, social media was abuzz about Malala Yousafzai’s desire to attend Stanford University, the world’s third highest ranked university. Some have implied the education activist should have been given an invite to the prestigious post-secondary institution simply based on the receipt of her Nobel Prize, while others have said that Malala needs to actually pass the United States college entrance exams.

Malala Yousafzai apparently wants to go to Stanford but will have to take SATs to apply. On one hand, yeah, okay. On the other, OH, COME ON.

— John Scalzi (@scalzi) September 12, 2015

Malala, as always, has been incredibly busy as she has continued to fight for the right for all girls to have access to education, something which she struggled to achieve in Pakistan under Taliban rule. She has spoken against the global response to the current refugee crisis, citing the way various countries have acted and reacted as a result of the crisis as “pitiful,” according to an op-ed she published in Time.

“The world’s response has been pitiful — only 37% of the U.N.’s response plan for this year has been funded, and more than 63% of funding needs that are unmet,” she said. “Entire refugee camps have only one or two schools for children. If we say we care, we must not just use words, but take action.”

Malala even stopped by Ellen to tell talk show host Ellen Degeneres that there was nothing that could put a stop to her fight for equal education for all.

“I strongly believe that nothing can stop me in this mission, in this campaign, of education, to say that girls deserve the right to go to school,” she said, according to the Express Tribune.

In spite of all her accomplishments — the Nobel Prize she had no idea she was up for, her ongoing fight for women’s education — Malala will have to complete the U.S. version of the SATs in order to be considered for candidacy as a student in Stanford University. According to 6ABC.com, Malala will be up against some 43,000 students, all trying to get into college as well.

This should come as no surprise, really. While Malala is certainly unlike most teens her age, she should still have to play by the rules. She has fought for education for every woman — it is certain that the young activist will continue to fight for her education and keep working.

Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, however, pointed out that Malala did incredibly well on the SAT equivalent in the United Kingdom, the GCSE.

My wife Toor Pekai and I are proud of Malala getting 6A*s and 4As. #education for every child. pic.twitter.com/lfoKBLMGYz

— Ziauddin Yousafzai (@ZiauddinY) August 21, 2015

In addition, Malala is definitely a very well spoken teen — she will doubtless do well as she tackles the SATs and continue to fight for education.

[Photo by Christopher Furlong / Getty Images]