Both are controversial but the SAT I is more so, because a number of critics think it is biased against poor people, some minorities and many girls. Of course, supporters say it is important to have a test that allows schools to compare candidates from widely different schools and regions, and that it helps identify talented students from poor schools. They also argue that it is not as determinative as people think. But, everybody agrees that, while the test may not be the most important factor in college admission, it is extremely important. No responsible college admissions officer would just look at a number on a page and determine an applicant's whole profile from that, but it's also easy to see why kids think they do.
Many high schools are huge, impersonal places.
If you're not a super jock, super student, great beauty, or super activist, it's hard to stand out. People were depending on them. Now, many kids have fewer responsibilities, but they also have fewer ways to make their impact on their world while they are kids. The way I see it, bad things happen, in part, because many kids who want to be somebody and do something important have no positive outlet to do so. Maybe requiring kids to participate in some form of community service is one way to do it.