Posted on 09/30/2015 12:29:36 PM PDT by Academiadotorg
Last year, Hampshire College became the first institution of higher learning in the country to categorically reject using SATs as an admissions requirement.
The college’s president, Jonathan Last, waxed rhapsodic about the results of the policy change in a statement which appeared on Diane Ravitch’s blog:
· “Our yield, the percentage of students who accepted our invitation to enroll, rose in a single year from 18% to 26%, an amazing turnaround;
· “The quantity of applications went down but the quality went up, likely because we made it harder to apply, asking for more essays; Our applicants collectively were more motivated, mature, disciplined and consistent in their high school years than past applicants;
· “Class diversity increased to 31% students of color, the most diverse in our history, up from 21% two years ago;” and
· “The percentage of students who are the first-generation from their family to attend college rose from 10% to 18% in this year’s class.”
Last is justifiably proud of having reached out to underserved people as a result of this reform. Nevertheless, in his catalogue of what the transition has wrought, he fails to mention academic achievement.
The omission is notable. With college graduation rates of about 60 percent, youth unemployment at rates twice the national average and crushing student debt burdens, what will SAT-free college admissions do to reverse those trends?
Just take the ACT like I did. LOL
The real reason they like it, buried in the middle.
Is Hampshire College accredited? Never heard of them.
They 12% of the population at most they should represent 12% if they want true diversity.
Heck, why have any standards? If someone applies, just let them in. Who cares what their grasp of subject matter is? I note that they are very proud that diversity jumped form 21% to 31%. Mission accomplished. Who saw this coming?
Look at some of our government officials who are part of a minority. How is that working out for us?
Joycelynn Elders? Barack Obama?
I rest my case.
Yes, why have any standards at all. We don’t for president. Taht’s paying off big time...
People keep paying in and no product is produced.
I never ever took either the ACT or the SAT.
I graduated in December 2011 with a 4.00 GPA, Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelor’s degree.
Those tests don’t predict SQUAT.
The SAT isn't perfect. I wish they'd never changed it; the structure of the original one was less complex and required analytic skills. It's an equalizer, and using it often meant colleges had a better picture of which students had innate ability and desire.
When Hampshire College was invented (I was in college then), one of their claims to fame was a “No SAT policy”.
AFAIK, they have never required the SAT. No idea what this “news” is about.
When Hampshire College was invented (I was in college then), one of their claims to fame was a “No SAT policy”.
AFAIK, they have never required the SAT. No idea what this “news” is about.
Hampshire College has decided to concentrate on the only benchmark that matters, the parent’s credit score. More than 700 and the kid is in!
Actually, your SAT/ACT scores might have been high. In this case, we will never know. Your case proves nothing.
Oh come on Knarf, you know the best minds in the nation are professors at universities.
What would we do without them? semi /s
I’m not totally down on higher education. I am totally down on our higher education.
I’d even expand that to K-12th grade as well.
The whole education system has come under fire, and I believe their is good cause for that.
Where I work we don’t accept people from colleges that don’t consider SATs, as we cannot figure out a way that a college can OBJECTIVELY compare applicants from high schools that have standard that are all over the map.
...so maybe we’re wrong, but we’ll risk it. LOL.
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