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GPA or SAT? Two Measures Are Better Than One
James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | February 3, 2020 | Shannon Watkins

Posted on 02/03/2020 7:18:54 AM PST by karpov

At a time when only 41 percent of college students graduate in four years—and only 56 percent in five years—colleges and universities across the country are phasing out the only truly objective measure of academic excellence and student success in the application process: standardized tests.

Next month, for example, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors (BOG) is set to vote on a policy that would significantly diminish the role of test scores in the admissions process.

To do so, however, would be a blow against academic standards for the 16 UNC schools.

Currently, in order to even be considered for admission at any UNC institution, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and an SAT score of 880 or an ACT score of 17. (Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee students admission to any of the sixteen UNC institutions.) Those standards, however, might be revised by a BOG vote.

The proposed revisions are subtle, but significant: instead of requiring GPA and test scores, the new policy would require a minimum GPA of 2.5 or an SAT score of 1010 (or ACT score of 19).

The proposed policy comes as a controversial pilot program nears its conclusion. In 2014, the board passed a resolution to establish a program to test whether students’ GPA was a better predictor of academic success than standardized test scores. Three UNC system schools participated in the pilot study: Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), Fayetteville State University (FSU), and North Carolina Central University (NCCU).

Students were admitted to the pilot program based on a sliding scale that weighted GPA more heavily than SAT scores, but the test scores couldn’t fall below 750. To be eligible, pilot students’ GPA had to increase by 0.1 with each 10-point SAT score decline.

(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: college; collegeadmissions; northcarolina; sat
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Requiring an 880 on the SAT is not onerous.
1 posted on 02/03/2020 7:18:54 AM PST by karpov
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To: karpov

It’s more difficult to cheat on the SAT. You can generate whatever grades you want for the kids you prefer to advance to college.


2 posted on 02/03/2020 7:20:43 AM PST by Crucial
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To: karpov

GPAs are pretty much worthless. (Certainly in publik skools, and very probably in a good many universities - especially when associated with the ubiquitous no-brain majors.)

SATs? Probably not as revealing as they used to be back before “allowances” were made for certain “situations”, but still not bad.


3 posted on 02/03/2020 7:23:11 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: karpov

Looks like just another way for Democrats to control and keep failing programs.


4 posted on 02/03/2020 7:23:56 AM PST by cnsmom
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To: cnsmom

My currently 25 year old son went through his last years in high school with a 4.45 and 4.5 gpa.

All weighted, padded and bonused up.


5 posted on 02/03/2020 7:25:24 AM PST by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
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To: karpov

The most important scores will be their diversity scores.

As the libs say, “Diversity makes us stronger.” — Yeah, right.


6 posted on 02/03/2020 7:26:11 AM PST by boycott
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To: karpov

Wouldn’t the liberals consider ANY minimal standards on tests or grades to be discriminatory? And we know the liberals oppose discrimination.


7 posted on 02/03/2020 7:26:45 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: karpov

Thank goodness for an emphasis on the SAT and ACT. What allowed my high GPA kids to distinguish themselves from the “legacies” and other so-called elites were their high test scores. They both got into coveted “elite” universities. It has made some difference in their lives.

Biden’s and Kennedy’s and movie stars’ kids, just can’t hack it when the criteria is objective.


8 posted on 02/03/2020 7:27:05 AM PST by oldplayer
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To: oldplayer

all the supposed “elite” schools are nothing but liberal indoctrination centers. There are TONS of great colleges out there where people can get good degrees at a fraction of the cost without the liberal slant.


9 posted on 02/03/2020 7:32:28 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009
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To: karpov

How about just starting out in a junior college?


10 posted on 02/03/2020 7:37:32 AM PST by cymbeline
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To: George from New England
My currently 25 year old son went through his last years in high school with a 4.45 and 4.5 gpa.

"last years"... is he going to graduate soon?

11 posted on 02/03/2020 7:40:06 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine
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To: karpov

I like an index rather than a single measure if the components make sense and each has a reasonable floor. 880 is beyond reasonable.


12 posted on 02/03/2020 7:44:15 AM PST by jimfree (My19 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quality exec experience than an 8 year Obama.)
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To: cymbeline
How about just starting out in a junior college

"Just" is not an answer.

Sometimes, Junior College is a perfect answer. Other times, not what the student needs.

I wouldn't like to see it mandatory.

13 posted on 02/03/2020 7:50:19 AM PST by Ace's Dad (Trump 2020!)
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To: karpov

“At a time when only 41 percent of college students graduate in four years—and only 56 percent in five year”

I wonder if older students who are working full time and returning to college to work on / complete their degree is altering that statistic? I went up the IT certification path and only when HR said they could no longer promote me, did I go back and get a degree. A four year part time student could take eight or nine years to finish.


14 posted on 02/03/2020 7:59:10 AM PST by taxcontrol (Stupid should hurt - dad's wisdom)
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To: Ace's Dad

” Other times, not what the student needs. I wouldn’t like to see it mandatory.”

Absolutely not mandatory. When does an 18 year old know what they “need”?

Look at what’s happening now. A bunch of former 18 year olds are drowning in college. I have no problem with that but there are proposals out there to make me (our government) help bail them out. That I don’t like.


15 posted on 02/03/2020 8:00:53 AM PST by cymbeline
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To: karpov

“Requiring an 880 on the SAT is not onerous.”

It is unfair to minorities


16 posted on 02/03/2020 8:01:09 AM PST by dsrtsage (Complexity is merely simplicity lacking imagination)
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To: dsrtsage
It is unfair to minorities

Yep, and why pray tell is it written in English, isn't that unfair?

17 posted on 02/03/2020 8:04:09 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: karpov

Having taught at the college/univ level for nearly a decade, those 5-6 students were utter idiots who had no business in college/univ at all, period! But yeah, thank the tard Dems for wrecking trade schools etc which would have been a viable alternative for many of theses type students. No you have colleges and univs LOWERING their GPA and SAT score requirements to get even more young ‘know-it-all’ dipsh*ts into ‘higher education’......

Higher education is for everyone? NO! Assembly line academics all for the $$$$......


18 posted on 02/03/2020 8:26:13 AM PST by cranked
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To: cranked

...those 5-5 year students.....


19 posted on 02/03/2020 8:26:40 AM PST by cranked
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To: cranked

ugh....

.....5-6 year students......


20 posted on 02/03/2020 8:27:10 AM PST by cranked
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