Hello, It was written,
I just went to my son's HS award ceremonies and the same upper SES students got all the awards.? It is not at all clear to me that including the SATs in the admissions process?fixes the problem you are describing. These families are the ones that not only have access to all the same educational and cultural goodies but also buy their children expensive ($1000+) test prep that DOES in many cases?brings large score increases for the kids. The problem goes beyond the SATs, GPAs etc to fairy tales we tell ourselves about how all kids get an equal start in this country. It's not true. And if you don't believe me, try counting the number of people familiar to you who have gone "house poor" to be residents in an area with a great, well-funded public school. What they are doing is paying tuition to a crypto-private school. It's pretty much the same problem as in our justice system - the best your money can buy. And this helps to maintain the status quo. Ironically not the intent of the people who designed these tests. Nancy Melucci Long Beach City College Long Beach CA -----Original Message----- From: Ken Steele <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, 27 May 2008 7:00 am Subject: Re: [tips] Smith College & Wake Forrest U Drop Entrance Exam Requirement The WFU decision was poorly thought out and I bet it will backfire on them in the near future.? ? 1. WFU had about 9000 applicants this year. They are going to rely more heavily on personal interviews. They have 12 people in admissions. That works out to be about 750 interviews per staff person. (And we know how good are clinical judgments.)? ? 2. WFU wants to reduce the admission bias that favors upper SES families. So, in addition to interviews, they will rely on GPA and extracurricular activities. But guess which group has time to engage in all those Spirit, Junior Business Leader, drama, soccer, band and other favored activities. Which group is working at McDonalds after school?? ? I just went to my son's HS award ceremonies and the same upper SES students got all the awards.? ? WFU could have taken the stance that they wouldn't weigh the SAT as heavily in the admissions process. Instead they threw the baby out with the bathwater.? ? Ken? ? Disclaimer: My daughter applied and was admitted to WFU. She didn't matriculate because we couldn't afford the cost.? ? Mike Palij wrote:? > The link below is to the NY Times story on this but other sources? > are probably available:? > http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/education/27sat.html?_r=1&oref=slogin? > > There are at least two implications of this decision:? > > (1) More colleges and universities will feel justified in dropping? > standardized tests (e.g., SAT, ACT, etc.), thus, increasing the? > reliance on other measures of academic abiliity and decreasing? > the need for standardized tests? > > and? > > (2) If ETS, the College Board, and other test providers begin? > to find their customer basis shrinking, what will happen to them? > and the psychometricians and statisticians they employ?? > > Will psychological testing become and even more esoteric field? > of study? What will happen to the undergraduate tests and > measurement > course?? > > -Mike Palij? > New York University? > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > ---? > To make changes to your subscription contact:? > > Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])? ? -- ? ---------------------------------------------------------------? Kenneth M. Steele, Ph.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Professor? Department of Psychology http://www.psych.appstate.edu? Appalachian State University? Boone, NC 28608? USA? ---------------------------------------------------------------? ? ---? To make changes to your subscription contact:? ? Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])? --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
