Comments on: Wake Forest Makes SAT Optional

By: charles austin

charles austin — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:06:56 +0000

Going to more subjective analysis will make it easier for an administration to self-select for the echo chamber and exclude those they would rather not have around. I've always thought the SAT and ACT were used as a strong data point when it came to getting a candidate in but a much weaker data point when it came to keeping a candidate out.

Admittedly, coming from a math and science background, I think a lot more of standardized testing than many others do to determine who is capable of succeeding. Importantly, though, it can only determine a level of aptitude and not success. Those that do well tend to work hard and, above a certain threshold, that seems more important than being a little smarter. That metric cannot be measured well in these tests.

Largely, it seems as though they have identified a real problem, but misidentified the cause of the problem so the solution isn't going to fix it and stands a better than even chance of making it worse.

By: superdestroyer

superdestroyer — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:48:04 +0000

Does Wake Foreststill require or encourage the SAT II (subject tests). My guess is that they will quickly find a proxy that they can use to get enough high achieving students to keep their U.S. News rank while allowing whole person review to allow it to admit enough idiot children of the rich, minorities, and legacies. My guess is that you can major in education at Wake without SAT II test scores and AP/IB test scores but if you want ot major in ecnomics, they will be a requirement.

My guess is that administrators at Wake Forest realizes that a liberal arts schools is at the short end of the SAT measurement because it will have fewer Asians versus the STE schools.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:34:59 +0000

When the move towards using the SAT for college entrance at prestige colleges in the U. S. was begun in earnest starting in the 1930's it was intended as a move towards identifying the best students regardless of background. As preparation for the test has become professionalized over the last couple of decades that's become less effective but I don't think it's any less necessary. Unfortunately, a fair reliable sure-fire means for evaluating the relative merit of students who've attended greatly varying high schools has yet to be developed. Standardized tests are as close as we get and, if the move away from the SAT is a move away from standardized tests generally, it's probably not that great an idea. IMO while standardized tests shouldn't be the only means of evaluating prospective students it has a role.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:28:58 +0000

It's much easier to say, and back up, "well you only scored xxx" on your test than to just say, "you're not smart enough for college."

True, but the results of a single written test are not a very reliable indicator of actual intelligence or knowledge.

By: lunacy

lunacy — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:19:29 +0000

I imagine this will open doors to increased dispute and charges of discrimination down the line. That or every poedunck will be admitted. It's much easier to say, and back up, "well you only scored xxx" on your test than to just say, "you're not smart enough for college."