Jeff Selingo on the future of test optional

[Anonymous]

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-does-an-sat-score-mean-in-a-test-optional-world.html

It's a pretty good article that lays out how we got to TO and where it is going. Prominently featured is MIT and their decision to go back to requiring tests while it also talks about schools that will remain TO for the time being and their reasons why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-does-an-sat-score-mean-in-a-test-optional-world.html

It's a pretty good article that lays out how we got to TO and where it is going. Prominently featured is MIT and their decision to go back to requiring tests while it also talks about schools that will remain TO for the time being and their reasons why.

This was originally written last year, not much new added.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-does-an-sat-score-mean-in-a-test-optional-world.html

It's a pretty good article that lays out how we got to TO and where it is going. Prominently featured is MIT and their decision to go back to requiring tests while it also talks about schools that will remain TO for the time being and their reasons why.

Thanks for posting this - it is a good article.

[Anonymous]

TO is on the way out.

It was a band-aid to get through Covid. The DEI crowd wants to keep it, because “equity.”

The DEI crowd really does not want to admit what a failure TO really is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TO is on the way out.

It was a band-aid to get through Covid. The DEI crowd wants to keep it, because “equity.”

The DEI crowd really does not want to admit what a failure TO really is.

Define "failure."

For the elite schools, are graduation rates compromised?

Are parents on DCUM really concerned about a 3.4 versus a 3.3 undergrad GPA? After all, after their kid is accepted to a college, who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TO is on the way out.

It was a band-aid to get through Covid. The DEI crowd wants to keep it, because “equity.”

The DEI crowd really does not want to admit what a failure TO really is.

How do you define "failure" in the manner you are describing it? Can you be more specific, and without the inflammatory buzz words?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TO is on the way out.

It was a band-aid to get through Covid. The DEI crowd wants to keep it, because “equity.”

The DEI crowd really does not want to admit what a failure TO really is.

Define "failure."

For the elite schools, are graduation rates compromised?

Are parents on DCUM really concerned about a 3.4 versus a 3.3 undergrad GPA? After all, after their kid is accepted to a college, who cares?

3.4 vs. 3.3 - what are you talking about? UR Austin just found that the delta was more like 3.4 vs. 2.5!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TO is on the way out.

It was a band-aid to get through Covid. The DEI crowd wants to keep it, because “equity.”

The DEI crowd really does not want to admit what a failure TO really is.

This DEI proponent hates TO, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TO is on the way out.

It was a band-aid to get through Covid. The DEI crowd wants to keep it, because “equity.”

The DEI crowd really does not want to admit what a failure TO really is.

Define "failure."

For the elite schools, are graduation rates compromised?

Are parents on DCUM really concerned about a 3.4 versus a 3.3 undergrad GPA? After all, after their kid is accepted to a college, who cares?

DP. Elites schools will graduate those they admit. They would be killed in the court of public opinion and the rankings if their retention rate and graduation rate tanked. No one will directly admit that TO is a failure. Instead, they’re being back testing under the auspice of finding low-income outliers. Enough said.

[Anonymous]

This guy is a grifter. I wouldn't take what he says as any sign of anything other than him trying to sell something.

[Anonymous]

The TO-backpedal schools thought they were measuring one thing, but they measured another. They measured privilege all over again. "Privileged students have higher GPAs! We are brilliant economists!"

[Anonymous]

I think the T50s will go back-it may lessen the crush of apps they were receiving

I think schools outside of that will stay TO

[Anonymous]

Highly ranked schools that remain TO will continue to benefit from the crush of applications and will likely see an even greater increase as some eliminate it. That doesn’t mean that they will accept TO students — I expect that TO acceptance rates will decline. But, the $$$ and/or perceived exclusivity accompanying the TO application bonanza is just too good to pass up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the T50s will go back-it may lessen the crush of apps they were receiving

I think schools outside of that will stay TO

What do you think will happen at T50s (like Chicago and Rochester) and SLACs (like Bates) that were TO before the pandemic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the T50s will go back-it may lessen the crush of apps they were receiving

I think schools outside of that will stay TO

Good point. It might go a little lower, like top 100. Once you get to schools that essentially accept anyone, testing doesn’t matter.