Reply to What if Colleges Truly Required Test Scores

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It is so weird to me how obsessed some of you are with test scores as the end all and be all—and I say this as someone with a kid who got at 36 on the ACT in their first and only try.

[b]I don’t think this entitles my kid to admission over kids with lower or no test scores. I think TO is great. I am glad 95% of schools are still TO.[/b]

Some of you need to off X and get outside. Good lord.[/quote]

I’m curious why you think this.  Is it just virtue signaling or do you really think standardized test scores have no bearing on college performance?  [b]Is it that you think that college should be more about social engineering and less about producing graduates that can best make the country function?[/b][/quote]

Ah, yes, this is clearly a question asked in good faith. But I’ll answer.

I don’t think standardized test scores have meaningful bearing on college performance. There have been a ton of studies on this topic and no consensus; to the extent that the studies have found that GPA or test scores have predictive value for college performance, the effects are generally quite small.

And then anecdotally I’ve observed so many kids who did not have high test scores thrive at highly selective colleges (including one of my own).

In my observation (including working at a highly selective university), social factors are what predict success in these environments. With some supports (e.g., first-gen programs), student performance is equalized.

And to your final question, I think that having a population of college graduates that is demographically representative is critical to ensuring our country functions effectively. [/quote]

[b]The quick abandonment of test optional (or test blind)policies suggests the contrary.[/b]  Also the UCSD issues with students ability to do even basic high school and middle school math under a test blind policy.[/quote]

95% of schools are still TO, including half of the top 25 national universities and virtually all of the top 25 LACs.[/quote]

We can also look at the comprehensive study the UC system paid for which found test scores have a statistically significant impact on predicting college performance, particularly in an environment of high grade inflation.[/quote]

One study among many with varying outcomes, rarely so dramatic as to be determinative (again, in either direction—GPA or test scores). And the UCs are still test-blind. 
[/quote]

Yes, we also read the UCSD report on what a disaster that has been.  Can’t believe anyone would think that’s a good example.[/quote]

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