Anonymous wrote:I was thinking of what a merit based system would look like: I've come up with a system where you get points based on your SAT or ACT score and your GPA. Those with the highest combination of the scores (can weight the SAT/ACT higher since there is a lot of grade inflation) would get first pick at any of the top schools and then it goes down the list. No more race to the top for extracurriculars- it would just be mainly studying super hard for the SAT. The top colleges would likely comprise of mostly high income , coastal elites but you couldn't argue much with this. Any thoughts? What do you think would be the most merit based system?

Standardized testing is highly correlated with household income. You're OK with "high income, coastal elites" getting most of the slots, but the majority are not. There are also built-in biases with standardized tests that UMC parents ignore and rampant cheating with "testing accommodations," again by families with money..

Unless there's some weighting/indexing of SAT/ACT scores by zip code, your proposed system won't work.

OP, I have a lot of concerns about how one would truly measure “merit”. One of them is the wish to avoid, say, a surgeon with excellent test scores — but poor fine motor skills, or a brilliant lawyer — with poor presentation skills. The assessments we use now aren’t perfect, but they’re far more holistic than what you seem to be proposing.

Iowa already uses this type of system

https://www.iowaregents.edu/institutions/higher-education-links/regent-admission-index/rai-calculator


The Regent Admission Index combines factors that strongly predict success at regent universities: ACT or SAT test score, high school cumulative grade-point average, and the number of completed high school core courses.

Iowa high school graduates must achieve a Regent Admission Index (RAI) score of at least 245 and take the minimum number of required high school courses to qualify for automatic admission as freshmen to Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa. Students who achieve a score less than 245 will be considered for admission on an individual basis.

Work the system you are in.
Not the system you wish you had.

Otherwise, squandered opportunity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was thinking of what a merit based system would look like: I've come up with a system where you get points based on your SAT or ACT score and your GPA. Those with the highest combination of the scores (can weight the SAT/ACT higher since there is a lot of grade inflation) would get first pick at any of the top schools and then it goes down the list. No more race to the top for extracurriculars- it would just be mainly studying super hard for the SAT. The top colleges would likely comprise of mostly high income , coastal elites but you couldn't argue much with this. Any thoughts? What do you think would be the most merit based system?

How about starting with speaking out against white supremacy that has infected many of the systems, including K-12 education?

When mediocre white guys can be Secretary of Defense , run HHS, or be POTUS, there's no such thing as "merit."

Even standardized testing in the U.S. come from racist origins.

White supremacy? LOL

Anonymous wrote:For a truly merit-based system, we would need to start at the beginning and give everyone equal access to a standardized K-12 curriculum that’s uniform across all 50 states, across all schools districts.

And somehow completely cure learning disabilities. Do you how many brilliant young people can't do well in high school then go on to wonderful things. But let's act like the caste systems and give opportunities only to the elite, privileged few. What stupid ideas you all have on this thread.

Anonymous wrote:Social skills are equally important as test scores/GPA. Universities do not want a class filled with robots. If that was the ideal, they would do that now. If employers desired this model, they’d hire more students that fit this profile. Well-rounded students that can work in teams, demonstrate leadership, and represent their company are the most desirable.

Have you seen 85% of the kids at top 20s these days? I’m not sure schools are looking for social skills.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was thinking of what a merit based system would look like: I've come up with a system where you get points based on your SAT or ACT score and your GPA. Those with the highest combination of the scores (can weight the SAT/ACT higher since there is a lot of grade inflation) would get first pick at any of the top schools and then it goes down the list. No more race to the top for extracurriculars- it would just be mainly studying super hard for the SAT. The top colleges would likely comprise of mostly high income , coastal elites but you couldn't argue much with this. Any thoughts? What do you think would be the most merit based system?

So, you admit that you are proposing a system where the elite can just buy their way in through the form of superior education and test prep.
On what planet is that "merit".
This cannot be a serious post.

And the first response says we should be just like China.

Even the “robot” kids want to go to parties and experience a social life instead of devoting their young adult years to monotonous academics. Life is more than just grades. Life is even more than college. Why set up children to hate learning when that’s only a small part of their lives?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a truly merit-based system, we would need to start at the beginning and give everyone equal access to a standardized K-12 curriculum that’s uniform across all 50 states, across all schools districts.

+1. And not one gets enrichment or test prep unless it's available to all.

I get that OP's perfect child was rejected from a school where she thought they were entitled to attend on merit, but geez, what an obnoxious post.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure half of these “SAT should be everything” posts and comments are this right here.

My view is they are all immigrants who work as coders in some backroom and studied computer science or vocational engineering.

They don’t realize their kids are at the bottom of the totem pole here as a CS major. You’re never going to be running the show with CS. Just grinding.

CS is a versatile major. One can expand into many fields/industries. It's not just "coding."

I guess that's why it's a popular major despite the doomsayers.

Next, people are going to dismiss engineering majors.

Social skills are equally important as test scores/GPA. Universities do not want a class filled with robots. If that was the ideal, they would do that now. If employers desired this model, they’d hire more students that fit this profile. Well-rounded students that can work in teams, demonstrate leadership, and represent their company are the most desirable.

Anonymous wrote:This is what they have in Asia...the best and the brightest float to the top. I would nix any consideration of GPA which relies far too heavily on effort.

Asia and basically the whole world….UK, South America….

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't we learned yet that people can be quite successful without top SATs?

Some people can be. In aggregate, high SAT people are more successful and low SAT people are less successful. On average and especially on the margins.

Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, high SAT, high LSAT. Successful presidents.

Joe Biden, low SAT, low LSAT. Unsuccessful president.

Joe Biden never took SAT. Back at that time being a resident of Delaware and HS degree all you needed for UDEL.

SATs were rarely used in the 1960s

GPAs are meaningless at grade inflated schools that have put As like candy and allow multiple re-takes of tests/exams, don’t enforce deadlines, etc

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a truly merit-based system, we would need to start at the beginning and give everyone equal access to a standardized K-12 curriculum that’s uniform across all 50 states, across all schools districts.

+1. And not one gets enrichment or test prep unless it's available to all.

I get that OP's perfect child was rejected from a school where she thought they were entitled to attend on merit, but geez, what an obnoxious post.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure half of these “SAT should be everything” posts and comments are this right here.

My view is they are all immigrants who work as coders in some backroom and studied computer science or vocational engineering.

They don’t realize their kids are at the bottom of the totem pole here as a CS major. You’re never going to be running the show with CS. Just grinding.