1110jg

There has been a discussion on another thread regarding the proposed changes to the UC system's admissions standards and I thought it would be important to get a real dialogue going on the issue. The crux of the proposal includes eliminating the SAT II subject tests as admission requirements for UC schools, in order to make UC schools available to more students. Data show and most experts agree that they are essential aspects of the admissions process for the nation's most elite universities. To quote Harvard University Dean of Admission, William Fitzsimmons in a recent Harvard Crimson article, the SAT II subject tests, "have been better predictors than either high school grades or the SAT (Reasoning Test)."

Data also show that these tests help many people, especially minorities, qualify for admission because it allows them to distinguish themselves in specific subject areas. According to CA Assemblyman Van Tran in an LA Times opinion piece seen here: SAT subject tests are a valuable tool - Los Angeles Times "In 2007, there were 10,010 UC applicants who scored below 550 on the SAT yet scored more than 700 on one or more subject tests, showing tremendous knowledge and aptitude in particular areas of study." That means over 10,000 bright students would probably be lost in the crowd without the opportunity to take the SAT II.

Furthermore, at a time when the UC's budget is being slashed by the legislature and the endowment has lost $1 billion in value over the last year, is it really appropriate to be completely redoing the admissions process? This will undoubtedly place a higher burden on admissions who will not only have more students to examine, but each one will have to be looked at more closely because there are no concrete criteria from which to judge.

For those interested there has been a website established to oppose the proposal SaveUCStandards.com Home, for those who support the proposal, I think a dialogue is essential and perhaps we can share our solution with the UC Board of Regents. I realize that diversity is important, but to quote the Daily Cal (student publication for UC Berkeley)in a recent article: Standard to Retain: SAT Subject Tests - The Daily Californian , "The University of California seeks a laudable goal of insuring that the state's colleges will be available to a wide spectrum of students. Given that colleges have just completed the most competitive admission's cycle in our country's history, with no letup foreseen for at least the next several years, it is no small task to provide access to many capable students. Surely, though, the answer is not to throw away a merit-based opportunity for students to demonstrate competency."

JteH

California does have the CSU.