Don't Stress About Scores

UT84321
Fri, 31 Dec 2010 19:09:54 +0000

If you access the large databases on acceptances (ether web-based or elsewhere), and look across the set of private uber-selective schools, the impact of URM on admission likelihood, holding all other applicant factors constant, is quite apparent. Because of the dichotomous nature of the variable, it has the statistical effect of shifting the function, rather than merely operating like another continuous variable. It is analogous to the adcoms having a different set of thresholds that they apply to the URM v non-URM populations.

That is the most precise statistical wording that I can apply to it. Now the larger ethical/policy question is whether schools should be doing it. While that is not the topic of this thread, I would quite quickly land in the “they should do it camp.”

Jersey13 was right in post #17 when he said that blanket statements about low test scores not mattering in admissions to uber-selective schools are probably not helpful.

EDTI–
lola- I am not responding specifically to you, it is just that you and I were typing at the same time.