<p>that has prompted discussion of a university at which the sole admission criterion is scores on a specified set of tests. There have been some very interesting comments in that thread about what such a university would be like. Following up on Hunt’s modest proposal, I opened threads modestly proposing a university that admits based solely on high school grade point average </p>
<p>Certainly other highly specific admission policies are possible, and modest proposals for such universities would be very welcome on the College Admissions Forum. Here on the College Search & Selection Forum, I’m wondering which specialized university you prefer. Which one would be most likely to admit you? Which would be most likely to admit your best friend from high school? Which would you most enjoy attending? Would you like your state’s flagship university to have an admission policy like any of the modestly proposed universities? (Or does it already?) </p>
<p>Hunt, I, and I suppose other CC participants would be glad to hear your opinion.</p>
<p>That’s exactly what they are doing. Having kids cram for some test seems like a HUGE waste of talent and time. They would be better off–and so would society–if they spent more time out in the world than in a study guide.</p>
<p>See Japan for impacts of one test method of admissions. Then most appear to coast through college to guaranteed high ranking jobs. Great system.</p>
<p>Our current system forces some students to pretend to be something they are not, by signing up for a lot of extracurricular activities that do not interest them in order to appeal to schools that are using “holistic” admissions. Both SSU and GPAU would provide an opportunity for committed students who are scholars first and foremost.</p>
<p>My modest proposal is to collect volumes of data on students and colleges and then match students with colleges via a sophisticated computer program. Eliminate the application process entirely. Every student matched with their ideal college. No muss, no fuss.</p>
<p>tokenadult-
The types of data I’d look at:
interests (academic, extracurricular)
financial situation
high school academic performance
family demographics and dynamics
test scores
extracurriculars
college characteristics preferred (the usual suspects)
personality traits
work ethic
lifestyle preferences
where you live
values/priorities about college
competitive vs nurturing environment
life goals
special awards/achievements</p>
<p>I would first research student success at various universities. Gather above data about students and follow them over 4-5 years. Find out the characteristics of the most successful and contented graduates at each university, a profile of who fits best at each school. Then I would apply that information to new applicants and assign them to their ideal school. Maybe I would give them a choice of two or three if they were equal.</p>
<p>A word on why to do a discussion like this: a thought experiment (which is what these discussions really are) helps you examine issues in a more abstract setting, without discussing what Harvard does or doesn’t do, for example. It might give some people ideas about what colleges really should do, or what sort of colleges they might actually like. Also, I think it’s fun.</p>
<p>“Then I would apply that information to new applicants and assign them to their ideal school.”</p>
<p>Sort of like a computer dating service? I wonder how successful those are.</p>
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