A new report from the Harvard Graduate School of Education wants to ease the focus on standardize test scores and get “quality over quantity.”
The report, to be released Wednesday, has been endorsed by more than 80 colleges and could signal a significant shift in college admissions, according to Today.
“I think our students are just doing too much … We want to send this message that they can pull back on that a little bit,” Stu Schmill, dean of admissions at MIT, told Today.
The proposed changes encourage colleges to look beyond “brag sheets” of well-connected students. Students are well aware of what stands out to selective colleges, and parents dedicate many hours and a small fortune for their children to stand out in admissions.
Among the changes:
- Place less emphasis on standardized testing
- Encourage commitment to a small group of activities over wide-ranging activities
- Be aware of student responsibilities and their familial or local background
- Dedication to long-term community service activities
College admissions have taken criticism seriously.
“It could make a real difference not just because it has widespread backing but also because it nails the way in which society in general — and children in particular — are badly served by the status quo,” Frank Bruni writes for The New York Times.
High-achieving, low-income students stand to gain the most from admissions reform. The status quo that favors extracurricular activities, high SAT/ACT scores, and advanced placement classes also requires heavy spending on test preparation or funding for activities that their parents lack. If admissions offices stop favoring areas where only rich students can compete, it bodes well for a more economically diverse student body.
The issue, however, will remain. Highly selective colleges, by their nature, have a high number of applicants. Those applicants will adapt to whichever admissions criteria colleges choose. The reform of admissions criteria might not be enough. It’s promising that colleges have begun to rethink the type of student they want to encourage, but the inherent competition for admission to a top university will remain.
