YCBK 525: A Debate About Whether ACT/SAT Scores Should Be Mandatory

In this episode you will hear:   (02:32) In The News Andy Strickler shares some of the changes admissions offices are making due to financial pressures. Part 3 of 3 (16:28) Question from a listener:  Mark and Hillary answers questions from listeners about if a student applies for aid and doesn’t submit the CSS PROFILE, should that student not be admitted? (42:05) Interview: Mark Stucker and David Blobaum, The Co-Founder of Summit Test Prep Debate whether selective colleges should make the SAT or the ACT mandatory Preview of Part 1 of 3 ²  David Blobaum gives his backstory ²  David says what his test score policy would be if he were working at a highly selective school and here is a hint, I don’t agree with him ²  I ask David what he thinks about using AP scores instead of SAT or ACT scores ²  David gives some proof that colleges are using test scores ²  David shares why he feels selective colleges need to use test scores in their admissions decisions. ²  I share some other factors that can be used besides test scores that in my opinion, are better to use than test scores ²  I share the primary reason why I am not in favor of test-mandatory admissions ²  I share a creative idea that he would like to see colleges use that allows some use of scores without them having inappropriately too much weight in the admissions decisions. (01:12:08) College Spotlight-Jim Bok Interview, Understanding Swarthmore College Preview of Part 1 ²  Jim Bock tells his story from leaving Austin, Texas and heading to Swarthmore, first as a student ²  Jim shares how he answers the question, I’ve never heard of Swarthmore, what can you tell me about Swarthmore ²  Jim explains how Swarthmore’s founding is different from Haverford, another Quaker school that they are often compared to ²  Jim shares the intellectual qualities that when he is reading a file, makes him think, this could be a good match for Swarthmore ²  Jim shares the Personal Qualities that Swat values ²  Jim explains how Committee Based Evaluation, also known as CBE works at Swarthmore College and how they use CBE to evaluate an admission applicant ²  Jim explains the difference between reading a file with CBE vs the traditional way they read files before they implemented CBE ²  Jim shares why he finds reading by school group helps the admission file reading process   (57:46) Recommended Resource-The Admissions section of each website: Here is a section that says what Swarthmore looks for in a student:      Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. 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