Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process cover image

Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process

Jay Rosner: Bias in Testing and College Admissions

Nov 16, 2023
In this episode, Jay Rosner, an admission testing and test-prep expert, discusses the bias in standardized tests, specifically focusing on the SAT's impact on girls. He shares his career journey and mission in test prep, highlighting his advocacy and activism against these tests. The podcast also explores the involvement of Rosner in affirmative action lawsuits, emphasizing the absence of underrepresented minority students in the courtroom. The chapter concludes by discussing the obsession with elite schools and solvable problems in education.
29:46

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Girls' performance on the math section of the SAT has historically lagged behind boys', but the disparity has been decreasing in recent years possibly due to the increase in school day testing.
  • Affirmative action in college admissions, as demonstrated by the SFFA v. Harvard case, plays a crucial role in promoting diversity and offering opportunities to underrepresented minorities.

Deep dives

Persistent disparity on SAT math scores between girls and boys

For decades, there has been a consistent disparity between girls and boys on the math section of the SAT. On average, girls performed a third of a standard deviation lower than boys from the 1990s until 2016. This translates to a 30-35 point deficit for girls on the math SAT. The disparity started to diminish around 2016-2018, possibly due to the increase in school day testing where a significant percentage of students who aren't interested in going to college are required to take the SAT, which may have affected the average scores.

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