The Truth about Course Choice, Access, Math, and More - Ashley Pallie
Nov 28, 2023
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Ashley Pallie, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Caltech, discusses equitable admissions initiatives, the move towards test-free applications, and the importance of holistic review. The podcast also explores the collaboration with Schoolhouse.world and the need to showcase academic ability. Caltech's efforts for equitable access and the rethinking of college admissions are highlighted, as well as the importance of expressing gratitude and college choice.
Caltech has shifted their admissions focus to allow students to showcase their competency in alternative ways, recognizing the limitations and inequities surrounding prerequisites like calculus, chemistry, and physics.
Caltech's holistic and contextualized admissions approach prioritizes evaluating students' excellence, passion, and capacity beyond GPA, standardized test scores, or AP scores, ensuring a fair evaluation of applicants.
Deep dives
Caltech's Shift Towards Equitable Access
Caltech has been working towards providing equitable access to students by reevaluating their admissions policies and requirements. They have recognized the inequitable access to certain subjects like calculus, chemistry, and physics, which were previously necessary prerequisites. After realizing that some students were unable to take these classes due to various reasons, Caltech decided to shift their focus towards allowing students to showcase their mastery and competency in alternative ways. This decision was made after careful research and discussions with faculty members. By doing so, Caltech aims to ensure that students can express their academic abilities and potential, irrespective of their school's limitations or lack of resources.
The Value of Contextualized Review
Caltech emphasizes the importance of contextualized review in their admissions process. They understand that GPA alone does not provide a comprehensive evaluation of students' abilities and potential. Instead, they take into account various factors, such as the classes available to students, the decisions they made in their academic journey, and the grades they achieved in those classes. Caltech believes that this holistic and contextualized approach allows them to better assess students' excellence, passion, and capacity, even in the absence of standardized test scores or AP scores. By focusing on these aspects, Caltech ensures a thorough and fair evaluation of applicants.
Redefining the Role of Standardized Tests
Caltech's decision to become test-free and not consider AP scores in their admissions process challenges the notion that standardized tests are the sole measure of a student's worthiness for admission. They have observed that the absence of test scores does not hinder the selection of highly capable students. Instead, the faculty's expertise and the closer scrutiny of other aspects of an applicant's profile have allowed Caltech to make informed decisions about applicants' suitability for their institution. They believe that the emphasis should be placed on understanding the unique qualities, passions, and potential of each applicant, rather than relying on a standardized metric like test scores.
Choosing the Right College Fit
Caltech and Ashley Pally emphasize the importance of finding the right college fit for students. They advise students and parents to look beyond the reputation or brand name of a college and consider the specific opportunities and environment that would support their academic and personal growth. Caltech recognizes that not all students are meant for their institution and that excellence can be found at various colleges and universities. They encourage students to focus on self-discovery, being true to themselves, and finding a college where they would be happy and successful. Similarly, parents are urged to celebrate their child's achievements and the good fit they find, rather than associating their own worth with their child's college acceptance.
Ashley Pallie, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Chief Admissions Officer at Caltech, joins Rick and Brennan this week to talk about her introduction to higher ed admissions, what she's done to help bring equitable admissions intiatives to the forefront, why they do holistic review at Caltech, and the early returns on doing test-free application reviews.