Felix Salmon paid money to watch the Taylor Swift concert movie; Bob Iger's efforts to keep Disney fair; New York Community Bank's financial situation's effect on renters; backlash against the SAT; Superbowl commercial trends.
Dartmouth College has reversed the trend and made the SAT mandatory for applicants, as research suggests it is a reliable indicator of college performance for disadvantaged students.
The S&P 500 index reaching 5,000 is a psychological milestone capturing attention, but the actual value of the index has limited importance.
Deep dives
Dartmouth makes SAT mandatory again for applicants
Dartmouth College has announced that it will make the SAT mandatory again for applicants, reversing the trend of many colleges making the standardized test optional. Research conducted by the college suggests that the SAT is a good indicator of college performance, especially for disadvantaged students coming from less-regarded schools. The correlation between SAT scores and college grades was found to be stronger than the correlation between high school grades and college performance.
S&P 500 hits 5,000
The S&P 500 index has reached the milestone of 5,000, a number without inherent meaning but seen as significant due to its roundness. The S&P 500 is a widely followed stock market index that comprises 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States. The achievement of 5,000 is seen as a psychological milestone that captures attention, but the actual value of the index is of limited importance.
Suits generates 57.7 billion streaming minutes in 2023
The television show Suits generated a total of 57.7 billion minutes of streaming in 2023, with 52 billion minutes coming from mid-June to the end of the year after the show appeared on Netflix. The popularity of the show highlights the influence of Netflix as a streaming platform, as moving from one platform to another resulted in a significant increase in viewership. The success of older shows on streaming platforms demonstrates the enduring appeal of library titles in attracting audiences.
The return of the SAT
Dartmouth College has announced that it will once again require SAT scores for admissions, going against the trend of many colleges making the test optional. Research conducted by the college suggests that the SAT is a reliable indicator of college performance, especially for disadvantaged students. The correlation between SAT scores and college grades was found to be stronger than the correlation between high school grades and college performance.
BREAKING NEWS: Felix Salmon paid money to watch the Taylor Swift concert movie, he reveals it in a tell-all chat with Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers. They discuss CEO Bob Iger’s efforts to keep Disney the fairest entertainment company in the land and why New York Community Bank’s financial straits could be a win for ordinary renters. Also, has the backlash against the SAT test been misguided? Dartmouth thinks so. In the Plus segment, the gang explains Superbowl commercial trends.
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Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth.