<p>Okay, so I really thought the stunner reading of the week was the annoucement of the Seattle School District that they were moving back to including failed classes into student's GPA.</p>
<p>Then came this one ... (click or URL for full story)</p>
<p>Baylor Rewards Freshmen Who Retake SAT
By SARA RIMER</p>
<p>Baylor University in Waco, Tex., which has a goal of rising to the first tier of national college rankings, last June offered its admitted freshmen a $300 campus bookstore credit to retake the SAT, and $1,000 a year in merit scholarship aid for those who raised their scores by at least 50 points.</p>
<p>The sad thing is that after diverting thousands of dollars that could have gone toward more worthy purposes like improving need-based FA or limiting tuition increases, Baylor managed to raise its median SAT score by an inconsequential 10 points. This is a sad reflection on that institution's principles and priorities.</p>
<p>Way to have students focus on the "right" things. To me, incoming freshman class profile would be what the students have done before arriving on campus; so this post-mortem manipulation shouldn't even count towards their SAT avg anyway. </p>
<p>However, it does show how meaningless a 10-20 point difference in SAT avg among schools is when you can change your own SAT avg by 10 points by inducing a 1/4 of the students to re-take the test after the fact even though they're still the same students.</p>
<p>No, actually it signifies how meaningful a 10-20 point SAT difference is. 25% of the class with an extra year's worth of academic maturity? I wouldn't scoff at that.</p>
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No, actually it signifies how meaningful a 10-20 point SAT difference is. 25% of the class with an extra year's worth of academic maturity? I wouldn't scoff at that.
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<p>I meant meaningless in terms of comparing one college to another when scores at any one school are not precise. The SAT is supposed to be an aptitude test; that in theory is not supposed to be going up with an extra year of academic maturity, just like IQ isn't supposed to go up as you gain more knowledge in life.</p>
<p>And I think the point still stands--these aren't "better" students Baylor had recruited; they're simply the same students who were tested more, and at a later date. I do think time can help if their vocabulary, reading comprehension, and math skills grow.</p>
<p>If every school did this, I presume Baylor would lose its relative gain because every school would be reporting slightly higher scores.</p>
<p>As schools see (or perceive) an increasing importance on USNews rankings, then the stakes increase and we shouldn't be surprised if they come up with ways to improve their standings within the parameters that the ranking system permits.</p>
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then the stakes increase and we shouldn't be surprised if they come up with ways to improve their standings within the parameters that the ranking system permits.
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So USNWR should shake up the rankings every year by changing the parameters...keep everyone on their toes. One year 100% peer assessment, the next 100% average SAT scores. It's their magazine, why do the rules have to remain static?</p>
<p>USNWR does change its methodology from time to time . . . but as far as I can tell, only when someone starts to challenge HYP for the top spots under the existing methodology.</p>
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$300 - fee for SAT - opportunity cost to study/retake test = not worth it for me.
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<p>I think people are trying to get the $1,000/yr merit-aid. I'd actually do it without studying. If I get a 50-pt increase, I get $1000/yr for just taking the SAT. Sounds like a good deal. I can also sell those SAT books for a pretty good price if I haven't even opened them.</p>
<p>This is a creative and relatively inexpensive way to raise the class profile. The school looks really cheap though if you ask me.</p>
<p>I guess so...but I gotta give up a Saturday to sit with high school kids for the remote possibility of raising my score 50 points...what are the chances? For the Baylor cohort it looks slightly better than 17%.</p>
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I meant meaningless in terms of comparing one college to another when scores at any one school are not precise. The SAT is supposed to be an aptitude test; that in theory is not supposed to be going up with an extra year of academic maturity, just like IQ isn't supposed to go up as you gain more knowledge in life.
<p>Isn't that vocabs are tested in SAT? So wouldn't you know more vocabs with an extra year? I know that would be the case for international students.</p>