<p>CMC is not alone.</p>
<p><a href=“Gaming the College Rankings - The New York Times”>Gaming the College Rankings - The New York Times;
<p>
</p>
<p>You always have to be wary of reported SAT scores. For instance, schools that are SAT optional only report scores provided, obviously, so their average scores are going to be higher. Only students with high scores are going to submit them. On paper, my daughter was no where near eligible for her school, but that data was meaningless.</p>
<p>You have to be wary of reported GPA averages as well. Case in point: Elon University’s US News report lists an average high school GPA for accepted students of 3.9. What they don’t tell you is that this is the weighted GPA that has been recalculated by Elon. Elon’s latest CDS actually reports an average GPA of 3.96, putting “competitors” such as Stanford and Harvard to shame.</p>
<p>“You always have to be wary of reported SAT scores. For instance, schools that are SAT optional only report scores provided, obviously, so their average scores are going to be higher. Only students with high scores are going to submit them. On paper, my daughter was no where near eligible for her school, but that data was meaningless.”</p>
<p>Are you sure about this? My son’s test optional school requires all accepted students submit their test scores before matriculating. I know they have used that data to track the students who submit scores versus those who don’t in terms of GPA, graduation rate, etc. And according to their studies there is very little difference between the two groups of students. </p>
<p>Also, much to my surprise, their data shows some very high scoring students choose not to submit scores. </p>
<p>In addition, at least at my son’s school, those who choose not to submit scores have additional supplemental essays they must submit. It’s not like it is “easier” for a student to apply without test scores.</p>
<p>No, the students are never asked for their scores. They don’t have to take the SAT at all. The supplemental essay is required of all applicants. It’s not the ease of the application process that’s important here, but the fact that the college looks at the whole student, and not just the numbers.</p>
<p>" No, the students are never asked for their scores. They don’t have to take the SAT at all. The supplemental essay is required of all applicants. It’s not the ease of the application process that’s important here, but the fact that the college looks at the whole student, and not just the numbers."</p>
<p>Are you only speaking about the specific school your kid attends, because you said in your original post; “You always have to be wary of reported SAT scores. For instance, schools that are SAT optional only report scores provided, obviously, so their average scores are going to be higher,” because that is definitely not the case at my son’s college. All have to submit test scores to matriculate and answer additional supplemental essay questions if they choose not to submit their scores. </p>
<p>My son’s school also looks at the “whole” student, not just numbers.</p>
<p>Some “SAT Optional” schools do require students to submit test scores before they matriculate, others don’t. My youngest daughter decided to apply test optional to the school that accepted her ED last month. Her scores, while within the reported range, were at the low end and she believed they did not reflect her abilities to succeed in college. She will not be required to submit her scores before she matriculates.</p>
<p>
Rather self serving statement. I guess he doesn’t read much.
[UI</a> law school official resigns; investigation ends | News-Gazette.com](<a href=“http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2011-11-07/ui-law-school-official-resigns-investigation-ends.html]UI”>http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2011-11-07/ui-law-school-official-resigns-investigation-ends.html)</p>
<p>^^ Look at the source?! An outfit known for its surveys that reward voting early and often is hardly a bastion of integrity. The same can be said about others that have been widely quoted by the “reporters” at the NYTimes. The responses by Bob Morse reached the summit of cynicism.</p>
<p>Fwiw, the differences in reporting between the NYTimes and the LATimes could not be more stark. </p>
<p>In addition, the editorial posted today is a must read:</p>
<p>[Cheating</a> by Claremont McKenna College: What’s gone wrong? - latimes.com](<a href=“http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-sat-20120201,0,3289490.story]Cheating”>When colleges cheat)</p>
<p>Saw this in my paper this morning. I bet it is a lot more common than we think.</p>
<p>From the LA Times:
I wonder what evidence they have of this?</p>
<p>emilybee, Yes, I’m referring to my daughter’s school.</p>
<p>^Thanks for the clarification. I had assumed you were saying to be wary of all test optional school re stats.</p>
<p>This is the third thread about this here on cc.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/claremont-mckenna-college/1282934-cmc-office-admission-falsely-reported-sat-scores.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/claremont-mckenna-college/1282934-cmc-office-admission-falsely-reported-sat-scores.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1282946-claremont-mckenna-college-admits-falsifying-sat-scores.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1282946-claremont-mckenna-college-admits-falsifying-sat-scores.html</a></p>
<p>CMC removed from rankings:</p>
<p>[Claremont</a> McKenna College removed from magazine ranking - latimes.com](<a href=“http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0204-claremont-20120204,0,1118583.story]Claremont”>Claremont McKenna College removed from magazine ranking)</p>
<p>Removed from KIPLINGER’s best values until the corrected numbers are received.</p>
<p>A very reasonable position to adopt given the technology used by the magazine. Recalculating the data should take all but a few minutes with an expected minimal impact.</p>
<p>The only possible change at USNews is for Haverford to move up to the 9th position. CMC will stay in 9th or drop to 10th. I wish people would understand how trivial a change from 1510 to 1480 really is. The correction dropped CMC from the sixth highest SAT to the ninth position. </p>
<p>Cheating never pays. It never makes much sense.</p>
<p>And Emory joins the ranks [Emory</a> University misrepresented student data | ajc.com](<a href=“http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/emory-university-misrepresented-student-1501300.html]Emory”>http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/emory-university-misrepresented-student-1501300.html)</p>
<p>^ This news about Emory deserves its own thread.</p>