<p>this is just too easy- lets see, cherry picking stats, omitting information, ignoring things that don't fit....nah, I will let it go</p>
<p>but it is interesting to see how easy it is to manipulate information to suit a purpose and that is why every student shoould get some stats in HS...eye popping</p>
<p>when compiling SAT Writing scores from colleges reporting their class of 2010 data ( <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=237689%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=237689</a> ), I too saw quite a variety of what I'll call selective reporting of applied, admitted & enrolled stats. Albeit, I am cynically inclined, but I do believe that some reporting is deceptive, especially where a college reports on a highly-trafficked web page admit data rather than enroll data. Every data set I've seen always shows higher numbers for admit SATs, so I can imagine it being self-serving to raise one's selectivity status by reporting a higher number. & I get more suspicious when only the admit data are reported on the high-traffic web page (say the class profile in the college's general info section), but both admit AND enroll data are buried deep in the IR section where few venture. In fact, this is case for TCNJ....<a href="http://www.tcnj.edu/%7Eccr/about/profile.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.tcnj.edu/%7Eccr/about/profile.html</a> ....granted they do (as most others do also) qualify their reporting with the word "admitted", but I'd dare say that most readers do not immediately grasp the distinction. (Their wording could be interpretted either way IMO: "SAT score for all regularly admitted entering freshmen...")</p>
<p>Probably one of the worst culprits in celebrating their admit numbers at the virtual exclusion of their enroll numbers that I've seen is Tufts.</p>
<p>i don't think 1300 can be that off. even if its "admitted students" vs. "enrolled students" i don't think they're lying.</p>
<p>besides, according to last years common data set, TCNJ's ENROLLED freshman class had a 25-75 of 1170-1370. while not perfectly accurate, if you just average that, that gives you 1270. 1300 isn't unbelievable in a year where several schools saw pretty big increases in SAT scores.</p>
<p>regardless, when you want to try to promote your school, its best to use your best numbers. Using admitted statistics is no different than schools using best of each section on SATs from kids who take it 3 or 4 times (which many people who go to the very best schools do.) I know I took the SAT 3 times and my "combined score" was about 70 points higher than the best single sitting i ever had.</p>
<p>Great article because it zoned in on so many factors that come together to create that elusive concept of "fit" and the "college experience".</p>
<p>"AVERAGE SAT SCORES: WHOS LEFT OUT?</p>
<p>To determine whether youll fit in with the students, scan average SAT scores, says Dr. Nemko. First, decide whether you want to be among your intellectual peers, hang out with people smarter than you, or be a big fish in a less-selective pond. Once youve made that determination, he says, as much maligned as the SAT is, its quite a valid indicator of intellectual firepower and drive."</p>
<p>"RETENTION RATE: THE HAPPINESS FACTOR</p>
<p>Look at a colleges retention rate the percentage of students who come back for their sophomore year to gauge student satisfaction, suggests Ann Wallace , director of counseling and guidance services at Rye Neck High School in Mamaroneck, N.Y. I dont like anything below 80 percent, she says. Students should have questions if its low. Was it financial aid that didnt get followed up with the second year? Or was it dissatisfaction or location? There can be reasons to explain it, but its generally not a good thing. "</p>
<p>On this last point - I just read some of posts on the "weather as a criteria" thread and its impact on retention rates.</p>