<p>Stetson of UPenn tells in an article in NYT that many schools plan to use SAT Essay to compare with application essay.........ooops!!!</p>
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[quote]
Since March, the SAT has included a 25-minute essay section. When reviewing an application, colleges can easily download the test essay from the College Board, obtaining a sample of the student's unedited writing. Many colleges say they plan to do so, at least in cases where there are questions about a student's writing aptitude.
<p>I think thats a horrible idea. I know I did both 100% by myself, but I is twice as good as the other (I bet you can guess which one). Writing an essay in 25 mins and writing an essay in one month can look like two different writers. That is why many schools dislike the new SAT.</p>
<p>I guess they will only do that on a few select students who they suspect were getting too much help. Plus, schools are not going to be willing to read 20000 more essays!</p>
<p>I highly doubt they would read everyone's SAT essay. But I think its a good idea. I know my essays from the SAT may not be as polished as the ones I sent in, but by reading it you could tell they share the same writing style and ideas. I think its more if they got a so-so application with an amazing essay that looked suspicious. There shouldn't be a huge gap in the writing of one essay to another.</p>
<p>I think this is fine if they are looking for consistency in voice, and not in the thoughfulness of the ideas. I know my kid probably didn't have much worth saying at 8:00 on a Saturday when he was looking at the first part of a three hour test. I would expect a fairly trite and unimaginative piece of writing.</p>
<p>I view this as one rather worthless use of the SAT Essay. It's okay, I suppose, to look at the SAT Essay as a measure of a student's on-the-spot organizational and mental skills in preparing an essay and defending it, but to compare it to a planned essay that hopefully took someone more than 25 minutes...? Useless.</p>
<p>The biggest problem I have with the essay on the SAT is that the students have had no time to THINK about what they want to say.
For the truly thoughtful kid - the one who generally thinks things through before opening his/her mouth and making sure what they say is really what they mean - these kinds of on-the-spot broad values-type questions probably don't do them justice. I realize that you can't give topics out in advance, as that would just encourage all kinds of cheating, but I do think the test rewards the glib rather than the thoughtful student.
My kids both have taken many in-class essays, and in fact most humanites classes base most of their grade on these. However, they did know the general topic going into these exams - after all, that's what they had been studying, so they had, or should have had, plenty of information to back up whatever arguments they might be asked to make. A topic chosen out of the air is a very different animal. I doubt that they will ever in their lives have to write an essay on a topic like the ones on the SAT.</p>
<p>But wouldn't you agree by looking at the two essays you could at least agree they were written by the same person. I know some people who have had their essays edited so many times by so many people, to the point of ghostwriting that their voice has been completely lost. I'm sure by comparing their SAT essay to their edited one you could tell there was a major difference. I think that is what it would be used for. And I think that's fair.</p>
<p>Yes, I do think the voice can be detected. But does it really make sense for colleges to read all the essays from all of their applicants just to keep them honest? That's the only thing they could legitimately be used for, imo, and that's kind of sad that a college would feel they have to do that.</p>
<p>I didn't mean that they should check everyone's essay. I'm sure most essays don't arouse suspicions. But I bet a couple every year have not such great grades or scores but an amazing essay that may seem out of character. It could help in a situation like that. I can't imagine universities reading everyones and I agree that would be stupid. But I do believe it could have a purpose somewhere.</p>
<p>I think these comparisons are being used when an essay sounds as if the student has been coached, ghostwritten or in others ways got lots of editing. I t would seem that kids who have paid for essay services may be at a disadvantage in this circumstance. It will be interesting to see what comments are forthcoming. This is a time that many press articles address the college application/acceptance process and frequently quotes from Adcoms are included. Should make for some interesting reading. If the comparisons become a big tool I predict more feed to the CB cash cow. If colleges are using the CB to help screen then it just reinforces the discussions......more money to CB.</p>
<p>The CB may be non-profit, but they do have salaries and employees to pay, and an interest in their continuing survival.<br>
ETS, the test makers, are not non-profit, however, and they have made out quite well with all of the changes, including the addition of the writing exam.</p>
<p>I wonder if there will be any alternatives to AP exams such as there are for the SAT (ACT) which is made by some other organization. Collegeboard is an unhealthy monopoly IMO.</p>
<p>Not as long as suburban HS sell the concept of AP classes being the top of the food chain. When you mention an alternative.....it is IB and that is experiencing the hard sell to suburban parents/students right now. Many school districts sell the IB as being a higher level than AP.....it is a marketing war. Many top level HS don't offer either for they believe that their curriculums are strong and offer more high level courses than either AP or IB.</p>
<p>I think this is a good idea. The students who use professional services to write/edit their essays have an unfair advantage. Adcoms won't screen every essay, but when the suspicious few come up I think it's fair for them to see a comparison. After all, the essays are an important component of determining whih students (not professionals) should be admitted.</p>
<p>i agree that it sucks when people pay to have someone else write their essay... but i know that my on-the-spot analytical essay writing is very very different from my creative writing style. What happens if they assume that it can't be the same writer when in fact it is?</p>
<p>ivy league admission officers specificly said that they WILL be comparing and looking at SOME essays, not to compare with college essay, but to judge the grading scale of the SAT essay</p>
<p>If one essay for example has terrible grammer, doesn't answer the question, fails in its purpose etc. Or is otherwise a really terrible essay. (I am exaggerating a bit) And then the essay they turn in with their app is really good, perfect grammer, great ideas. I think they would definitely be a little suspicious. </p>
<p>My writing between the two is very different. But if one were to compare I'm sure they would agree both are well-written, with good structure, grammer, syntax and diction. And would agree that I didn't receive unfair help on one. I think that is the point.</p>