Question

You are a marketing consultant for a large university. Your college president wants you to promote the college based on its reputation for selecting only high-scoring applicants for its student body.

Given the average SAT scores reported below, is College A (your employer) more selective in admitting students than College B?

After all, the average SAT score of its freshman is 95 points higher than that of College B.

College A: 620
College B: 525

Answer 1

College A, with an average SAT score of 620, is more selective than College B, which has an average of 525. Despite this, the use of SAT scores in admissions is debated, with concerns about bias and predictive validity. A holistic admissions approach is recommended.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the average SAT scores of College A and College B, it can be deduced that College A, with an average SAT score of 620, appears to be more selective in admitting students than College B, which has an average SAT score of 525.

This suggests that College A may have a more competitive admissions process, admitting students with higher academic achievements, at least as measured by SAT scores.

However, it's important to recognize the ongoing debate around the use of standardized tests like the SAT. Some researchers assert that SAT scores may not fully capture a student's potential and may be biased against historically marginalized populations. The predictive validity of the SAT for a student's first-year college GPA has also been challenged.

Thus, while higher SAT scores at College A indicate a level of selectivity, it's crucial for the college to consider a holistic approach to admissions that takes multiple factors into account to ensure fairness and diversity within its student body.