Topic: Should SCSU require SAT/ACT for admission?
Specific Purpose: To explain other alternatives that SCSU can use for their admissions requirements.
Introduction
I. Attention-getter: As I was a junior in high school taking my ACT, I thought to myself do I really have to take a test that is going to determine whether or not I get into college? I have always been an “A” student, however standardized tests have always failed me.
II. Thesis: Saint Cloud State University should no longer have the SAT/ACT scores as a part of their admissions requirements because there are other ways to determine a student’s success.
III. Preview: I will discuss other factors that SCSU can look at when admitting a new student including looking at students’ high school academic record, making the ACT/SAT
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optional, and the Accuplacer test. Transition: First, I am going to explain an option that SCSU can use when admitting new students other than looking at SAT/ACT scores.
Body
I. SCSU admission team can look at a student’s high school academic record for a deciding factor on recruiting a new student.
A. SCSU can look at the grades that students got while they were in high school.
1. According to Joseph Soares in his book, SAT Wars: The Case For, Test- Optional College Admissions published in 2015, he stated, “Grades in school still outperform standardized tests” (Soares 12).
2. SCSU can check the grades that students have accumulated throughout their high school years.
B. Also the admissions team can look at on how these students did on standardized tests in high school.
1. The MCA’s including reading, writing, science, and math.
2. They can look at the scores of each of these tests and see what category their scores fall under.
Transition: Now that I have explained some factors SCSU can look at while recruiting students’, I am going to introduce another solution.
II. Making the ACT/SAT optional is another thing that the SCSU admissions team can do.
A. Students could decide whether or not they want to take the
ACT/SAT. 1. According to Sarah Fiala and Gleanne Rosales in their article, Test Optional Published in August 28th, 2015 they state, “ Over 800 colleges have stripped their applicants of the ACT/SAT requirement, leaving score submission optional” (Fiala and Rosales 2015). 2. Making the test optional would allow students more freedom to choose what they want to with their education. B. If the ACT/SAT was optional at SCSU students will then know that there academic success in school matters more. 1. Students would focus more on their grades instead of taking the ACT/SAT. 2. According to Charles Rooney in his book, Test Scores Do Not Equal Merit, Enhancing Equity and Excellence in College Admissions by Deemphasizing SAT and ACT results published in 1998 he said, “As more schools go test-optional or de-emphasize the SAT and ACT, students will know they will be evaluated more on the basis of their actual performance in the classroom” (Rooney 8). Transition: Next, I am going to explain another alternative SCSU admissions team can use when determining whether or not they want to accept a student. III. SCSU could have the Accuplacer as a required placement exam instead of the ACT/SAT. A. Students would only have to take the Accuplacer test instead of the ACT. 1. According to the College Board in the article, What is the Accuplacer? Published in September 2015, “Over 1,500 institutions administer Accuplacer tests as a part of their enrollment process” (The College Board 2015). 2. The Accuplacer would be a smaller test for the students to take. B. The Accuplacer helps put people in appropriate courses for the level that they are at. 1. According to Krista Mattern and Sheryl Packman in their article, Predictive validity of Accuplacer scores for Course Placement: A Meta-Analysis published on December 4th, 2009, “The Accuplacer test scores provide utility in terms of placing students into courses in which they are likely to succeed” (Mattern and Packman 2009). 2. The students would be able to get their test scores back right away compared to the ACT/SAT. Transition: In conclusion I believe that SCSU could easily choose one of those options that I listen above to replace the ACT/SAT tests. Conclusion Review of Main Points: I think it would be best for our school to go with the other alternatives for admissions requirements such as looking at student’s high school academic record, making the ACT/SAT optional, and having them take the Accuplacer. Reinforcement of thesis: Saint Cloud State University should no longer have the SAT/ACT scores as a part of their admissions requirements because there are other ways to determine a student’s success. Final Idea: Overall, I believe that SCSU would strongly benefit from getting rid of the ACT/SAT scores as a part of their admissions requirements. Standardized tests do not determine the amount of success that people will achieve in their lifetime.
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