Do Rankings Have Too Much Influence in College Admissions?
Available for Interview: Kaplan Test Prep Expert
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Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
New York, NY (January 31, 2012) – A top admissions official at Claremont McKenna College, a prestigious school in California, admitted to inflating the school’s SAT scores in order to help boost its standing in the national rankings. While this may be the most egregious example of a school seeking to game the rankings, it’s hardly the only one.
“There’s no question that rankings have had a negative effect on colleges, as they drive many schools to focus on statistics around perceived status,” said Jieun Choe, executive director of college prep and K-12 programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “The reality is that there are a number of ways schools have been able to influence their rankings-related statistics – whether it’s going SAT-optional to boost their SAT scores, or getting rid of an early admissions policy to increase applicant volume.”
“Realistically, the top echelon of schools hasn’t really changed over the past several decades, and beyond that, among competitive schools there’s no difference in quality when a student goes to the 22nd ranked school versus the 28th ranked school in the country. From a student perspective, rankings should play a minimal role in considering where they want to apply.”
To talk to with a Kaplan Test Prep expert about the role of rankings in the college admissions process, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538. Also visit Kaplan Test Prep’s virtual pressroom at http://press.kaptest.com and follow on Twitter: @KapTestNews.
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Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.
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