college admissions

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At DeSantis' Behest, Colleges Add Untested Admissions Exam

Classic Learning Test has mostly been accepted by private schools

(Newser) - Florida's state university system has endorsed accepting the results of the little-known Classic Learning Test in its undergraduate admissions process, a step in Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' efforts to change public education at all levels. The test becomes an alternative to the long-accepted SAT and ACT, the New York ...

DOE Looking Into How Harvard Admits Students

Harvard's legacy, donor admissions in the spotlight after SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action

(Newser) - A landmark ruling last month by the US Supreme Court struck a blow against using affirmative action in college admissions, and soon after that decision, murmurs began intensifying on an adjacent controversy—legacy and donor admissions. Now, one of the Ivy Leagues is under the microscope over the practice: The...

Wesleyan University Ends a 'Sign of Unfairness'

It joins small list of universities that have done away with legacy admissions

(Newser) - Following the Supreme Court's June decision to ban affirmative action in college admissions, the New York Times reports legacy admissions entered the crosshairs—and now one Connecticut university has joined a small but growing list of schools that have done away with them. Wesleyan University on Wednesday announced it...

New Lawsuit: If It's About Merit, End Legacy Admissions

After Supreme Court loss on affirmative action, minority groups challenge Harvard

(Newser) - A civil rights group is challenging legacy admissions at Harvard, saying the practice discriminates against students of color by giving an unfair boost to the mostly white children of alumni. It's the latest effort in a growing push against legacy admissions, the practice of giving admissions priority to the...

Landmark Ruling Delivers Blow to Affirmative Action

Supreme Court rules against race-based admissions policies at colleges

(Newser) - The Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling on Thursday against affirmative action, reports the Wall Street Journal . In a 6-3 ruling that split along the court's usual ideological lines, the justices struck down admissions policies that took race into account at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, per...

Persistent Millionaire Takes Tough Test 27 Times, to No Avail

Since first test in '83, he hasn't seen a satisfactory score on China's grueling college-entrance exam

(Newser) - Whether it's stress, lack of knowledge, or freezing in the moment, Liang Shi has not been able to achieve a satisfactory score on the gaokao, China's grueling college-entrance exam. It's not for lack of trying: The 56-year-old millionaire has taken the test more than two dozen times...

New College Admissions Tactic: Publish a Research Paper

ProPublica reports that parents are paying to have iffy studies published in iffy journals

(Newser) - It's a new twist on the old phrase "publish or perish." It's more like, publish or don't get into your college of choice. ProPublica reports on the latest questionable method being used to puff up college admissions: Parents are paying to get their kids' names...

Student Who Broke Scholarship Record Makes College Pick

Dennis Barnes, who got 180-plus acceptance letters, $10M in scholarships, selects Cornell

(Newser) - Dennis Barnes is headed to Cornell. The New Orleans high school senior, who has received more than 180 college acceptance letters and upward of $10 million in scholarship funding, announced on Friday he'll be attending the Ivy League school in Ithaca, New York, in the fall, reports NOLA.com...

Columbia University Makes a Big Move on the SATs

Ivy League school announces it's keeping its test-optional policy without time limits for admissions

(Newser) - During the peak of the pandemic, many schools around the nation, including Ivy Leagues, suspended their requirements that applicants submit SAT and ACT scores to be considered for admission. Now, one Ivy League might be making that move permanent. NBC New York reports that Manhattan's Columbia University is now...

Colleges Expect Court Ruling to Have Sweeping Effects

Changes in student bodies will show up next year and be lasting, experts say

(Newser) - In oral arguments in October, the Supreme Court gave colleges every indication that their admission policies are about to change. Republican-appointed justices, who hold the majority, indicated skepticism about what opponents call race-conscious admissions practices. "I've heard the word diversity quite a few times, and I don't...

Supreme Court Again Tackles Affirmative Action

AP takes a look at recent big cases that may play a role in decision

(Newser) - The Supreme Court will take up the issue of affirmative action again Monday—the second time in six years—but with the conservative majority now generally expected to end the use of race in higher education admissions. That would be a major shift for the court, which first ruled in...

For a Few Hours, Applicants Were Accepted by Law School

Northeastern sent a second letter out the same day

(Newser) - Northeastern University's School of Law had something awkward to tell the thousands of applicants it had emailed earlier in the day welcoming them to the Class of 2026. The congratulatory letter was sent by mistake, the school said, blaming a technical error. The first letter went to 205 current...

No More Legacy Admissions at Colleges?

It's the new fight over campus equality

(Newser) - America’s elite colleges are facing growing calls to end the decades-old tradition of giving an admissions boost to the children of alumni—a practice that critics say is rooted in racism and bestows an unfair advantage to students who need it least, per the AP . Fueled by the national...

SAT Gets Digital Revamp
Big Changes Ahead
for SAT Test-Takers
Jan 25, 2022 12:18 PM CST

Big Changes Ahead for SAT Test-Takers

It's going digital, and it will take 2 hours instead of 3

(Newser) - As more and more colleges make the SAT optional, the test itself will be shortened and entirely digital by 2024, reports CNN . The College Board, the body behind the standardized college admissions test, says it did extensive research before making the decision. “We're not simply putting the current...

Supreme Court to Hear Pivotal College Race Case

Harvard and UNC accused of discriminating against Asian-American applicants

(Newser) - The conservative-dominated Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to the consideration of race in college admissions, adding another blockbuster case to a term with abortion, guns, religion, and COVID-19 already on the agenda. The court said it will take up lawsuits claiming that Harvard, a private institution,...

Harvard Extends Big Pandemic Change for 4 More Years

Candidates won't be required to send in their SAT, ACT scores until at least 2026

(Newser) - It was a change brought about by the pandemic, and one that Harvard University now plans on continuing for at least four more years—and maybe even for good. The New York Times reports the Ivy League school has decided to go the test-optional route, not requiring SAT and ACT...

A First in the 'Varsity Blues' Scandal: a Trial
'Varsity Blues'
Trial Brings
Guilty Verdicts
updated
Oct 8, 2021 2:45 PM CDT

'Varsity Blues' Trial Brings Guilty Verdicts

Case against parents Gamal Abdelaziz, John Wilson was the first to go to trial

(Newser) - Update: After deliberating for about 10 hours, jurors found two parents guilty Friday in the college admissions bribery scandal. Gamal Abdelaziz and John Wilson were convicted on fraud and bribery conspiracy charges, the AP reports, and Wilson was also convicted of other counts of bribery, wire fraud, and filing a...

Harvard Admissions Essay of Teen Who Lost Mom Goes Viral

Abigail Mack explains why she hates the letter S

(Newser) - Getting into Harvard is an impressive achievement by anyone's measure. But for one Massachusetts teen, her admittance involves a most emotional backstory and a TikTok video series that has since gone viral. Per Upworthy , 18-year-old Abigail Mack lost her mother to cancer, and she took to the social media...

And Now, a New College Admissions Scandal

Ex-Harvard coach, father charged in $1.5M scam

(Newser) - The former fencing coach at Harvard and a wealthy Maryland businessman were arrested Monday on accusations that the coach took $1.5 million in bribes in exchange for helping the businessman get his two sons into the Ivy League school as recruited fencers, the AP reports. Peter Brand, 67, who...

Audit: UC Admitted 64 Students as 'Favors'

State audit came in response to college admissions scandal

(Newser) - A California state audit has found that the University of California wrongly admitted at least 64 wealthy students over the past six years as “favors to donors, family, and friends." The California State Auditor also found in the audit released Tuesday that campus staff falsely designated 22 of...

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