Record low ACT scores not a concern for Virginia Tech admissions | News – Life Changer

Record low ACT scores not a concern for Virginia Tech admissions | News

[ad_1]

Virginia Tech admissions are unbothered by the lowest reported ACT scores in 31 years and say that there are other application metrics for determining college readiness.

“When you look at standardized testing as a predictor on how students will do once they’re in college as a standalone variable, it’s never been a very strong predictor,” said Juan Espinoza, director of undergraduate admissions at Virginia Tech.

According to the New York Times, ACT test scores for the high school class of 2023 have reached their lowest average since 1991. About 43% of students did not reach any of the subject-matter benchmarks. The average composite score was 19.5 out of 36.

The class of 2023 started high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing a significant shift to online learning for several months. During this time, there was also a movement among colleges and universities to permit the exclusion of standardized test scores on admission applications. These simultaneous events can be the most significant indicators of the steady dropping in scores nationwide.

Due to Virginia Tech’s increasing interest in non-cognitive attributes, rigor of classes and extracurricular activities within a candidate’s application, the trend of falling test scores is not a concern for their admission offices.

“We do a truly holistic review with a lot of focus outside of the classroom,” Espinoza said. “We do what are called non-cognitive attributes, essentially attributes based on the student’s characteristics or experiences that can be utilized, research shows, at a higher level than testing when being utilized as predictors on how they’re not only gonna do in college, but how they’re gonna do in life. And on the academic side, we pay strong attention to grades, which has been proven to be very good predictor and rigor of courses, so we like to see AP, IB (and/or) dual enrollment classes.”

Virginia Tech became a test-optional application institution in 2021, after the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many incoming students from accessing standardized test aid and services and a decades-long national discourse regarding the inequitable nature of standardized tests.

“The reason we moved to test-optional initially was in response to the pandemic’s cancellation of testing, so it was impossible for most students to get test aid,” Espinoza said. “But there were already conversations happening not just at Virginia Tech but in higher education in general about the role that standardized testing should take.”

Virginia Tech has only been test-optional for three years, so its long-term efficacy has not been determined. However, they are continually evolving their application process year after year to adapt to the circumstances of incoming students.

“I am a firm believer that there is no perfect application review process — it’s ever-changing — and so you always want to kind of make sure that the process you’re using to review students is resulting in positive steps towards progression and graduation,” Espinoza said. “All metrics are looking pretty good for this cohort, and I think that’s a good sign, our retention rate for the most recent group is up one full percentage point from 90 percent to 90.9.”

According to a report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, among 13 public and private institutions, college applicants who did not submit scores graduated in four years at a rate of 79% compared to applicants who did submit scores at 76.4%. Although this study only includes data from a small cohort of institutions within a small time frame, it is undeniable that the influence and weight standardized testing has among colleges and universities is wavering in the light of equity and test availability.

[ad_2]

Source link

Loading

110 thoughts on “Record low ACT scores not a concern for Virginia Tech admissions | News

  1. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been doing a little research on this. And he actually ordered me lunch due to the fact that I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this subject here on your internet site.

  2. Hi there, I think your website could possibly be having internet browser compatibility problems. When I look at your web site in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Apart from that, wonderful website.

  3. Can I simply just say what a relief to find someone who genuinely knows what they are talking about on the net. You certainly know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people must look at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you aren’t more popular since you definitely possess the gift.

  4. I seriously love your site.. Great colors & theme. Did you create this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m trying to create my own website and would love to find out where you got this from or what the theme is named. Thank you.

  5. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve visited this website before but after looking at a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m definitely delighted I came across it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back regularly.

  6. Howdy! I simply wish to give you a big thumbs up for your great info you’ve got right here on this post. I am coming back to your website for more soon.

  7. Hi, I do believe this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may revisit yet again since i have book marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

  8. I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something too few people are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I came across this during my hunt for something concerning this.

  9. I blog frequently and I truly thank you for your information. Your article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to take a note of your site and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.

  10. Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you, However I am going through problems with your RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t join it. Is there anybody getting the same RSS problems? Anyone who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx!

  11. Hello there! This article could not be written any better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept talking about this. I most certainly will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!

  12. A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you should write more about this topic, it might not be a taboo matter but generally folks don’t discuss such issues. To the next! Many thanks!

  13. You’re so cool! I do not suppose I’ve read through a single thing like this before. So nice to discover another person with original thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This site is something that is required on the internet, someone with a bit of originality.

  14. Hello there! This blog post could not be written much better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept preaching about this. I will send this information to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a great read. Thanks for sharing!

  15. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who had been doing a little research on this. And he actually bought me breakfast due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this topic here on your web site.

  16. Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon every day. It will always be interesting to read articles from other writers and practice a little something from their sites.

  17. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Many thanks, However I am having problems with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone else getting identical RSS issues? Anyone who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanx!

  18. Aw, this was an incredibly good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to produce a really good article… but what can I say… I hesitate a whole lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.

  19. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve visited this website before but after going through a few of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely pleased I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

  20. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who was conducting a little homework on this. And he actually bought me lunch due to the fact that I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this subject here on your website.

  21. I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is an issue that not enough folks are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I came across this in my hunt for something regarding this.

  22. You are so interesting! I do not believe I’ve truly read through anything like this before. So great to discover somebody with genuine thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up. This website is something that is required on the internet, someone with a bit of originality.

  23. Right here is the perfect web site for anyone who hopes to find out about this topic. You know a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a new spin on a subject that’s been discussed for a long time. Great stuff, just great.

  24. Howdy! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept talking about this. I will send this information to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!

  25. An interesting discussion is worth comment. I do think that you should write more about this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but typically folks don’t talk about these subjects. To the next! Cheers.

  26. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been conducting a little research on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this issue here on your website.

  27. I’m amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something that too few men and women are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy that I came across this in my hunt for something concerning this.

  28. Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thanks, However I am experiencing problems with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I cannot join it. Is there anyone else getting the same RSS issues? Anybody who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanks!

  29. This is the perfect website for anyone who really wants to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a new spin on a subject that has been written about for decades. Excellent stuff, just great.

  30. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been doing a little research on this. And he actually ordered me breakfast due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this subject here on your blog.

  31. Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after going through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely pleased I stumbled upon it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back regularly!

  32. Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you so much, However I am experiencing difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody having identical RSS issues? Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanx!!

  33. Your style is so unique compared to other people I have read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this web site.

  34. Right here is the right site for anybody who wishes to understand this topic. You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a subject which has been discussed for many years. Great stuff, just wonderful.

  35. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may come back yet again since i have book-marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *