The nation's best interests are served by selective admission to higher education. Selection should be based on scholastic aptitude, measured more accurately by combining high school grades and aptitude test scores than by either alone. Neither scores nor grades is flawless or badly flawed enough to be disregarded. (MSE)

The author sees a return to elitism in the educational policies of Britain's present Conservative Government. She analyzes two Parliamentary bills designed to reverse the 1976 comprehensive schools act and, in the name of parent choice, to establish new selective secondary school entry rules and to subsidize private education. (SJL)

Argues that if higher education is to get rid of affirmative action, it should first discontinue special admission of less qualified candidates who are admitted because they are athletes, alumni children, or the children of friends of administrators. Reports on a survey of 52 black college students concerning effects of affirmative action. (MSE)

Over a hundred scholars, lawyers, researchers, advocates, college admissions and financial aid officers, and students met at Harvard University (Massachusetts) to explore how under-represented groups can be included in higher education in an anti-affirmative action climate. The conference is the third in a think-tank series on civil rights issues.…

The statement of concern in the 1967 Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students addressed only race as an impermissible consideration in denying admission to institutions of higher education. The modern statement of concern should address itself to other barriers as well as race. Barriers discussed include disability, age, national origin,…

Used data from California and a simplified model of the University of California admissions process to explore how various approaches to admissions affect the diversity of the admitted student population. The only approach that substantially increased minority student representation was accepting most students on the basis of within-school rather…

A large national data set was used to assess the causal influence of college selectivity on earnings after controlling for a variety of background variables. Using a recursive structural equation model, it was found that for both genders selectivity had a significant direct and indirect effect on earnings. (Author/MLW)

This paper addresses the predictive value for performance in medical school of undergraduate grades, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), selectivity of the undergraduate institution, and transcript data. The performance data examined were basic science grades; clinical science grades; scores on National Board of Medical Examiners…

A sequential screening procedure has been proposed in Queensland, based on what is known in decision theory as a 'lexicographic ordering.' The concept is explained, and some of the associated assumptions, implications and shortcomings are examined. (Author/MLW)

Describes nine categories of criteria used in developing nations to determine high school admission, the most common being competitive examinations and regional or school-level quotas. Discusses attempts to balance academic qualifications and equity concerns in Papua New Guinea and other countries, and dilemmas related to examination biases,…

Addresses the subject of school choice. Suggests that, unlike a business that grows to accommodate demand, popular schools will become more selective because they are not a profit-making entity. Argues that school choice will only further the stratification of the public and private school system. (DK)

Investigated extent to which public flagship universities use weighted or unweighted standards in admission decision process. Findings from 91 universities indicated that nearly one-half of the flagship universities used exclusively unweighted standards in decision process for most entering freshmen, suggesting that recognition of honors courses…

The current trend in equal-protection law is to reject the use of race-based, numerical formulas. However, in "Wessmann," a chief federal district judge in Massachusetts allowed race-based set-asides in the admission policy at Boston's three examination high schools. This decision, which is on appeal, has implications for school…

Explores issues related to race and college admissions, focusing on the problem of how much weight university admissions officials should give to diversity. What constitutes special considerations, what might be outright preference, and how the goal of ethnic diversity can be balanced against other factors are discussed. (SLD)

Critiques a November 1999 "Kappan" article praising one charter school's special-education program, arguing that most Massachusetts for-profit charter schools receive funding for disabled students whom they refuse to serve. These schools have excluded, counseled out, mistreated, and withheld needed services from numerous students with…