A large number of medical schools have discontinued the use of letter and number grades and have adopted pass-fail or honors-pass-fail grading systems. The relationship of academic performance with the selection of first-year residents for a university-based program in internal medicine is examined. (MLW)

The perceptions of a representative sample of GRE test takers who were asked to indicate their views of the importance of eight factors in graduate admissions were examined. Candidates perceived undergraduate grades as the most important factor in graduate admissions, followed by recommendations and test scores. (Author/MLW)

The optometry program at the Inter American University in Puerto Rico is profiled, with highlights of admission criteria, temporary and permanent facilities, faculty, governance structure, curriculum, research opportunities, and relationship with the university as a whole. (MSE)

Lists physics courses at universities and colleges of technology in Scotland. Includes honors degree courses, course structure, special entry requirements (if any), special notes, and name of contact person. (SK)

Describes the range of policies, criteria, and weightings used in the process of selecting among candidates for admission in 19 public and private colleges and universities. Notes the need for adequate communications between colleges and the schools previously attended by candidates. (PGD)

Presents the drastic effects that selection on several variables can sometimes have on the validity of predictor variables. Discusses practical implications of correcting correlations for selection effects and reporting results of validity studies. (Author)

Reference letters are an important method of selecting applicants to a postgraduate residency program. A study to test the predictive validity of all reference letters, not only those written by deans, is discussed. Results showed that reference letters did not predict resident performance and little useful information was contained in them. (MLW)

The factors that influence the size and makeup of the applicant pool for dental education are identified: costs, predental education, demographic trends, resistance from the profession, and higher education trends. The decrease in the applicant pool and what dental schools might do to offset the effects are discussed. (MLW)

Looking ahead to a period of declining enrollment, great attention must be given to the whole question of appropriateness of curriculum and volume of graduates. An institution should seek to be responsive in a curricular sense to the demands of the society. (Author)

Australia's external degree programs have managed to maintain high standards for graduate degrees through residential and weekend schools, teaming of visiting or part-time faculty with regular full-time faculty members, faculty-wide approval of grades, direct supervision, strict admission standards, and rigorous programs. (Author/WD)

Ranking students by SAT scores is the same as ranking them by family income, not by merit or accomplishment. (Author)

The chairman of the College Board strongly disagrees with the Nairn report and gives his version of the truth about testing. (Author/MLF)

Assesses the utility of small group interviews comprised of two or more interviewers and two or more interviewees as a selection tool for entrance into allied health educational programs. Also examines data on decision making processes in small group selection interviews. (CT/Author)

Argues that the Court had the opportunity to and grounds for disposing of the "Bakke" litigation in a manner that would accommodate the competing interests. Instead, the Court allowed Bakke to prevail by default. Available from Southern University Law Review, Southern University School of Law, Southern Branch Post Office, Baton Rouge, LA…

Examines the factors influencing the premedical requirements in physics. Reviews the various reasons why physics is important in medical education and discusses the new Medical College Admission Test. (Author/GA)