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25%
of Applicants May Be Admitted Under Point Plan
Along with meeting Board of Higher Education requirements and providing access to qualified state residents, the new admissions policy announced last month will seek to emphasize students' success and recognize their full potential while maintaining a diverse undergraduate body, according to associate provost Bryan Harvey. In a presentation to the Faculty Senate on Feb. 3, Harvey said to accomplish those goals, applicants will be divided into three groups, based on their grade point averages (GPAs) and SAT scores. Students in the top group will have their applications reviewed for consistency and completeness and are likely to be offered admission. Students in the bottom group are those who "would not normally be offered admission," Harvey said. The middle group will be evaluated by a point review, which is based largely on recommendations by the Chancellor's Task Force on Admissions. Harvey expects about a quarter of the incoming class to be admitted through this process. The point review will emphasize student success by focusing on GPA, rather than SAT scores. Once an applicant has "made" the middle group by having high enough grades and test scores, the SAT drops out of the reckoning. Applicants are assigned up to 7.5 points for their GPA. Residents of Massachusetts will be assigned a half point for their in-state status to further the "serve the state" goal. As part of recognizing students' full potential, they are assigned half a point for academic honors and achievements and a quarter point each for significant demonstrations of leadership and a pattern of achievement that suggests they are revealing more ability as they mature. In order to encourage a diverse campus environment, applicants receive a half point for having overcome substantial adversity relevant to higher education, such as the death of a parent during high school, and a half point if a student fits at least one of the following descriptions: international student, first generation collegian, veteran, racial/ethnic minority, and attended a low-income high school. Harvey said his best guess is that approximately 5 points will garner admission and that about half of the applicants in this category will receive offers of acceptance. Chancellor David Scott said the new policy may be adjusted in subsequent years as staff observe how it works. |
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