%0 Thesis %1 talley_effect_1989 %A Talley, Norma R. %C Hempstead, NY %D 1989 %K ADMINISTRATION EDUCATION, Higher, %T The effect of weighted averages on private four-year undergraduate college admissions in the United States %X Although colleges use various criteria in the admissions process, almost all make significant use of grades, weighted or otherwise, and rank-in-class. Other factors relevant to this decision include alumni connections, courses taken, interviews, minority status, references, SAT/other board scores, and special talents. Weighting averages is a system whereby certain courses, for example, honors and advanced placement courses, add a specific percentage increment of the base grade traditionally computed, to the unweighted average. Two surveys were developed to determine if and how weighted averages in high school affect admission to private four-year undergraduate colleges in the United States. The first survey investigated the philosophy stated by college admissions directors and the second survey, consisting of sample transcripts (one weighted and one non-weighted, both with equal level courses and same base grades, differing by rank-in-class), investigated the selection of candidates in actual practice. The surveys were mailed eight weeks apart to each of the 601 systematically selected college admissions directors in the United States. A total of 569 (94.67\%) directors responded to the first survey, 492 (81.86\%) directors responded to the second survey, 487 (81.03\%) respondents answered both surveys, and 574 (95.5\%) directors responded to one of the two surveys. Results of this study indicate the following: students with weighted averages have a definite advantage over students without weighted averages in the admissions process to private, four-year, undergraduate colleges; the subjective preference of the majority of directors of admission was for high schools to weight grades; in 74.3\% (430) cases, institutional policy stated that students with weighted averages did not have an advantage over students without weighted averages; grade point average was shown to be the most important factor in making college admissions decisions, followed in importance by courses taken, rank-in-class, SAT/board scores, references, creative endeavors, personal interview, minority status, alumni connection, geographic distribution, and athletic ability. In addition, congruence did not hold between stated philosophy of a given college and actual practice, since 76.2\% (375) of the directors chose the student with the weighted transcript.

@phdthesis{talley_effect_1989, abstract = {Although colleges use various criteria in the admissions process, almost all make significant use of grades, weighted or otherwise, and rank-in-class. Other factors relevant to this decision include alumni connections, courses taken, interviews, minority status, references, SAT/other board scores, and special talents. Weighting averages is a system whereby certain courses, for example, honors and advanced placement courses, add a specific percentage increment of the base grade traditionally computed, to the unweighted average. Two surveys were developed to determine if and how weighted averages in high school affect admission to private four-year undergraduate colleges in the United States. The first survey investigated the philosophy stated by college admissions directors and the second survey, consisting of sample transcripts (one weighted and one non-weighted, both with equal level courses and same base grades, differing by rank-in-class), investigated the selection of candidates in actual practice. The surveys were mailed eight weeks apart to each of the 601 systematically selected college admissions directors in the United States. A total of 569 (94.67\%) directors responded to the first survey, 492 (81.86\%) directors responded to the second survey, 487 (81.03\%) respondents answered both surveys, and 574 (95.5\%) directors responded to one of the two surveys. Results of this study indicate the following: students with weighted averages have a definite advantage over students without weighted averages in the admissions process to private, four-year, undergraduate colleges; the subjective preference of the majority of directors of admission was for high schools to weight grades; in 74.3\% (430) cases, institutional policy stated that students with weighted averages did not have an advantage over students without weighted averages; grade point average was shown to be the most important factor in making college admissions decisions, followed in importance by courses taken, rank-in-class, SAT/board scores, references, creative endeavors, personal interview, minority status, alumni connection, geographic distribution, and athletic ability. In addition, congruence did not hold between stated philosophy of a given college and actual practice, since 76.2\% (375) of the directors chose the student with the weighted transcript.}, added-at = {2018-06-19T15:20:34.000+0200}, address = {Hempstead, NY}, author = {Talley, Norma R.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2b3f97d40ccf1ad0577545110a3701c66/prophe}, interhash = {514a55c6e3a3be80043939659c870c4c}, intrahash = {b3f97d40ccf1ad0577545110a3701c66}, keywords = {ADMINISTRATION EDUCATION, Higher,}, school = {Hofstra University}, shorttitle = {The effect of weighted averages on private four-year undergraduate college admissions in the {United} {States}}, timestamp = {2018-06-19T15:20:34.000+0200}, title = {The effect of weighted averages on private four-year undergraduate college admissions in the {United} {States}}, type = {{PhD} {Thesis}}, year = 1989 }