Reinert310

That may be true. But again, there really is no perfect way make these selections. I think there are less unintended side effects from making these tests optional than from making them a requirement.

Then you put that information in your essay. I had friends who did just that. You provide an explanation for anything on your transcript that might be sub-par and also point to your ACT score as a better indicator of your capability. Your college application essay doesn’t have to be the cliche “How I’m going to change the world with a degree from whatever university”. Giving people insight into your life and who you are as a person, not just a student, is a great way to tip the scales in your favor. The people looking at these applications aren’t robots.

I get it. I just don’t think eliminating a single test score and eliminating a kids 4-year high school GPA is the same thing. Like I said, these tests take place in a matter of hours and is based almost solely on memorization and regurgitation (which, admittedly, is a large chunk of school in general, but these tests take it to the extreme). I’ll always value 4 years of data over a few hours of data, no matter of much data is crammed into that few hours. I don’t think eliminating the requirement for these tests scores means that the scores will no longer hold weight, should they be submitted, but it takes a lot of pressure off of teenagers who aren’t freaking out about taking 1 test to determine the rest of their lives.

Well put.

I hope I’m not coming off as a jerk. I understand your perspective, even if I don’t agree with it. Even if we ignore the socio-economic issues with these tests, for me it’s a matter of sample size. Which is a better indicator of a students high school academic career? 4 years of going to class from 7-2 everyday for 9 months a year... or 3 hours spent in a silent auditorium filling in multiple choice bubbles and showing your work on math equations?

So am I. I don’t think taking any particular course in high school is essential for any particular career. So a kid doesn’t take any AP classes in high school, but keeps a 4.0, gets into a great school and busts his ass for 8 years and becomes a doctor. Is he any less capable of a doctor because used easier classes in high school as a means to an end of getting into an elite school and chasing his dream of being a doctor? No. Of course he’s not. He’s not any dumber because he didn’t take AP classes in high school.

Kids can still submit test scores, they just aren’t a requirement. If your scores enhance your transcript, submit it. If it doesn’t, don’t. The problem comes when schools have a floor for minimum tests scores that they will accept.

I’m curious how many lessons you remember from your time in high school and how often you use those skills in your current career. The kids who really want to be great, are still going to find ways to be great. Taking easier high school classes as a means to an end isn’t going to change that.

I’m sorry but this exact scenario is how the professional world works. Having a piece of paper with a university’s name at the top will only ever get you so far. Interviews, having contacts and being able to bull**** is as much a part of finding most jobs as an education. Is it fair? No. It’s not. But it’s the real world. We don’t live in a Utopian paradise. People are always gonna fall through the cracks for 1 reason or another. I sympathize with kids effected by this. I really do. But is what it is.

I’m not sure dumbing down is the right term. There are plenty of brilliant people who never took AP classes. I’d say there may be less motivation to really challenge yourself in high school. Maybe this isn’t a perfect solution. But mandatory standardized tests certainly wasn’t a perfect solution either. And it sounds like kids can still submit test scores as part of their transcript, it just isn’t a requirement.

Honestly, I feel like this really will help the hardest workers in high school...because I wasn’t one of them. I think I graduated with a 3.3 in high school, but I did the bare minimum to get that GPA. I was also a really good test taker. I took the ACT, once, the summer before my senior year, knew ahead of time that my score was good enough to get into the schools I wanted to go to (SLU) and did only enough work to keep my parents off my back my entire senior year. But I had friends who worked their asses off for 4 years (and really weren’t bad test takers), but buckled under the pressure of knowing a single standardized test would determine whether they got to go to their dream school. That’s a helluva a lot of pressure for a teenager. Yeah, they can take the test again, but if you bombed it the first time, the pressure goes up exponentially every time you take it again. The fact that 1 test can determine so much of a person’s future just seems silly to me. And I’m someone who benefitted from it.

True.

Just thought I’d put this hear. Not sure it changes anything in the long run. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/29171708/ncaa-extends-nba-draft-withdrawal-deadline-awaits-league-pre-draft-line

According to Verbal Commits, almost all of those schools offered about 2 days ago. My guess is it’s a list of recent offers, not a final list. Just a tweet showing how his recruitment is blowing up.

He’s a big boy. Verbal Commits has him 6’8 245. Most of his offers are mid-major level, not that that necessarily matters.

I’m sure there are plenty of fantastic SLU journalists out there, but unfortunately, when it comes to academic programs, perception becomes reality. I’m not saying that Mizzou’s journalism is any better than journalism taught at SLU, but it is perceived to be better, which is often more important. I have no idea if the post discriminates for or against certain universities Just seems like it would be kinda silly if a candidate is qualified and the goal is to make money. Could absolutely be wrong though, but seems like a stupid way to do business. Then again, I’ve been surprised many times in the past.

I’m not sure a few individuals getting shot down from a certain newspaper(s) after attending both schools qualifies as the 2 journalism programs being comparable. SLU academics is more highly regarded than Mizzou in a lot of areas...journalism isn’t one of them.

Exactly, Mizzou has 1 of the top journalism schools in the country. Not exactly apples to apples there.

Haha. Honestly, I‘ve always thought Bernie was kind of a blow hard, so I totally see what you’re saying. I’m just probably over-sensitive as someone who deals with mental illness. Being on social media is like the 9th ring of hell for me, which is why I only really use it to follow sports and rarely read comments. So I feel for the guy. Not trying to call anybody out. Apologies if I came off a little over aggressive.

Haha. I guess if I was speaking genetically, I would have to type every post using only 4 letters. DNA is made up of 4 letters, right? Science was/is not my forte.

Agreed. I’m just talking about his health situation and him leaving radio, as a human being. You can take or leave his body of work. I agree he should’ve covered the Billikens more. It is what is.

Hence, why he’s not doing radio anymore. But think about how the sports journalism landscape has changed over the last decade. I’m sure Bernie didn’t get into it to deal with trolls on social media. He’s been doing it for how many decades? Everything is different now, and for someone suffering from mental illness, it’s gotta be like torture. Whether you like his work or not, the situation kinda sucks. Not saying you’re a troll, just genetically speaking.

In the article, he discusses pretty severe depression. Not trying to tell anyone how they should feel about Bernie or his work, but I’m guessing it probably wasn’t exaggeration or hyperbole when he told you about being stressed out. Just sayin...

He’s been dealing with some health issues. He wrote an article about it in the Athletic in January (I’d send a link if I could, but it’s subscription). He talked about his energy being completely drained, among other things. Not surprising he’s not doing morning radio anymore.

I refuse to read this thread, but saw SShoe’s last post and wanted to post this from Twitter. If somebody already posted it, sorry, but I’m not gonna read through this thread to check.