Word: whitla
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College admissions officials who continue to use the SAT recognize that it reflects more than innate factors, but argue that it remains a valuable common denominator with which to compare different students. Dean K. Whitla, associate dean of admissions here and a testing expert, dismisses that outlook. The SAT, argues Whitla, is merely an achievement test in subjects like reading; he maintains that "you could throw all the verbal SAT and English Achievement questions in a basket and you probably wouldn't be able to separate them again...
...imperfect one--has spurred discussion of an even broader issue: whether any standardized test. SAT or Achievement, actually can illuminate a student's basic abilities. Many have charged that high scorers on any such test are likely to be well-off and to have attended better high schools. Whitla, however, dismisses the notion that there exist "bright and noble savages"--students who could succeed here academically in spite of preparation so poor that they could not do well on Achievements...
...argument surrounding the tests, then, seems to boil down to whether colleges should assess preparedness or try to compensate for possibly culturally biased tests. "If you want to know whether someone's qualified in chemistry," says Whitla, "you give him a chem exam." "If the color of your eyes will help me" decide between applicants here, says Peter H. Richardson, MIT's director of admissions, "then I'll take it on the color of your eyes...
...initial demographic study in January measured the percentage of residents participating in a varsity sport, Kirkland the leader, led with 45 9 percent, with next door neighbor Eliot close behind. This time around, Whitla relied on a little known admissions office statistic the rating the office gives to prospective applicants evaluating the likelihood that they will participate in varsity sports...
...officials dismay Whitla post lottery study found that the proportion of students top ranked as athletes by the admissions office actually jumped in Kirkland from 18 89 percent to 22.94 percent. The College average is 7 51 per cent next year's lowest House. Lowell is projected to have but 1 28 percent...