Purdue raises requirements
By Kurt Esposito
Assistant Campus Editor
Purdue has raised the academic standards for incoming
freshmen.
"We have gradually gotten progressively tighter
in how we interpret their overall academic performance," said Doug Christiansen,
assistant vice president for enrollment services.
Deb Swartz, associate director of admissions, said
the University will continue to scrutinize the academic records of students
to ensure the quality of Purdue and to manage the enrollment numbers.
Christiansen said the five admissions requirements
that are analyzed include the following: subject matter taken during
high school, class rank, grades in degree-related courses, academic
trends during high school and test scores.
The number of required semesters taken in high
school in math, English and science vary for each school because each
has different fields of study.
Christiansen said it is still important to raise
the requirements for those subjects in each school to assure that each
student receives a well-rounded education.
Christiansen said subject matter is the most important
aspect to look at because the number of courses a student has taken,
as well as his or her grades toward the end of high school, are the
best predictors for a student's college career.
He said it is important for students to have taken
as many courses as possible in high school to ensure they will be prepared
for college.
"Really the best preparation for a student is strong
college courses," said Christiansen.
Most other universities are raising their admissions
requirements as well.
Christiansen said this benefits high schools because
they can offer more courses to better prepare their students for college.
He said Purdue is partners with the state of Indiana
in the Core 40 program, which requires high schools to provide more
math, English, science and foreign language courses.
"It's to get more kids in high school to take more
courses because again that's the best predictor for success," said Christiansen.
For the 2002 fall semester the Office of Admissions
will again raise the requirements, and for the 2004 fall semester some
of the academic schools will require at least four semesters of foreign
language.
Christiansen said the Office of Admissions is raising
requirements gradually so high schools have time to offer new courses
and students have the opportunity to take them.
Swartz said it is important for high schools to
have time to prepare to offer those courses to ensure the students will
be prepared when Purdue again raises its academic requirements.
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