Quantitude S7E11 Should Essays be Used in College Admissions? Maybe...
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Dec 9, 2025 A thought-provoking discussion unfolds about the role of college admission essays in evaluating candidates. The hosts liken essays to the final block of a Jenga tower, questioning their significance. They explore the essay's historical evolution and the impact of the Common App. Delving deeper, they debate whether essays reveal writing skills or personal traits. Concerns about equity and fairness arise, especially regarding AI's influence on authenticity in applications. The episode challenges listeners to consider if the essay burden is truly necessary.
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Define The Construct Before Using Essays
- Valid use of essays depends on clarity about which construct is being assessed.
- Without defined targets, it's unclear what essays truly measure or why they matter.
Rubrics Reveal Dual Writing And Character Targets
- Many colleges use rubrics with multiple dimensions like theme, voice, grammar, and structure to score essays.
- These rubrics reveal that essays target both writing mechanics and personal qualities.
Single Scores Mask Multi-Dimensional Judgments
- Some campuses collapse multiple rubric dimensions into a single overall score, complicating interpretation.
- Admissions offices invest significant reader training to reduce drift and improve consistency.
