Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Colleges Drop SAT Bar for Jocks

Athletes score 220 points lower on SAT than average classmate

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Dec 29, 2008 3:13 AM CST

(Newser) – Though athletes have long enjoyed a break on college admissions, new numbers on how far they lag behind other students on SAT scores have raised concerns of fairness. Nationwide, football jocks average 220 points lower on the SAT than their classmates at 54 universities studied by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Basketball players score 7 points lower than the gridiron stars. The disparity is widest at winning schools. Football players at the University of Florida fall a record 346 points short of the average SAT score.

Coaches insist that recruited athletes must be evaluated more broadly, and argue that sports discipline translates into a competitive edge in the classroom. But athletes often get shuffled into "Mickey Mouse courses, and graduate semi-literate," said a University of California professor. Also hurt are those students rejected to make room for substandard jocks.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Florida State running back Carlton Jones celebrates with fans after a win. The gap is greatest between University of Florida football players' SAT scores and the average student's. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Coaches argue that a competitive team must evaluate its recruits on more than SAT scores. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I met very, very few certifiably dumb jocks. The discipline they had learned in sports they could apply full time.
- Murray Sperber, author of four books on college athletics and student life

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

'Jocks Only' Tutoring Centers Irk Others on Campus

Critics say investing in flashy, athletes-only centers is unfair to other students

(NEWSER) - Resentment is building as college athletic tutoring centers nationwide get bigger and flashier, the Chicago Tribune reports. Critics say that the multi-million-dollar, athletes-only centers should be open to all. Some suggest that, since the centers are generally funded and run by the athletic department, they create a conflict of interest; a number have been accused of giving athletes a bit too much of a helping hand with homework. More»

Chinese Flock to US Colleges

Growing middle class attracted by American system's reputation

(NEWSER) - The population of Chinese students in the US has soared in recent years, the Washington Post reports, driven by a US reputation for top-notch education and an expanding Chinese middle class. For years, Chinese undergrads in the US numbered about 9,000; in 2007, that figure surged to some 16,000. “People just think the education offered in the US is undoubtedly the best in the world,” said one student. More»

Throw Out SAT, Say College Deans

Panel recommends move away from standardized testing

(NEWSER) - Colleges should make admissions decisions without requiring the SAT or ACT, says a group of deans led by Harvard's admissions chief in a yearlong study that concluded standardized tests distort students' high school experiences, exacerbate class disparities, and enrich only the billion-dollar test prep industry. Instead, say the admissions officers, colleges should place greater emphasis on high school coursework and introduce a new, broader achievement test. More»

Road to Ivy Paved With Rejection Letters

Thin-letter notices reach students in record numbers

(NEWSER) - The dreaded thin letter from college admissions offices is cluttering mailboxes in record numbers this year, but you'd think the elite of the elite would be safe. Not so, reports the Austin American-Statesman, which talks to local top students, including one who capped his impressive high school record with perfect scores on his SAT and ACT but failed to sway Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, and others. More»

Average SAT Score Slips Again

College Board dismisses 'a couple points,' touts test-takers' diversity

(NEWSER) - The average SAT score for 2007 was the lowest in years, but that's not necessarily bad news. Scores from round two of the revamped college-entrance exam declined an average of seven points nationwide, which the College Board chalks up to greater participation, particularly among students who weren't on a traditional college-prep path, the AP reports. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Colleges Drop SAT Bar for Jocks