WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEW
WRITING SECTION?
"It promotes writing across the board. I do worry how school systems will take it. Will they teach to the test as opposed to just teaching with more writing in their overall curriculum? "
- Jennifer G. Fondiller, dean of admissions, Barnard College
"It sort of lumps writing in with rote learning."
- Michele Eodice, University of Oklahoma
"If it means schools are more focused a little bit on the issues of writing and rhetoric, that's a good thing."
- Richard Shaw, Stanford University
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON TAKING SAT PREPARATION COURSES?
"I wouldn't say I would endorse them. Ideally, a school has adequate instruction that a student is taught to do well on the SAT or ACT."
- Ron Dietel (UCLA)
"If you don't have the funds [to have the coaching paid for or retake the test] or you don't want to spend the money on that, there are other areas I'd recommend - music lessons, joining the band. There are lots of other ways to express your talents and get into college."
- Michele Eodice, University of Oklahoma
"I do think they help those who have test anxiety. I've talked to students who have done better after taking those courses. Is it a necessity? That's up to the individual student."
- Lisa Pinamonti Kress, University of Kansas
"Nothing is going to replace a lot of reading and writing."
- Dan Saracino, assistant provost/admissions, Notre Dame University
"It reflects some inequity in society. It's a billion-dollar industry, and it feeds to some extent the anxiety of parents and their kids. There are lots of kids with low-income backgrounds who don't have access to it, and school districts can help with that."
- Richard Shaw, Stanford University