September 10, 2008

Admissions: Who makes a habit of special admits?

There was a lot of attention on admissions this summer, especially in the wake of the SEC's decision to lower its minimum admission standards to be in line with the NCAA admissions policies. One of the area's that was not under the microscope (until now, of course) is the case for "special admissions".

The Indy Star contacted FBS schools in an attempt to determine what percentage of football players (and scholarship atheletes, in general) were admitted despite falling below a university's minimum academic standards.

The results? Shocking.

At Cal, 95% of the football players admitted during the 2004-2005 year were special admissions. Georgia ('99-'00) and Texas A&M ('04-'05) both had 94% special admissions. On the opposite end of the spectrum, sixteen of the fifty-five responding schools -- including several of the nation's elite football schools -- did not have any special admits at all (Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Purdue, Texas Tech, Connecticut, Minnesota, Texas, Colorado, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Ohio State).

Here's a rundown of the schools with special admits that did comply with the request:

Alabama - 21%
Arizona - 33%
Auburn - 12%
Cal - 95%
Floirda - 18%
Florida State - 65%
Georgia - 94%
Georgia Tech - 9%
Indiana - 42%
Iowa - 41%
Iowa State - 21%
Kentucky - 64%
LSU - 82%
Louisville - 38%
Missouri - 61%
NC State - 25%
Oklahoma - 81%
Texas A&M - 94%
Washington - 48%
Washington State - 60%
West Virginia - 23%

Schools with zero special admissions reported in the football department:
Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Purdue, Texas Tech, Connecticut, Minnesota, Texas, Colorado, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Ohio State

I'm impressed that some of the higher ranked academic schools aren't taking any special admits. That's impressive. Then again, there's a time and place for special admits. All, college is about lifting people up right? I don't know where you draw the line, but 95% special admits is insane.

Comments:

Admissions: Who makes a habit of special admits?
There was a lot of attention on admissions this summer, especially in the wake of the SEC's decision to lower its minimum admission standards to be in line with the NCAA admissions policies. One of the area's that was not under the microscope (until now, of course) is the case for "special admissions". The Indy Star contacted FBS schools in an attempt to determine what percentage of football players (and scholarship atheletes, in general) were admitted despite falling below a university's minimum academic standards. The results? Shocking. At Cal, 95% of the football players admitted during the 2004-2005 year were special admissions. Georgia ('99-'00) and Texas A&M ('04-'05) both had 94% special admissions. On the opposite end of the spectrum, sixteen of the fifty-five responding schools -- including several of the nation's elite football schools -- did not have any special admits at all (Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Purdue, Texas Tech, Connecticut, Minnesota, Texas, Colorado, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Ohio State). Here's a rundown of the schools with special admits that did comply with the request: Alabama - 21% Arizona - 33% Auburn - 12% Cal - 95% Floirda - 18% Florida State - 65% Georgia - 94% Georgia Tech - 9% Indiana - 42% Iowa - 41% Iowa State - 21% Kentucky - 64% LSU - 82% Louisville - 38% Missouri - 61% NC State - 25% Oklahoma - 81% Texas A&M - 94% Washington - 48% Washington State - 60% West Virginia - 23% Schools with zero special admissions reported in the football department: Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Purdue, Texas Tech, Connecticut, Minnesota, Texas, Colorado, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Ohio State I'm impressed that some of the higher ranked academic schools aren't taking any special admits. That's impressive. Then again, there's a time and place for special admits. All, college is about lifting people up right? I don't know where you draw the line, but 95% special admits is insane.