Back to Front PageVOLUME 6, NUMBER 4

Readers Respond

How will the current national discussion about standardized tests – sparked by the University of California's recent proposal to eliminate the aptitude version of the SAT for use in admissions – impact the usefulness of admissions tests for undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools?

The current debate will be interesting to follow. On the one hand is the position that standardized tests such as USMLE drive medical school curricula, something these examinations were never intended to do. On the other hand, grade inflation and the Buckley Amendment make assessing one’s potential for medical school difficult. Perhaps the debate will help find ways to assess performance in a timely manner, reducing our dependence on standardized tests.

N. Barry Berg, Ph.D.
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
State University of New York Upstate
Medical University

For minority students, standardized tests have not proven to be an accurate predictor of academic achievement or future academic success. At the Medical College of Georgia, our data clearly indicate that minority students admitted with MCAT scores in the low- to mid-20s perform well during their first two years of medical school, and, for the past five years, the overwhelming majority of them passed the USMLE on the first try. Our data also show that these students do not need academic support to the extent that their majority peers do. I applaud the state of California for taking such a bold step toward leveling the playing field.

Rosie Allen Noble, Ed.D.
Associate Dean, Special Academic Programs
Associate Professor, Cellular
Biology and Anatomy Medical College of Georgia

As grades are difficult to interpret due to grade inflation and creative curricula, we have to rely on some standard to make the decision to admit or not. Without a standard that we can point to, it will be difficult to defend choosing one applicant over another, leading to disputes over admissions. The MCAT is not perfect, but it serves a valuable role and should be maintained.

James Harper, M.D.
Associate Professor, Pediatric
Hematology-Oncology
Director, Undergraduate Medical Education in Pediatrics
University of Nebraska Medical Center

The discussion should be academic rather than political. It seems to me that the discussion has been politicized and entangled with many current issues such as race. Keep in mind that some problems may be caused by misuse or abuse of a standardized test, which we cannot blame the test for. It’s also important to distinguish between aptitude and achievement tests.

Shiping (Sam) Zong, Ph.D.
University of Washington

The University of Massachusetts Medical School will continue to use the MCAT scores as one piece of evidence of applicants’ ability to perform in the academic environment of medical school. We place more emphasis on grade-point average, competitiveness of the undergraduate program, recommendation letters, interviews, and personal statements as well as service to the community, extracurricular activities, and work record. However, it has been our experience that when students are admitted with MCAT scores well below the national average, they do not thrive in medical school.

John A. Paraskos, M.D.
Associate Dean, Admissions
Professor, Medicine
University of Massachusetts Medical School

Elimination of one aptitude admissions test increases the perceived importance of the remaining tests. To do away with admissions tests in general will lead to a decline in the quality of admissions. The absence of standardized tests will benefit the wealthy, well-connected graduates of private schools with small professor/student ratios and well-prepared portfolios and letters of recommendation. We need to reinvigorate the SAT, not suppress it. If it must be replaced, we need to replace it with an examination that serves the needs of the community in the 21st century.

Ben Bornsztein, Ph.D.
Director, Medical Education Research
Department of Medicine, Hennepin
County Medical Center
University of Minnesota Medical School

Next month’s question:

The AAMC and several other national organizations have announced their support of a new accrediting body for human research participant programs, a concept also recently endorsed by the Institute of Medicine. What impact will an accrediting effort have on clinical research?

Please send your responses (75 words or fewer) to Rachel Muir or fax to (202) 828-1123. Responses must be received by May 13 for consideration, and may be edited for length and clarity. Also, please include your title, institution, and any academic degrees. Select answers will be printed in the June edition of the AAMC Reporter.

 

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18 May 2001