The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-09

New Haven, Conn, March 9-The problems which confront college boards of admission are discussed in the report made to President James Rowland Angel by Professor Rob- ert N. Corwin. chairman of the boards of admission at Yale. Point ing out that under present condi- tions it is no longer possible to make provision for all applicants whose credentials show reasonably good preparation for college work, Dr Corwin says that Yale is finding it necessary to refuse admission each year to an increasing number of applicants who failed to finish tkeir secondary school course on schedule time and in regular order.
 Who shall go to college? is an even recurrent question among those engaged in educational york; Pro- lessor Corwin- says: "The solution, as far as it presents itself to boards of admission, would be simpler if schol- astic factors only were involved and if parents and pupil would accept as conclusive the returns as shown in the school and admission examina- ton records and would act on the frank opinion of those who have di- rected the latter's preparatory course.
 Under present conditions, where it is no longer possible to make provision for all applicants whose credentials show reasonably good preparation for college work, it has become more essential than hitherto to give constant attention to the validity of the measure employed for determining proficiency and achieve ment. With a complete record of the four-year preparatory period of each applicant in hand, it ought to be pos- sible to predict with some confidence the character of the applicants sub sequel college course. For the pur- pose of making it's evaluations more accurate, and it's predictions of suc- cess in college more reliable, the board of admissions with the aid of the department of personnel study undertook a few years ago study of the relative significance of the various evidences of fitness required of each applicant for admission. This study has covered the last four classes to complete the freshman year. The record of each student has been studied with view of learning the relative significance of his school record, college entrance examination board examination grades, scholastic aptitude test rat ing, his age, and his standing in his class.
 '"The results of this study have been Illuminating and helpful. It may be said, in general, that though the sources of motivation are in many cases obscure, it>has confirmed the close correlation between the quality of the four year school rec ord, as supplemented and check by certain sampling college entrance ex- board examinations, and the successful pursuit of a college course. Likewise, it has shown that the age and class rank are impor- tant factors in the record. All ad- mission tests are, accordingly, or should be, attempts to learn how we'll or ill the applicant has done his last job, that is. his four-year school course. The number of points or units collected and added to the rec- ord over a period of several years does not necessarily show adequate preparation and may even show the opposite"
 Professor Corwin says that much unhappiness results from the failure on the part of the pupils and par ents to recognize this close rela- tionship between the last scholastic task and the next to be undertaken.
 'The notion seems to prevail rather generally" he says, That an additional year of work at fitting school, specializing in smaller classes and individual instruction. will remedy any evidence of pre- vious lack of ability or incentive. It is, however, becoming less possible each year to give announcement to