Selectivity
Parents often ask when looking at a college, how does it stack-up with other colleges, what is its ranking, how to compare, what accreditations does it hold and how qualified is the faculty?
KSU by the numbers:
| Average SAT for fall 2006 freshmen |
1071 |
| Average academic HS entering GPA fall 2006 |
3.16 |
| First year freshmen retention fall 2005 |
73% |
| KSU faculty with highest degree, 2006 |
74% |
| Fall 2006 applications denied/rejection |
38% |
KSU does not use class rank in the admission decision |
Honors, AP and IB courses are not weighted in the admission decision |
University System Freshmen Characteristics (click here)
There is no official standard by which all colleges and universities are measured. Urban legends tout that certain institutions are ranked higher than others, but no such generic or comprehensive yard stick exists. Typically, these recognitions are sorted by graduate, undergraduate and specialty certificates. However, many self-proclaimed agencies do attempt to recognize colleges for various features or performances. Typically these publications are for sell and are promoted highly to generate revenue for the publisher. They are advertised heavily and gain use by guidance counselors, anxious parents/students and others who need some way to narrow choices.
Frequently national publications such as US News and World Report, USA Today and "off to college handbooks" such as Barron's Guide to competitive colleges will showcase information that puts institutions in some order according to themes or how admission decisions are reached. (Perhaps the most tangible college rankings are those found in the sports page!)
Many questions are elusive and difficult to compare. For example: How many graduates gain admission to graduate school, who are your famous graduates, how many faculty hold notable chairs,
Colleges can be profiled, but criteria should be determined in advance and done carefully. Some examples of meaningful comparisons may include:
- Number and percent of full time faculty holding a terminal degree
- Average freshmen SAT or ACT scores
- Average high school grade point average or freshmen class
- Graduation or retention rates
- Average freshmen class size in core courses
- What is the admission denial or rejection ratio for fall term
- Is high school class rank seriously considered
- Are essays and honors courses weighted in the admission decision
- Student to instructional faculty ratio
- Number of years to complete graduation
- Demographics (Gender, Race, International, Region )
- Is there a fixed number of seats for entering freshmen
- What percent of classes are taught by graduate assistants
- Will financial need play a role in admission
- What study abroad opportunities are available
It is up to the family and individual to determine what battery of questions is most important to gain some measure of confidence regarding academic reputation and selection.
KSU holds its primary accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Additionally,KSU holds a number of professional endorsements for specific majors such as National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), National Association of Schools of Music, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) and many others.
The above is designed to help parents evaluate the fleeting question of rankings and how a college is placed in regard to selectivity. A great source to research vital data is the college or university Fact Book, typically published each year by the Office of Institutional Research.
KSU Fact Book: http://ir.kennesaw.edu/
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