Should Kansas University raise its admission standards above that of other in-state universities? / LJWorld.com

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Asked at Hastings, 1900 W. 23rd St. on November 27, 2004

“I think they should lower their tuition instead of raising the admission standards.”

— Bill Stoneback, account manager, Lawrence

“No. Everyone in Kansas should be able to go to a good school, even if they didn’t do well in high school or on entrance exams.”

— Barbara Dixon, trainer, Lawrence

“Personally, I think that they should leave them where they are at or lower them. The level of education isn’t any higher. I think people are getting tired of paying more for less.”

— Robert Mosely, retired engineer, Lawrence

“I believe they should leave them where they are at. It should be the same as at any other state college.”

— Ernest Gresham, self-employed, Lawrence

Discussion

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27 November 2004
at 9:09 a.m.

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mrcairo (Anonymous) says…

KU sells itself as some fancy-schmancy institution but all it takes to get in is money. That's why you have so many drunk students in accidents. That's why you have a low wage-based work force. Anybody with 1/2 a brain wouldn't work for the wages you get paid in this town. That's why we all have to drive 40 miles each way to make a living.

If KU raised the bar, then the intellectual level of the town would rise to what people think it is. Frankly, I'm not impressed at all. Having lived in New York and Chicago and Miami and San Francisco, I can tell you first hand this town is just a cow-town.
27 November 2004
at 9:34 a.m.

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Janesays (Anonymous) says…

KU should most definitely raise its admission standards. If KU wants to present itself as a major research based university it will need to address its national reputation. Increasing the admission requirements will raise that national reputation. If students that do not meet the requirements to go to KU out of high school a network of community colleges(or perhaps KSU) can answer their needs. If they still want to go to KU they can show their merit at the JUCO level and apply to KU.

We live in Michigan now and the University of Michigan sets the standard as a high demand, highly selective public university. This brings in top caliber students. The University's reputation is known worldwide. This allows UM to compete for federal and private research money, which in turn brings in the best professional staff.

KU should emulate UM and raise its standards. This will bring in a stronger student body, more research money, and a more positive national reputation.
27 November 2004
at 10:49 a.m.

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lunacydetector (Anonymous) says…

i had no idea that the university of michigan had a reputation known worldwide, other than being one of the largest universities with 42,000 students. it sounds to me like they still let anyone in.
27 November 2004
at 11:38 a.m.

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commuter (Anonymous) says…

What would raising the admission standards do the the athletic department?

They shgould commission a study on that before they start talking aboutincreasing the standards.

I wonder how many tutors the athletic department employs?

I know at KSU a good quarterback really needed them to help him play.
27 November 2004
at 12:57 p.m.

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Kevin (Anonymous) says…

The answer to this question lies in the direction the University is trying to move.

Without question KU should raise the admissions standards relative to other Kansas state universities. KU has been purported in some circles as the “Harvard of the midwest”, but currently does not even make the top 50 (or top 80) national universities according the standard ranking publication, U.S. News and World Report. And to accentuate the problem further, the University of Missouri ranks higher than KU.

There are many variables that contribute to a higher ranking. Admissions standards (=selectivity) is one of them. Admissions standards translate into every facet of a university's complexion. There are enough state universities in Kansas (Kansas State, Fort Hays State, Emporia State, Pittsburgh State to name a few) to accomodate those individuals who may have not had the opportunities to meet and exceed particular academic challenges, but there should be at least one university in the state that heralds the best of the best from Kansas, as well as the best from other places throughout the country.

As a member of KU '93, I was appalled to see how my alma mater ranked nationally. KU, the flagship, should be in the top 50 without exception, and raising the standard of admissions is the first step.
27 November 2004
at 3:21 p.m.

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Hong_Kong_Phooey (Anonymous) says…

Man…the Journal World has GOT to come up with better topics than these…
27 November 2004
at 7:33 p.m.

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DaREEKKU (Anonymous) says…

I think that the University of Kansas should focus more attention on financial matters at this time. I'm a student of a middle class family in bankruptcy and they still REFUSE to give me the money I need JUST to even cover tuition, let alone books and living expenses. Before you look at admitting people, why not take care of the people already here?

27 November 2004
at 9:11 p.m.

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dovetonm (Anonymous) says…

As a KU graduate, I am proud that the University admissions standards are lower than the “top” universities in the country. By doing this, KU allows each individual a chance to excel despite less than stellar academic histories. If you can do well at KU than you can do well in the “real world”. A university graduate shouldn't rely on the pretentious ranking of an alma mater to succeed.
12 January 2008
at 7:14 p.m.

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toefungus (Anonymous) says…

KU should be proud of its graduates like Wittig and most of the directors at Westar. Yep, any higher standards and those Boys may never had gotten the opportunity to go to jail, I mean, school.
24 December 2008
at 10:55 p.m.

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jamestcastle (Anonymous) says…

KU should absolutely raise its admission requirements to at least a 3.0 or higher and a 24 on the ACT for automatic admission of in-state (3.3 and a 26 for out-of-state) applicants. Individuals who didn't do well in high school and failed to compensate for it by not preparing for the one test that could get them into a good school should not be given an opportunity at KU. That's why Kansas has schools like Wichita State, Pitt. State, K-State, and even JCCC. The campus at KU is comparable to any in the nation and enough to attract a diverse pool of students. The drop-out rate is high. Why do you think that is? A sizable amount of freshmen aren't prepared for the rigor at KU. Attracting athletes should not be an issue. That's why we have scholarships. If those athletes don't qualify for those scholarships, then maybe KU is better off not having their half-witted star athletes drinking on campus and shooting women with BB guns.