Is there a clearly superior alternative? Admitting students to college based on a single exam, as some countries do, concentrates the stress but may not reduce its quantity.
Yes, basing admissions on exam results is a better system. It judges students on their merits and nothing else. The exams also test what students will face in college/university, as well. Basing things on one set of exam results also avoids teaching the cynicism that comes with doing volunteer work because it looks good on an application or doing a summer internship because it will make good fodder for your essay.
Having two degrees from European universities, I agree that the system is stressful. It's also not perfect. But at least it's honest.
I think that some people missed my point: I know that admissions are more competitive than they used to be. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't sit down and think about the ramifications of teaching kids that so much of what they do should be about themselves.
I guess it really depends on what the college is hoping to achieve isn't it? If all that is important to the college is to turn out the most academically advanced students then using only exams for admissions is fine, however, I think that's not the ultimate goal of most colleges.
I think most colleges are looking to turn out successful individuals who are productive, happy, and strong in mind, body, and spirit. That is more likely to happen when the prospective student has already demonstrated they can achieve that criteria prior to college with college being an expansion and continuation rather than the start of everything but academic success.
Basing college admissions on exam results would certainly be an option, however, then look what we've forced students into doing for college admissions....doing nothing but study to the test in order to be competitive. Is that what we really want? Narrowing it completely down to how well you've studied / ability to meet the demands of one test? Do you think that makes for a well rounded and happy individual? Do we want students to wait until their in college to explore anything else but academics? I certainly don't.
