More dumbing Down

De Paul University will make it optional for applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. Instead they can write short essays that demonstrate non-cognitive traits such as "commitment to service", "leadership" and "ability to meet long term goals".

The university says:

'"Admissions officers have often said that you can't measure heart," said Jon Boeckenstedt, associate vice president for enrollment management. "This, in some sense, is an attempt to measure that heart."



Mr. Boeckenstedt expects the change to encourage applicants with high grade-point averages but relatively low ACT and SAT scores to apply—be they low-income students, underrepresented minorities, or otherwise. Moreover, he and his colleagues believe the new admissions option will allow them to better select applicants who are most likely to succeed—and graduate.'

De Paul's administrators are being extremely naive if they think that these attributes cannot be easily coached or faked. Bluntly, how much effort does it take to teach a student what to say on one of these essays compared to squeezing out a few more points on the SAT?