Common App Archives — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal

College Admissions Essays Are Getting Shorter—and More Political

Feb 8, 2021 · Anthony Hennen · No Comments

The college admissions essay can be a stressful part of the application process for students. Like standardized test scores, however, their influence is waning. Many colleges have stopped requiring them. Even when they do, essays tend to be short—more like personal statements than a longer and more serious piece of writing. On the bright side, … Continue reading “College Admissions Essays Are Getting Shorter—and More Political”

How the One-Size-Fits-All College Application Model Hurts Homeschoolers

Jan 29, 2018 · George Ehrhardt · 13 Comments

The season for college admissions is upon us. My younger daughter is still a junior but her public school teammates are all abuzz with chatter of who applied where, who’s already heard, how much more work everyone has left on their remaining applications. We homeschool, though, and among her homeschool friends, you could hear a … Continue reading “How the One-Size-Fits-All College Application Model Hurts Homeschoolers”

UNC Transfer Students Will No Longer Miss Out on Hard-Earned Credit Mar 8, 2021
Few things are more discouraging than seeing one’s hard work go to waste—a set-back with which many transfer students are familiar. All too often, transfer students must retake courses because their credits are not accepted at the new institution. This usually happens either because the new college doesn’t accept a course (known as “credit loss”), … Continue reading “UNC Transfer Students Will No Longer Miss Out on Hard-Earned Credit”
Did You Know? The UNC BOG Nominations Process Mar 4, 2021
Some new faces might be on the UNC Board of Governors this year, as 12 members’ four-year terms are set to expire. The state’s Senate and House of Representatives will each be able to fill six open positions. They may choose to reappoint or replace current members. The nomination process in the Senate is currently … Continue reading “Did You Know? The UNC BOG Nominations Process”
This Case Gives the Supreme Court a Chance to Protect Campus Free Speech Mar 3, 2021
Over the last 30 years, federal courts have consistently ruled that restrictive speech codes and minuscule free speech zones on college campuses violate the First Amendment. So, why do college administrators continue to create and enforce such policies? The answer is that they face no penalty for doing so. A case that arose back in … Continue reading “This Case Gives the Supreme Court a Chance to Protect Campus Free Speech”

This Case Gives the Supreme Court a Chance to Protect Campus Free Speech Mar 3, 2021
Over the last 30 years, federal courts have consistently ruled that restrictive speech codes and minuscule free speech zones on college campuses violate the First Amendment. So, why do college administrators continue to create and enforce such policies? The answer is that they face no penalty for doing so. A case that arose back in … Continue reading “This Case Gives the Supreme Court a Chance to Protect Campus Free Speech”
Why Universities Should Not Be Anti-Racist Feb 24, 2021
During the last year, many universities throughout North America have declared “anti-racism” to be their official policy. Consider this sample of quotations. “We must ask how Princeton can address systemic racism in the world, and we must also ask how to address it within our own community.” —Christopher L. Eisgruber, president, Princeton University. “The University … Continue reading “Why Universities Should Not Be Anti-Racist”
How the College Board Mangles the Teaching of History Feb 19, 2021
The College Board is a not-for-profit company that has a great deal of influence over American education. Its Scholastic Aptitude Test (the SAT) is the most widely used test for assessing the college readiness of students, and its many Advanced Placement exams allow students to show that they have learned subjects well enough not to … Continue reading “How the College Board Mangles the Teaching of History”

UNC Transfer Students Will No Longer Miss Out on Hard-Earned Credit Mar 8, 2021
Few things are more discouraging than seeing one’s hard work go to waste—a set-back with which many transfer students are familiar. All too often, transfer students must retake courses because their credits are not accepted at the new institution. This usually happens either because the new college doesn’t accept a course (known as “credit loss”), … Continue reading “UNC Transfer Students Will No Longer Miss Out on Hard-Earned Credit”
The Edifice Complex Is a Threat to University Budgets Mar 5, 2021
According to one recent estimate, American colleges in the last few years, in a period of extraordinary enrollment decline, have added 70 million square feet of new instruction and research facilities on their campuses. That is more space than in 10 Pentagons, the largest office facility in the U.S. Yet enrollments for fall 2020 had … Continue reading “The Edifice Complex Is a Threat to University Budgets”
Did You Know? The UNC BOG Nominations Process Mar 4, 2021
Some new faces might be on the UNC Board of Governors this year, as 12 members’ four-year terms are set to expire. The state’s Senate and House of Representatives will each be able to fill six open positions. They may choose to reappoint or replace current members. The nomination process in the Senate is currently … Continue reading “Did You Know? The UNC BOG Nominations Process”