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• A debate about whether selective colleges should mandate students to submit an ACT or an SAT
• David Blobaum gives his backstory
• David says what his test score policy would be if he were working at a highly selective school
• Mark asks David what he thinks about using AP scores instead of SAT or ACT scores
• David gives some proof that colleges are using test scores
• David shares why selective colleges need to use test scores in their admissions decisions.
• Mark shares some other factors that can be used besides test scores that, in my opinion, are better to use than test scores
• Mark shares the primary reason why he is not in favor of test-mandatory admissions
• Mark shares a creative idea that he would like to see colleges use scores that allow some use of them without them having inappropriately too much weight in admissions decisions.
• Mark shares multiple other reasons why he is not in favor of a mandatory ACT or SAT policy
• David shares what he thinks about some of the other reasons Mark shares concerning why he is not an advocate of mandatory test score submission
• Mark shares his skepticism that the return to test scores is being motivated by a desire to admit under-represented students
• Dave shares why he believes it was courageous for colleges to return to test scores
• Mark shares how the overwhelming majority of admission officers at highly selective schools who read files do not want their college to return to requiring test scores, and they are discouraged if their institution returns to an ACT or SAT mandatory policy
• Mark shares a position that one of MIT’s competitors has that he agrees with
• Mark shares a reason why he does not believe using first year GPA is a valid way to see how well a non-test submitter is doing in college
• David pushes back a little and shares why there is some validity to looking at first year GPA
• David talks about the “big fish, small pond concept” that Malcolm Gladwell uses
• Mark pushes back by talking about individual autonomy over your own life decisions
• David shares the most compelling reason why he holds his view
• David and Mark talk about how test scores can increase your merit scholarship
• David goes on the hotseat
• Mark shares the perspective that one admission director with 38 years of experience has on test scores.

You can also listen on Episode 525, Episode 527, and Episode 529