UC to verify personal statements

In response to controversy over the admissions process enacted
last year, the University of California will require applicants to
verify additional information in their applications.

Starting next fall, the university will check information found
in personal statements before guaranteeing admission, but it is
undecided how this will be accomplished.

The change was based upon increased public concern over the
accuracy of subjective, student-reported information, which now
plays a larger role in the admissions process.

While faculty and administrators say they trust the honesty of
applicants, they maintain that measures are needed because of the
increasing competitiveness in UC admissions.

“We recognize the need to verify information in order to
maintain the highest public confidence,” said Barbara Sawrey,
chairwoman of the committee releasing the report.

Applicants’ personal statements are often used to
demonstrate personal achievements and life challenges, which are
used along with academic criteria to decide who to admit in a
process known as comprehensive review.

Before comprehensive review’s passage last November, at
least 50 percent of applicants were accepted based on academics
alone.

The university already checks all students’ self-reported
academic information, which is the most important factor in
admissions.

Now, some believe that’s no longer enough. “They
should check a student’s personal statement,” said
Brandon Besch, a third-year electrical engineering student.
“It’s no different than checking anything else on the
application.”

The change to comprehensive review makes it more likely students
would consider cheating on their application, he said.

But early indications ““ including random checks by the UC
Office of the President and UC San Diego to investigate
applicants’ honesty ““ show that most students are not
lying on their applications.

Out of 681 students who had their admission offers rescinded,
only 17 offers were taken back because students lied on their
application, according to data from the university.

“I think students are typically very honest on what they
report in their application,” said UC press aide Hanan
Eisenman.

The random checks enacted last year only sampled a small portion
of the students who were admitted; it appears that the university
will not check every application this year.

When it implements the policy in 2003, the university plans on
verifying personal achievements such as extracurricular activities
and on some personal hardships such as poverty.

Very personal hardships, such as being the victim of a criminal
assault, would not be investigated.

It is also unclear whether there will be one procedure used by
all UC campuses, or whether each campus would decide on their own
method of verification.

UCLA Admissions Director Vu Tran declined to comment on the
changes. He said he felt uncomfortable commenting before the policy
is finalized.

Tran’s office does not decide how to change admissions
policy, it implements changes decided upon by the Academic Senate,
the association of UC faculty.

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