Thousands of Brazilian students will retake their university entrance examination after some test papers were printed with mistakes, said Joaquim José Soares Neto, president of the exam’s organizing body. Less than 1 percent of the multiple-choice exams had mixed-up sections on the sciences, and many of the students who got the bad tests complained and were given replacements. But an estimated 2,000 did not and will be permitted to retake the exam. Some 3.7 million students took the exam this weekend, which was revamped two years ago to democratize entry into Brazil’s publicly financed universities. However, the test has been beset by problems. Last year, it had to be rewritten after it was leaked, and earlier this year a computer glitch made the personal data of millions of students available online.
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4 Responses to About 2,000 Brazilian Students Will Retake Problem-Filled University Entrance Exam
Trey Medley - March 1, 2011 at 7:07 am
I would add that it helps if the admissions representative at least pretends to want to students to attend his/her university. I recall in high school 2 very different presentations from college admissions counselors. One was from an elite school in the area (top 10 US, top 25 worldwide) that basically told students they shouldn’t bother applying because the school wanted to increase diversity by going outside the area. The other was from a state school where a significant percentage of the student body always went. That representative spent the entire time talking about the application process (often going over painfully obvious details), apparently assuming everyone in the room had already chosen to go, and neglected to state why anyone should consider going there in the first place (everyone in the room was in the fall semester of their junior or sophomore year, though, so a good ways from applying). Of my high school friends, none applied to the state school and only one applied to the local elite, and he decided to go elsewhere (a different elite) because of the impression (he told me) given him by the admissions representative.
kingericred4ever - March 1, 2011 at 10:07 am
I wouldn’t go to a high school that would set me up in a lunchroom, as I would tend to take that as a sign both that they weren’t interested in building a relationship and my very presence was something of a burden to them but yet they could still claim that their high school was a popular choice with colleges because x number visited last year. I think anyone who does nothing but give the same 30 minute presentation over and over again or the same 10 minute presentation over and over again is not really doing a good job. Here’s a radical concept. How about having a conversation with the students? If everyone in the room has already visited your campus, there’s no point in regurgiating the intro to your information session. If most of the students in the room are juniors, then it’s pointless to spend the whole time talking about the app process. If you’re in the room where no one will have a chance to visit before applying, then you should talk about campus culture and paint verbal pictures of what they’re likely to expect if they should enroll. It the end it isn’t about uniqueness at all. I could say my college has the only program in America where you can major in James Franco studies but I haven;t really told you anything about what it’s like to go there. In the end, It’s about giving the student’s a sense of who’s a good fit for the school and what factors we use to evaluate their application. And encouraging them to visit. Or to contact us if they have any questions. Or one of our local alums. Or one of our student workers. And to like us on our admissions facebook page.
mariemrafa - March 1, 2011 at 11:52 am
It’s not always up to the college admissions counselor when they can visit a school and the time of day. In my state, most of my schools have had at least 15 snow days if not more plus numerous delays. Teachers, principals, and counselors were already hesitant to take students out of class for a more personal visit, but after missing half a month of classes, I often have to set up in a lunchroom during the feasting time. I’d rather sit down and talk to students instead of give a general presentation. If given the chance, I always opt for taking questions first because that gives me an idea of what the students want to know about my university. It’s not that admissions counselors aren’t interested (there will always be bad apples in a group); it’s the constraints of the schools. I try not to show my disappointment in a lunchroom visit because I hardly get any students to come talk to me, but for those brave enough, they get the information they want.
sand6432 - March 2, 2011 at 9:02 pm
“And, because low-tech outreach matters, too, why not bring young alumni along to talk to students?” This is a good suggestion (though it needn’t be limited to just young alumni). Alumni are already involved in interviewing students once they have already applied. It would be a simple extra step to involve some of them earlier in the process, too. I am myself right now proactively recruiting a top science student in North Texas who is in her junior year with the support of the Admissions Office at Princeton. I would be happy to accompany an admissions officer to some schools in this area and help answer questions while providing a perspective of a proud alumnus that would supplement what the admissions staff can provide.—Sandy Thatcher