If you thought getting into college was hard, think again — it’s getting harder.
Admission requirements in the state’s public universities are getting tougher, according to Guadalupe Lamadrid, Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid.
While some argue this is a way to bar minority students from attending a university, it’s a good move for state universities and should increase graduation rates.
As far as the University’s admission requirements go, core requirements for Fall 2012 were modified to be more in line with national peers, Lamadrid said.
Basically, the number of core classes needed to attend the University has increased from 18 to 19 and the amount of electives allowed to be taken have been replaced by classes in natural sciences and social sciences.
For example, instead of taking extra electives, high school students will have to select harder classes, like physics, anatomy and physiology, probability and statistics or law studies, among others.
The University is maintaining the current minimum requirements of 22 on the ACT and a 3.0 GPA, still the highest requirements in the state.
Though the University’s changes aren’t massive by any means, other universities will see more significant changes sweep their admissions.
Some will only consider “core” grade point averages rather than overall GPA, which, for many, means that those easy-A extracurricular classes in high school won’t pad their GPA.
Also for Fall 2012, four universities — LSU, Louisiana Tech, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and University of New Orleans — won’t accept students who need to take remedial classes. The rest of the state’s universities will follow suit in 2014.
Although it may seem like these changes will prevent people from getting a college education, they’ll do good for public universities’ graduation rates.
First, as many proponents of the change have argued, the changes should better prepare students for college.
Theresa Hay, Board of Regents associate commissioner of strategic activities, told The Advocate that higher standards will lead to greater graduation rates.
According to 2009 data from The National Center for Higher Education and Management System, Louisiana public colleges boast the fourth-worst average graduation rate in the nation — some even as low as 5 percent at Southern University at New Orleans.
Only 40.7 percent of people graduate within six years from universities. I think that figure speaks for itself.
Something needs to change.
The University currently has the highest graduation rate among public universities in the state — 61 percent — which is above the U.S. average of 55.5 percent, but still pretty low.
If the new admissions strategy goes as planned, students may be prepared to put the extra effort in their college courses and hopefully develop the determination needed to succeed and graduate.
The massive amount of community colleges and technical schools in the state proposes another reason for college admission standards to increase.
There are currently 16 community and technical colleges in Louisiana, and more than 80,000 students entered into Louisiana’s community college system in 2011.
This figure comprised about 35 percent of all undergraduates who entered college as freshmen, giving more evidence to the case for higher admission standards.
With higher admission standards, a substantial amount of applicants would be barred from admission into public universities immediately after high school.
And they should be barred.
These students would inevitably have to enter into community colleges, which generally offer open admissions. After spending time at a community college and proving they are willing to work hard for grades, they could transfer into a four-year public university and, with any luck, see more success than they did in high school.
If all goes as planned, Louisiana may see graduation rates increase in the near future.
If the state can boast public university graduation rates above the national average, it can only bring good press to Louisiana public education — typically not our strong point.
Instead of massive dropout rates and a reputation for subpar education, Louisiana will be put in a better light.
Tougher admission standards won’t hurt anyone. They’ll simply force students to try harder and be more determined — and that’s what college is all about.
Chris Grillot is a 20-year-old English and mass communication senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_cgrillot.
 
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Contact Chris Grillot at [email protected]