Cal Football Academics Standards > UCLA Academics Standards!
There was a post up in this space last year about the different academic standards that recruits are held to at UCLA and Berkeley - the conclusion that I drew was that whatever data that exists was mostly inconclusive, despite what the denizens of Bruins Nation would have you believe.
But what if there were evidence from an actual printed publication, with quotes, and statistics and everything? That proved that Cal indeed has higher standards? To quote Bill Simmons, is that something that you’d be interested in?
From the Contra Costa Times:
So maybe my heading is a little misleading; I don’t believe that this in itself constitutes hard proof, just as I was reluctant to say that the information I found last year conclusively said that UCLA had higher standards. The data in that sample seemed to indicate that UCLA students had higher SAT scores and average GPAs, but the sample sizes were so small, with such insignificant differences that only the most biased of observers would attempt to say that was definitive proof.Some campuses use the "admission-by-exception" policy to enroll students from underperforming schools or low-income families. But other schools, most notably UCLA and UC Berkeley, use the exceptions primarily for athletes.
Berkeley granted 63 exceptions in 2007, about one-half of 1 percent of all admitted freshman applicants and the lowest number in at least 13 years. Two-thirds of those students were athletes.
UCLA accepted 167 ineligible students last year, or 1.4 percent of admitted freshmen. More than half were athletes.While in any given year, 20 percent to 25 percent of UC Berkeley’s athletes do not meet basic UC admissions standards, 40 percent of UCLA’s athletes are admitted by exception every year, including a peak of nearly 64 percent in 2005.
But it’s also important to recognize that this article doesn’t attempt to break down admitted athletes by the sport they’re coming in to play - obviously, football recruits tend to come in the largest numbers and have the most high profile recruitments, and their academic qualifications can be questionable, to say the least. The data that I found last year seems to indicate that it’s likely that nearly all of that 20-25% goes towards bringing in football recruits at Cal. But there are plenty of other college sports where both UCLA and Cal recruit players that may not have sterling academic backgrounds. Like, I don’t know. Basketball?
The teams that played in the Sweet 16 this year have some of the worst academic records in the country, particularly the top-seeded teams such as UCLA, where, on average, only 29% of men with basketball scholarships graduate within six years of enrolling.
None of this is supposed to mean that UCLA has terrible academic standards and that Cal’s are so high you’ll need to call up Allison Stokke for help. Far from it. As a matter of fact, here’s Exhibit 1: Brandon Mebane’s Wonderlic score.
There is more to the article, including quotes from Cal officials who maintain that they wouldn’t accept any student, athlete or otherwise, who wouldn’t be able to use their academic exemption to actually obtain their degree. So read the article yourself before coming to any conclusions. But when it comes down to it, the difference between 20-25% and 40% of athletes not being academically qualified is another borderline defensive line prospect or three who leaves the program after two years because he doesn’t feel the need to consistently make it to mandatory study sessions. Any big time program will find a way to accept any borderline players that they really want, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.
So…Cal exploits the loophole less? I’ll take it!
Comment by CJ — April 15, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
This whole pissing contest is a mug’s game. Both UC Berkeley and Fucla share almost identical standards (if that is defined as the minimum requirements for admission). SAT scores and GPAs of applicants do not affect the standards, but do affect the competition for spots. Anyone claiming that Fucla is more competetive, or that their student body is of a higher academic caliber than UC Berkeley is clearly brain damaged. That being said, this report does indicate that Fucla tends to enroll more “exceptions” than UC Berkeley - both overall and in their athletic departments. Make of that what you will.
Comment by SoCal Oski — April 15, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
PS: I’m not surprised this thread was started by the gang over at babybruins nation. The huge inferiority complex of those people is astounding. That chip on their shoulder must weigh a metric ton.
Comment by SoCal Oski — April 15, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
Am I the only one who doesn’t really care about this issue? I think that the statistic we should look at when measuring the success of our student-athletes is their graduation rate. Done and done.
Comment by CalBandGreat — April 15, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
Well, the official ‘graduation rate’ statistics have problems of their own, which is why I much prefer to look at the newer Academic Progress Rate (APR) statistics.
Still, your main point, CalBandGreat, is well taken. As long as Cal continues to admit student-athletes who are both willing and able to succeed in the classroom, and who will take advantage of the free education opportunity presented them, I couldn’t care less what those kids got on their SATs in high school. Last time I applied for a job, I didn’t bother to put my SAT score on my résumé, but I sure as heck put my Berkeley degree right near the top.
Comment by ragnarok — April 15, 2008 @ 2:49 pm
I actually put a naked photo of myself near the top of my resume!
Comment by TwistNHook — April 15, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
I knew there was a reason you’re the lowest paid lawyer in the Bay Area!
Comment by yellow fever — April 15, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
All I know (and care) is that Cal’s Computer Science is >>>> than UCLA’s
Comment by RR — April 15, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
Does anyone have any suggestions for another list of homemade colon cleanses? I don’t want to use the products from all these websites.
homemade colon cleanse list
Comment by Willson — June 5, 2009 @ 9:21 am