Funny Andrew Hawkins story

[borg]

No offense, but the SATs are the sham, as are most of the "standardized tests" that they give students nowadays.. Especially with all the changes that they've made to them over the past 2 decades..

I can understand your feelings regarding standardized testing (SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT, etc.) but I do recognize the value of these tests as an additional piece of information on a students application.
My youngest is currently enrolled in a summer long, semi private SAT course and there is no question in my mind, the more you spend the better the score....and that is the scam. At least it used to be.
Starting this past year, both SAT and ACT have created free online courses to minimize the economic unfairness that previously existed. The amount of free material/practice tests/video tutorials/etc is extensive and on par with private courses. In fact, many services have folded thanks to this change.
As you had mentioned, the tests have changed considerably over the years. It is my belief the test questions have evolved from vocabulary/definitions + math problems into critical thinking/application problems. Having helped my oldest with the old SAT three years ago and now my youngest as he prepares for the "New SAT"....the tests are night and day...and in my opinion a better measure now of one's ability to think verses regurgitate.
Which gets me to my next point and backed by the USA Today article I posted earlier talking about grade inflation. Here in Florida, at least in the public schools, most everyone gets all A's. Students who have flunked out of local private high schools often miraculously become Dean's list and Honor students as soon as they enter even the highest rated public high schools. Grade inflation is epidemic here and the best way to argue this is to point to the Class of 2020 at the University of Florida, considered the state's most academic public university. The middle 50% of admitted UF students have a 4.6 GPA. This average is higher than most every elite school in America....it's a joke. Even scarier, these high GPAs exist even after the colleges toss out non core classes designed to boost averages. The valedictorian at my kid's private high school with her 4.6 GPA (going to MIT) would be considered average at UF.
With 45,000 applicants every year who most likely have near perfect transcripts thanks to the sham of a system in place, the only tool to measure these students on an equal scale is the standardized test. It is what it is.

 

[borg]

Well, every year we hear about a few rookies who can't join OTAs/minicamp because of Stanford's quarterly academic year. So, sounds like they at least don't love to make exceptions. They damn well better hold their athletes to a high academic standard considering pretty much any good student would kill to go there (or at least get the bragging rights that come with an acceptance email).

I recently had a conversation with a former Harvard / Cornell admissions officer who was telling me about the considerable leeway the Ivies give for certain elite athletes.....900 SAT scores for basketball and hockey players is not uncommon. Slightly higher for football. He mentioned that the Ivies are emphasizing sports more than at any time in the past 50 years and thus the reach far below their typical standards. Essentially, coaches are required to meet a minimum average TEAM SAT score. To bring in a low test scoring "difference maker", the coach will recruit one or two geniuses to elevate the TEAM average and these geniuses will get parked on the bench. Go Crimson!!!

 

[Tony2046]

The sham begins much earlier than college.

My friend's son was a big time local high school athlete (not football) who was recruited by Notre Dame starting in 9th grade. Because of the heavy interest by Notre Dame and a half dozen other big time programs, the young man basically lived his sport 24/7/365 throughout high school and took the bare minimum and easiest courses possible that guaranteed both graduation and a high enough GPA necessary to get into his 1st choice...Notre dame. He rarely attended classes, taking online courses instead and during his senior year he only had to take one course to earn his diploma.
He ends up at Notre Dame earning an athletic scholarship that covers 90% of costs...and 2 weeks after graduation, he's on campus at ND taking the "athletes" summer school program specifically designed for jocks. And despite all the extra services provided by the athletic department for their "student athletes" including on call tutors, counselors, etc....this kid quickly realized he was not academically prepared for college........Go Figure

Locally, this athlete has been put on a pedestal. The high school teachers and administration proudly pat themselves on the back for successfully getting one of "their" students into such a prestigious university. The coaches have taken victory laps and used this kid's success as their most potent recruiting tool (public high schools recruit heavily where I live). What a sham!

Further evidence our education system is a sham....

A's on the rise in U.S. report cards, but SATs flounder

A few years ago I looked into this because of a debate regarding our town's school expenditures. I'm not arguing against your point but just want to add a few details that will change the perspective a bit.

Not every state pushes for students to take the SAT. Some states have a SAT participation rate as little as 3% compared to Massachusetts which is at approximately 85%.

The correlation between increasing A's and dropping SAT scores is a real concern but it's not a direct correlation. imo.

Further, NAEP scores have been increasing over the years. I'm not sure how A's and an NAEP test are related. I don't think they are.

During the last TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) which a global evaluation of each country the US ranked 10th overall. Massachusetts was evaluated as a country and ranked second overall. Both the US and Mass have improved in global rankings over the last couple of decades. So something is improving.

Finally, I do fear that relying too heavily on standardized testing to categorize the effectiveness of a school system may have it's consequences. One of this country's strengths over the rest of the world was its innovativeness. That needs to be fueled and is more important than a grade. Innovators create and get rewarded. Anything from the Slice-o-matic to landing on the moon with duct taped oxygen scrubbers and a leatherman. As long as that continues we'll be fine but with the increasing deportation of our manufacturing jobs I fear we are losing that battle.

 

[Tony2046]

I recently had a conversation with a former Harvard / Cornell admissions officer who was telling me about the considerable leeway the Ivies give for certain elite athletes.....900 SAT scores for basketball and hockey players is not uncommon. Slightly higher for football. He mentioned that the Ivies are emphasizing sports more than at any time in the past 50 years and thus the reach far below their typical standards. Essentially, coaches are required to meet a minimum average TEAM SAT score. To bring in a low test scoring "difference maker", the coach will recruit one or two geniuses to elevate the TEAM average and these geniuses will get parked on the bench. Go Crimson!!!

IMO, I couldn't care less about an athletes SAT score or how he got into school. I do understand the complaint. Athletes are given scholarships to play a sport. It's what they chose to do in life and it's what they are good at. The rest of the non athlete student body got into the school academically. That's what they chose to do and it's what they are good at. The school is providing a means to a successful career for both. I'm not sure how you would get rid of it. You either have an athletic department with students who should be doctors and lawyers or one with students who are athletes.

 

[jah]

IMO, I couldn't care less about an athletes SAT score or how he got into school. I do understand the complaint. Athletes are given scholarships to play a sport. It's what they chose to do in life and it's what they are good at. The rest of the non athlete student body got into the school academically. That's what they chose to do and it's what they are good at. The school is providing a means to a successful career for both. I'm not sure how you would get rid of it. You either have an athletic department with students who should be doctors and lawyers or one with students who are athletes.

I just think that if a school's athletic program is to be that far separated from the rest of the departments, it might as well be another organization entirely. Like...an amateur league. But that would make far too much sense.

 

[Tony2046]

I just think that if a school's athletic program is to be that far separated from the rest of the departments, it might as well be another organization entirely. Like...an amateur league. But that would make far too much sense.

Sure that would be great but it would also mean tearing apart a rooted system that is also a gateway for many kids out of a less than promising future.

If I were to scrutinize anything about the "sham system" it would be the profits these universities get from their athletic products and whether or not the players should receive more in compensation.

 

[jah]

Sure that would be great but it would also mean tearing apart a rooted system that is also a gateway for many kids out of a less than promising future.

If I were to scrutinize anything about the "sham system" it would be the profits these universities get from their athletic products and whether or not the players should receive more in compensation.

I certainly agree 100% about the profits. I think they deserve a piece of that. However, if you do that, you're pretty much all the way at a minor league system already. I'd imagine this, as a replacement for highly monetized and specialized college sports, would be a less deceptive system that accomplishes the same goal of providing opportunities for young people who need them. If you can get an SEC scholarship, you can get a minor league deal.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Hawkins deserves a long look simply due to his determination to play in the NFL. 5'6" and not only does he make a few rosters after a ton of obstacles that would drive most others to give up, he gets a multi-million dollar contract. That's truly amazing.

If his drive to win a title matches his drive to be in the NFL, Pats might have gotten a steal.

Regards,
Chris

 

[The Brandon Five]

I can understand your feelings regarding standardized testing (SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT, etc.) but I do recognize the value of these tests as an additional piece of information on a students application.
My youngest is currently enrolled in a summer long, semi private SAT course and there is no question in my mind, the more you spend the better the score....and that is the scam. At least it used to be.
Starting this past year, both SAT and ACT have created free online courses to minimize the economic unfairness that previously existed. The amount of free material/practice tests/video tutorials/etc is extensive and on par with private courses. In fact, many services have folded thanks to this change.
As you had mentioned, the tests have changed considerably over the years. It is my belief the test questions have evolved from vocabulary/definitions + math problems into critical thinking/application problems. Having helped my oldest with the old SAT three years ago and now my youngest as he prepares for the "New SAT"....the tests are night and day...and in my opinion a better measure now of one's ability to think verses regurgitate.
Which gets me to my next point and backed by the USA Today article I posted earlier talking about grade inflation. Here in Florida, at least in the public schools, most everyone gets all A's. Students who have flunked out of local private high schools often miraculously become Dean's list and Honor students as soon as they enter even the highest rated public high schools. Grade inflation is epidemic here and the best way to argue this is to point to the Class of 2020 at the University of Florida, considered the state's most academic public university. The middle 50% of admitted UF students have a 4.6 GPA. This average is higher than most every elite school in America....it's a joke. Even scarier, these high GPAs exist even after the colleges toss out non core classes designed to boost averages. The valedictorian at my kid's private high school with her 4.6 GPA (going to MIT) would be considered average at UF.
With 45,000 applicants every year who most likely have near perfect transcripts thanks to the sham of a system in place, the only tool to measure these students on an equal scale is the standardized test. It is what it is.

Not arguing your larger point, but part of the what is happening with state universities might have to do with the annual cost being $40k vs, $80k at an "elite" school. Elite schools are also part of the whole grade inflation wave, as well.

More than half of Harvard's most recent graduates had an A- GPA or better

 

[Tony2046]

I certainly agree 100% about the profits. I think they deserve a piece of that. However, if you do that, you're pretty much all the way at a minor league system already. I'd imagine this, as a replacement for highly monetized and specialized college sports, would be a less deceptive system that accomplishes the same goal of providing opportunities for young people who need them. If you can get an SEC scholarship, you can get a minor league deal.

I agree that would be great but so wouldn't getting rid of lobbyists. Both are so deeply rooted that I just don't think doing it is possible without a major social uprising of some sort.

 

[n1997y]

Hawkins deserves a long look simply due to his determination to play in the NFL. 5'6" and not only does he make a few rosters after a ton of obstacles that would drive most others to give up, he gets a multi-million dollar contract. That's truly amazing.

If his drive to win a title matches his drive to be in the NFL, Pats might have gotten a steal.

Regards,
Chris

Plus he's the guy who just got a Masters in Sports Management from Columbia, reportedly with a 4.0 GPA after commuting to Columbia from LA, where he was interning with LeBron's personal manager. Story I saw said he'd fly from LA to NY in the morning, attend back-to-back-to-back classes and then fly back to the West Coast. I suspect he would've paid the Patriots to have the chance to attend Belichick's finishing school...

I hope he makes the roster. Whether he does or not, I'm betting wherever he lands will benefit from his presence.

 

[n1997y]

With 4.0 GPA from Columbia, WR Andrew Hawkins eyeing multiple NFL jobs

Browns wideout Andrew Hawkins goes back to school

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Plus he's the guy who just got a Masters in Sports Management from Columbia, reportedly with a 4.0 GPA after commuting to Columbia from LA, where he was interning with LeBron's personal manager. Story I saw said he'd fly from LA to NY in the morning, attend back-to-back-to-back classes and then fly back to the West Coast. I suspect he would've paid the Patriots to have the chance to attend Belichick's finishing school...

I hope he makes the roster. Whether he does or not, I'm betting wherever he lands will benefit from his presence.

This guy is driven. I expect to hear his post-career success story someday.

Regards,
Chris

 

[supafly]

Cooks, Edelman, Mitchell and Slater are locked in.

Hawkins would have to take either Hogans or Almendolas job. Hogan had a great year in 2016 and is a long hitter average 17 yards per reception. Almemdola averages about 10 yards per reception.and just took a paycut.

Both make pretty much the same money for 2016. - 3 million.
Hawkins counts for about 1 million.

This is assuming that there aren't any injuries, obviously. It's good to have him as the next man up all summer long.

 

[DaBruinz]

Not arguing your larger point, but part of the what is happening with state universities might have to do with the annual cost being $40k vs, $80k at an "elite" school. Elite schools are also part of the whole grade inflation wave, as well.

More than half of Harvard's most recent graduates had an A- GPA or better

Goes to the whole "Everyone deserves a trophy" BS..

 

[p8ryts]

Wow, this is not a funny story its a great story. I'm hoping somehow this guy makes the team. Regardless, its clear he will be very successful in whatever he pursues in life. The Pats should lock him up in their management program and he can replace Nick someday.