Method for admitting an admissions applicant into an academic institution

Abstract

A method for admitting applicants into an academic institution can include the steps of: compiling a list of standardized test takers who have applied for admission to at least one academic institution, but have not received an offer of admission to any one of the at least one academic institutions; conditionally admitting selected ones of the test takers to an abbreviated academic program; subjecting the conditionally admitted test takers to at least one examination during the abbreviated academic program, each conditionally admitted test taker achieving a score on the at least one examination; and, admitting into the academic institution those conditionally admitted test takers who achieve a score on said at least one examination which satisfies an admissions criteria.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for admitting applicants into an academic institution, the method comprising:
 compiling a list of standardized test takers who have applied for admission to at least one academic institution, but have not received an offer of admission to any one of said at least one academic institutions;   selecting, using a computer, ones of the standardized test takers based on earlier academic performance;   admitting the selected ones of said standardized test takers to an abbreviated academic program that includes at least two abbreviated courses from a defined curriculum conducted over a shortened academic term;   subjecting said admitted test takers to at least one examination for each said course during said abbreviated academic program, each said admitted test taker achieving a score on said at least one examination;   for each said admitted test taker, calculating a respective composite score based on the respective scores that the respective admitted test taker earns on the examinations in the at least two abbreviated courses; and   admitting into the academic institution those admitted test takers who achieve a composite score that satisfies admissions criteria.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said admitting of the selected ones of said standardized test takers to the abbreviated academic program comprises:
 computing a shifting range of standardized test scores and grade point averages (GPAs) for said standardized test takers;   identifying those standardized test takers having a standardized test score and GPA falling within said shifting range; and   admitting said identified test takers to the abbreviated academic program.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subjecting comprises:
 scoring each said examination based on a calibrated grading process; and   for each said admitted test taker, combining scores for said at least one examination, said combined scores forming the composite score for the respective admitted test taker.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said admitting into the academic institution those admitted test takers who achieve the composite score that satisfies the admissions criteria comprises admitting into the academic institution those admitted test takers whose composite score exceeds a pre-determined composite score. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing asynchronous instruction in at least one academic discipline to said admitted test takers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said providing of asynchronous instruction comprises:
 delivering electronic instructional content to remotely situated admitted test takers;   receiving classroom work-product from said remotely situated admitted test takers; and   forwarding said received classroom work-product to at least one instructor.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing synchronous instruction in at least one academic discipline to said admitted test takers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said providing of synchronous instruction comprises:
 delivering on-line instructional content to remotely situated admitted test takers; and   moderating on-line participation between said remotely situated admitted test takers and at least one instructor.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said subjecting further comprises:
 delivering a final examination on-line to admitted test takers situated in a remote testing facility;   proctoring said final examination at said remote testing facility; and   factoring respective resulting scores for said final examinations into respective composite scores for the admitted test takers.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compiling comprises compiling a list of Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) test takers who have applied for admission to at least one law school, but have not received an offer of admission to any one of said at least one law schools. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said admitting of the selected ones of said standardized test takers to the abbreviated academic program comprises:
 computing a shifting range of LSAT scores and undergraduate grade point averages (UGPAs) for said standardized test takers;   identifying those LSAT test takers having an LSAT score and UGPA falling within said shifting range; and   admitting said identified test takers to the abbreviated academic program, the abbreviated academic program being an abbreviated law school program.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each said examination is a law school examination and said subjecting comprises:
 scoring each said examination based on a calibrated grading process; and   for each said admitted test taker, combining scores for each said examination, said combined scores forming the composite score for the respective admitted test taker.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the admissions criteria is a composite score that exceeds a score determined to correlate with a satisfactory level of academic success at the academic institution achieved by regularly admitted students at the academic institution. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the standardized test takers have applied to admission into one or more graduate level programs. 
     
     
         15 . A method for admitting applicants into an academic institution, the method comprising:
 identifying among a selection of standardized test takers, those test takers who have applied for admission to at least one academic institution and have received more rejections than offers of admission from said at least one academic institutions;   extending to said identified test takers an offer of conditional admittance to the academic institution;   enrolling in the academic institution identified test takers who have accepted said extended offer;   subjecting each said enrolled test taker to at least one examination in each abbreviated course offered as a part of an abbreviated academic program in which the respective enrolled test taker participates, the abbreviated academic program including at least two abbreviated courses from a defined curriculum conducted over a shortened academic term;   grading each said examination, said grading producing an examination score for said at least one enrolled test taker; and   permitting enrolled test takers who achieve an examination score that exceeds a predefined level to remain enrolled in the academic institution.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said extending comprises:
 computing a shifting range of standardized test scores and grade point averages (GPAs) for said standardized test takers;   selecting standardized test takers having a standardized test score and GPA falling within said shifting range; and   extending to said selected test takers an offer of conditional admittance to the academic institution.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said grading comprises:
 calibrating graders in a grading process; and   subjecting each said examination to said grading process, said grading process producing an examination score for each said enrolled test taker.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing asynchronous instruction in at least one academic discipline to said enrolled test takers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said providing of asynchronous instruction comprises:
 delivering electronic instructional content to remotely situated conditionally enrolled test takers;   receiving classroom work-product from said remotely situated enrolled test takers; and   forwarding said received classroom work-product to at least one instructor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing synchronous instruction in at least one academic discipline to said enrolled test takers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said providing of synchronous instruction comprises:
 delivering on-line instructional content to remotely situated enrolled test takers; and   moderating on-line participation between said remotely situated enrolled test takers and at least one instructor.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said identifying comprises:
 reviewing a selection of test takers who have taken one of the law school admissions test (LSAT), medical college admissions test (MCAT), dental admissions test (DAT), veterinary college admissions test (VCAT), pharmacy college admissions test (PCAT), allied health programs admissions test (AHPAT), graduate record examination (GRE), and the graduate management admission test (GMAT); and   identifying among said selection, those test takers who have applied for admission to at least one graduate school and have received more rejections than offers of admission from said at least one graduate school.   
     
     
         23 . A method for admitting applicants into an academic institution, the method comprising:
 compiling a list of standardized test takers who have applied for admission to at least one academic institution, but have not received an offer of admission to anyone of said at least one academic institutions;   electronically registering selected ones of said test takers in an abbreviated academic program that includes at least two abbreviated courses from a defined curriculum conducted over a shortened academic term;   administering at least one examination for each said course over a computer communications network to said registered test takers during said abbreviated academic program, each registered test taker achieving a score on said at least one examination; and   electronically enrolling in the academic institution those registered test takers who achieve a score on said at least one examination that satisfies an admissions criteria.   
     
     
         24 . A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program for admitting applicants into an academic institution, said computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to at least:
 compile a list of standardized test takers who have applied for admission to at least one academic institution, but have not received an offer of admission to anyone of said at least one academic institutions;   electronically register selected ones of said test takers in an abbreviated academic program that includes at least two abbreviated courses from a defined curriculum conducted over a shortened academic term;   administer at least one examination for each said course over a computer communications network to said registered test takers during said abbreviated academic program, each registered test taker achieving a score on said at least one examination; and   electronically enroll in the academic institution those registered test takers who achieve a score on said at least one examination which satisfies an admissions criteria.