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Friday, June 3, 2011

Are we creating dual school systems with charters, vouchers? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Are we creating dual school systems with charters, vouchers? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Are we creating dual school systems with charters, vouchers?

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This was written by Bill McDiarmid, dean and alumni distinguished professor of the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Common Application sets 500-word limit on main essay

The Common Application widely used for college admissions by high school seniors has set a 250-500 limit for the essay as part of the 2011-12 college admissions season because essays written without any limits had become too long and poorly written, the organization said.

Some counselors complained about the change on an e-list used by college admissions counselors at high schools, saying they are worried that students will not have enough room to adequately display their writing abilities.

But officials for the Common App — which is accepted by 415 college and universities — say the change is only a return to a practice that had been used for 31 years before the unlimited essay experiment started four years ago, and that kids will be helped by the limit.

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