In our view: WSU's Promise

One grade point doesn’t fit all when it comes to the state’s colleges and universities, which is the only reason we’ll go along with Washington State University’s recent decision regarding high school students around the state.

It’s a promise to guarantee admission to those students who graduate with a 3.5 grade point average or higher. (WSU will also guarantee access to students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class). The offer will stand at all of the universities’ campuses, including Washington State University Vancouver.

Offering a guarantee like this can be risky. For starters, if more and more students start meeting the 3.5 mark — which would be wonderful — can the university find room? The students, and their taxpaying parents, will expect to get in.

The University of Washington and some other schools used to admit all state-based community college students with 2.75 grade point averages, but the UW had to change that policy after the number of qualifying students exceeded the number of available slots.

WSU has no doubt thought about that and examined history. As it is, 37.7 percent of freshman at WSU’s Pullman campus in 2007 had GPAs over 3.6 and the entering class as a whole boasted a 3.42 grade point average. It’s pretty clear that an impressive grade point average is already necessary to get into WSU.

But perhaps worse than making promises one might not be able to keep is the possibility that this guarantee will leave standing room only for students who are just as promising or deserving, but who don’t have the 3.5. What about students in families that moved six times during their high school careers, making good grades a near impossibility?

What about students taking more challenging courses or seeking out teachers who are less generous with grades?

Another factor to consider: Curriculum varies from district to district and educational practices vary from school to school. A 3.5 might mean something different at one high school than it does at another.

WSU enrollment director John Fraire said this of the policy in a recent press release: “One way to make top-performing students feel more appreciated and welcomed at WSU is to remove the pressure associated with waiting for that acceptance letter.” That’s a good point. There is so much anxiety about getting into college in general. This guarantee can give students something to count on, work toward and feel positive about.

If it ends up inspiring Washington students to work even harder in high school, then we all benefit.

But we’re glad that the University of Washington and other schools will continue to offer a more holistic approach to admissions. The state’s work force needs all types of students — even late bloomers — graduating from colleges here. WSU admissions officials no doubt will continue looking for diamonds in the rough, as they should. And with various colleges taking different approaches, WSU’s promise is worth trying.