642 



SCIENCE 



[Vol. LVI, No. 1458 



war, some of us were interested in finding 

 from the senior class in college those who 

 would give the greatest promise of achievement 

 in research work. The rating blanlv^ I have 

 placed in your hands was used effectively for 

 the locating of a certain per cent, of these. 

 Personally I can testify that the individual 

 interviews with those selected on the basis of 

 these ratings furnished one of the most delight- 

 ful and profitable opportunities for personnel 

 work in administration. With the charts before 

 the student and the interviewer, it was possible 

 to enter into the life plans of the individual 

 at a crucial stage in his career and cause him 

 to view the situation in a critical attitude with 

 profound interest. This is a procedure which 

 has amply justified itself. But we soon found 

 that the senior year is too late. At the end 

 of the senior year the student has already 

 chosen his career and, sad to say, often un- 

 wisely, being guided largely by temporary 

 emoluments, a shortsighted estimate of what is 

 worth while, or the easiest outlet for activity 

 at his then recognized level. Business, the in- 



dustries, special interests, and the older pro- 

 fessions have plucked from the senior class 

 those who are most promising. Without strong 

 traditions in their favor and without the prom- 

 ise of financial rewards, science and art, with 

 very few exceptions, trusting to luck, get what 

 is left. It has therefore become clear that 

 some selection, to be eifectite, should be made 

 earlier than in the senior year, first, to give 

 scholarship an opportunity in the competition 

 for talent, and, second, to find the gifted stu- 

 dent early enough to give bim the advantages 

 of preparation that he may crave and deserve. 

 For this reason, some of us fall back on the 

 opportunity of using the so-ealled intelligence 

 tests and various substitutes for these at college 

 entrance. These tests should be as much for 

 the purpose of discovering the gifted student 

 as for the purpose of culling out at the lower 

 end. If I may mention a practice which has 

 gradually found its way into Iowa, I may say 

 that those who ranlv in the highest 10 per 

 cent, at college entrance are summoned by the 

 Dean of the College of Libei-al Arts and told 



2ANAX,YZED RATING OF FITNESS FOR GRADUATE STUDY 

 Directions: Record your judgment on each capaeitj' by placing a check mark (V) at the appro- 

 priate point in the dotted line. Grade conservatively, bearing in mind that in the long run, for a 

 class, there should be as many marks below average as above. If in serious doubt, put a question 

 mark above the cheek. Guard rigorously against giving information (to, or receiving from, others who 

 are rating independently, but otherwise consult freely ivith those who know the student well. 



At the bottom, cite (1) notable specific evidences of acliievements, distinctions, opinions or other 

 data that may throw light on the character of, ability or fitness for some particular field, if you 

 know of any; and (2) mention marked negative traits which might be an obstacle in a learned career. 



