Graduate School Admissions Officer: An applicant’s undergraduate trans

Question

Graduate School Admissions Officer: An applicant’s undergraduate transcript is a vital part of the application for graduate school. Not only can we evaluate the strength of a student’s course load, we can determine whether the student is truly focused on academics.

Which of the following is an assumption upon which the argument depends?
A. Undergraduate transcripts are the most important part of a graduate application.
B. Without an undergraduate transcript, an applicant for graduate school cannot be properly evaluated.
C. Students with higher undergraduate grade point averages are more likely to be admitted to graduate programs.
D. A student’s prior performance is a valid indicator of current academic dedication.
E. The strength of a student’s course load is a more important indicator of graduate school success than is the student’s focus on academics.

Source: McGraw-Hill's GMAT

sananoor · Answer

I am not getting that how D is the right choice? what is the issue with B?

urhowig · Answer

Graduate School Admissions Officer: An applicant’s undergraduate transcript is a vital part of the application for graduate school. Not only can we evaluate the strength of a student’s course load, we can determine whether the student is truly focused on academics.

The conclusion here is  An applicant’s undergraduate transcript is a vital part of the application for graduate school . It means that the transcript is a reflection of the applicant's performance. By judging the transcript the school offers admission.

The given fact/premise : An applicant's transcript can indicate - student's course load + student's focus on academics.

Now can we definitely determine the conclusion from these facts ?

Option C clearly links these 2 things. The transcript is the proof of the applicant's performance. And so, it has to be assumed that the applicant will continue to perform like same as his or her transcript says.

Which of the following is an assumption upon which the argument depends?
A. Undergraduate transcripts are the most important part of a graduate application.
- This is does not have to be true and is not the assumption. This seems to be more like an inference.
B. Without an undergraduate transcript, an applicant for graduate school cannot be properly evaluated.
- This option clearly goes out of scope of the question. We do not know how the school is going to evaluate without transcript. We can not comment that which we do not know. Also this option seems to be more like a causal expression, where as the argument does not present any causality. 
C. Students with higher undergraduate grade point averages are more likely to be admitted to graduate programs.
- Clearly out of Scope.
D. A student’s prior performance is a valid indicator of current academic dedication.
- Correct one as described above.
E. The strength of a student’s course load is a more important indicator of graduate school success than is the student’s focus on academics.
- No such comparison is needed to prove the conclusion.

Thanks

Mona2019 · Answer

Hi,

The OA is D. But isn't D a paraphrase of what has been stated in the argument: " we can determine whether the student is truly focussed on academics"?
I am a little doubtful here. Please help.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Graduate School Admissions Officer: An applicant’s undergraduate trans

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