Kids who bombed the SAT - getting good college results

[Anonymous]

Ok, can someone please explain how this makes any sense?

I know plenty of kids in this admissions cycle who have low (think, 1100) SATs but have high GPAs (4.0 range) from big public schools that grade inflate. These kids are going test optional and are getting into colleges that would normally be out of reach when SATs were required. This year, they get to hide their low SAT from the colleges.

On the other hand, I know plenty of kids at private schools that grade-deflate but who have strong grades (taking that grade deflation into account, say 3.8) and sky high SATs who are being deferred and rejected from safeties. In the past, the high SATs balanced out the grade deflation, but this year it seems meaningless because schools are filling spots with kids who didn't show an SAT.

This system is a joke but it is also very damaging. There under qualified kids who are making tic toc videos mocking the system. On the other hand, you have high achieving students who've worked their a$# off and who are getting shut out. Makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

The public school kids compete against the other public school kids and the private school kids compete against private school kids. But if you are absolutely convinced the world is stacked against private school kids...then do not send your kid to private school.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you could possibly have strong evidence that this is actually happening yet (tic toc is not strong evidence, btw). However, if the grade inflated kids fail out, your kid can transfer in Sophomore year and take those spots.

[Anonymous]

Instead of generalizing, look at the individual students one by one.

p.s. My kid EARNED A's at a large public, AP scores of 5, and great College Board scores. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you could possibly have strong evidence that this is actually happening yet (tic toc is not strong evidence, btw). However, if the grade inflated kids fail out, your kid can transfer in Sophomore year and take those spots.

[Anonymous]

Getting into college is not the same thing as staying in college much less graduating. Unless the colleges are really dumbing down the material I’m not seeing the woefully unqualified lasting very long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Getting into college is not the same thing as staying in college much less graduating. Unless the colleges are really dumbing down the material I’m not seeing the woefully unqualified lasting very long.

Grade inflation is real but thinking that a kid with a 4.0 is going to fail out of college because they're coming from a big public high school is a stretch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Getting into college is not the same thing as staying in college much less graduating. Unless the colleges are really dumbing down the material I’m not seeing the woefully unqualified lasting very long.

Many are, yes. Have you seen some of the ridiculous majors available now? And, everything is "group projects." You'd have to be a real idiot not to be able to graduate from college with some sort of degree now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The public school kids compete against the other public school kids and the private school kids compete against private school kids. But if you are absolutely convinced the world is stacked against private school kids...then do not send your kid to private school.

I don't think this is true at all colleges/ universities. Would love to think that it is, but after seeing results from DC and friends, including those across the country, I don't believe this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting into college is not the same thing as staying in college much less graduating. Unless the colleges are really dumbing down the material I’m not seeing the woefully unqualified lasting very long.

Many are, yes. Have you seen some of the ridiculous majors available now? And, everything is "group projects." You'd have to be a real idiot not to be able to graduate from college with some sort of degree now.

Nothing is group projects for my college student. When does that happen?

[Anonymous]

4 years of high grades in hard classes are more impressive than prepping for a 4 hour test that you can take multiple times and submit your top scores. Most schools are going to be moving away form standardized tests sooner than later.

[Anonymous]

Test optional does help less competitive students. Friend's FCPS son with a few Cs and 1200 SAT got into Penn State with test optional. Not STEM major though.  

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Instead of generalizing, look at the individual students one by one.

p.s. My kid EARNED A's at a large public, AP scores of 5, and great College Board scores. YMMV.

Then in your case, your kid likely did not get an 1100 on the SAT. If a kid gets an 1100, why should a school not see that important data point too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The public school kids compete against the other public school kids and the private school kids compete against private school kids. But if you are absolutely convinced the world is stacked against private school kids...then do not send your kid to private school.

Best answer let’s move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, can someone please explain how this makes any sense?

I know plenty of kids in this admissions cycle who have low (think, 1100) SATs but have high GPAs (4.0 range) from big public schools that grade inflate. These kids are going test optional and are getting into colleges that would normally be out of reach when SATs were required. This year, they get to hide their low SAT from the colleges.

On the other hand, I know plenty of kids at private schools that grade-deflate but who have strong grades (taking that grade deflation into account, say 3.8) and sky high SATs who are being deferred and rejected from safeties. In the past, the high SATs balanced out the grade deflation, but this year it seems meaningless because schools are filling spots with kids who didn't show an SAT.

This system is a joke but it is also very damaging. There under qualified kids who are making tic toc videos mocking the system. On the other hand, you have high achieving students who've worked their a$# off and who are getting shut out. Makes no sense.

Just stop. What evidence (besides comments on DCUM) do you have that public schools inflate grades and private schools deflate grades?