Should admissions be more transparent?

[Anonymous]

Should students have the right to see their admissions file? Right now students can only request to view their file only at the university they are enrolled in. Universities fought this in court years but lost per FERPA? After students began requesting their files, universities moved to record less data and expunge reader notes.

If students identify that a reader mischaracterized their ranking, gpa or something verifiable rather than subjective should the student have recourse?

Should universities be required to report all de-identified data on their applicants, admits, waitlists etc?

[Anonymous]

Why?

[Anonymous]

No, that would be a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

What students (and parents) want to know - before they apply - is what factors are considered and how they are weighted. Nobody feels like they have a complete and accurate picture of this. The term "holistic" seems like a fudge factor that is used to conceal actual admissions priorities that (in many cases) the public would find objectionable. The public wants to know, and deserves to know, the full truth about how the sausage is made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why?

I think students would have a more realistic idea of their potential pathways if they had access to the data that actually drove university decisions.

It’s all guessing now creating an insanely competitive environment that isn’t conducive to learning or good mental health. I see students with Bs feeling dejected like they have no chance so not even pursuing a number of schools. I see students killing themselves for a 4.0 UW, packing as many APs and leadership positions and then going into depression when they don’t get in but others with lower stats ECs do. I see students dreading college when in my generation we were excited about it.

[Anonymous]

It would add more administrative burden on universities already beleaguered by administrative burdens. And much of the cost associated with that burden would be passed on to students and their families. Meanwhile, there is no shortage of information about holistic applications. There are several books, many podcasts, advisers, and forums like this one. If one uses such resources, it’s pretty clear that most selective schools do not make admissions decisions based on the kind of quantitative formulas that OP seems to want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What students (and parents) want to know - before they apply - is what factors are considered and how they are weighted. Nobody feels like they have a complete and accurate picture of this. The term "holistic" seems like a fudge factor that is used to conceal actual admissions priorities that (in many cases) the public would find objectionable. The public wants to know, and deserves to know, the full truth about how the sausage is made.

The CDS already asks schools about the relative importance of the different factors.

What you ultimately want is a formula. But there is no formula. There are too many kids that would check the boxes. They have to figure out how else to determine who gets in or not.

[Anonymous]

Yes if they receive federal funds there can be zero consideration of race, age or sex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes if they receive federal funds there can be zero consideration of race, age or sex.

The information needs to be public to establish trends for lawsuits

[Anonymous]

No. It’s messy, it’s expensive. I don’t think universities should have to have a formula for admission— or need to reveal these formulas if they have them. I feel particularly strongly about this for private universities.

Question OP: Do you feel that private primary and High Schools should do this too? What about public magnet schools and other specialized public schools? What about requested public school transfers?

[Anonymous]

college admissions is SUBJECTIVE.

next.

[Anonymous]

I have a question for the OP. I can tell why this kid didn't get into the schools he/she wanted. Can you?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1jks4bh/the_college_admission_process_is_so_unfair/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, that would be a nightmare.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What students (and parents) want to know - before they apply - is what factors are considered and how they are weighted. Nobody feels like they have a complete and accurate picture of this. The term "holistic" seems like a fudge factor that is used to conceal actual admissions priorities that (in many cases) the public would find objectionable. The public wants to know, and deserves to know, the full truth about how the sausage is made.

I will make it simple for you. When 56,000 people apply for 1600 spots you will never know, you cannot know. All you can know is that you are not likely to get in. If 600 spots are taken up by ALDC it doesn't matter; you still aren't getting in because the numbers are the driving factor. If they want 25% of the class to be FGLI and you are it doesn't matter. You still aren't getting in because of the numbers. There is nothing that they can tell you that offsets the sheer numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes if they receive federal funds there can be zero consideration of race, age or sex.

You still aren't getting in.