controversial opinions about college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges admission pay attention to gpa, scores, and maybe a little to essays. Everyone is acting like they dissect the application. This is 100% not true.

This is 100% NOT TRUE! If it is true how can you reason the admissions that happen so subjectively? i.e. a kid with higher gpa and test scores is denied admission but a kid with lesser stats is admitted?

[Anonymous]

That is really and truly doesn’t matter where you go to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently I'm a jerk for not being on my kids' schools' Facebook pages for parents, and thinking that if my kids are old enough to go away for college, they're old/mature enough to figure it out on their own.

Did you just say that you weren’t on the page or did you tell others they should not be on the page? Because one would make you a jerk and one would not.

I don't think it's my place to dictate what others do when it doesn't affect me. I would never tell me what to join on Facebook.

[Anonymous]

College might be your only chance to study Gregorian chant or read Tolstoy or ask yourself whether you believe in utilitarianism. Go for it. Smart, realistic, self-aware people with a good work ethic and strong critical thinking, research, and writing skills will figure out a way to make enough money -- and maybe even have some fun doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently I'm a jerk for not being on my kids' schools' Facebook pages for parents, and thinking that if my kids are old enough to go away for college, they're old/mature enough to figure it out on their own.

Did you just say that you weren’t on the page or did you tell others they should not be on the page? Because one would make you a jerk and one would not.

I don't think it's my place to dictate what others do when it doesn't affect me. I would never tell me what to join on Facebook.

Why don’t you post a link to your original post in that thread so we can see it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're old enough to go in the military, you should be allowed to drink alcohol.

I don't think you should be allowed to go to war zones or fight directly with guns for your country at 18. Brain isn't fully developed yet, and all that. You can go through basic training and work other jobs within the military.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College might be your only chance to study Gregorian chant or read Tolstoy or ask yourself whether you believe in utilitarianism. Go for it. Smart, realistic, self-aware people with a good work ethic and strong critical thinking, research, and writing skills will figure out a way to make enough money -- and maybe even have some fun doing it.

Even homeless people are allowed in public libraries and can read Tolstoy there. You can question your belief systems at ANY point in your life, with or without college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges admission pay attention to gpa, scores, and maybe a little to essays. Everyone is acting like they dissect the application. This is 100% not true.

This is 100% NOT TRUE! If it is true how can you reason the admissions that happen so subjectively? i.e. a kid with higher gpa and test scores is denied admission but a kid with lesser stats is admitted?

DP: the latter could be true because--1) the kids are at different high schools and so are considered in relation to a different population, 2) the course rigor of one was different than the course rigor of another, 3) the school yield protects so is more likely to accept students that fall in their middle band rather than high end students who they think will not attend.

Nonetheless, I do think they consider more things beyond GPA/scores and I think your references matter just as much if not more than essays. I know UVA says they spend 7 minutes per application. It's enough time when you're experienced to look at everything, but it's not enough time to dissect fully. I think SLACs spend more time and care more about the intangibles than larger universities.

[Anonymous]

More people need to go to trade schools. They should develop a 4 year trade school program at universities where you also come out with a joint trade / bachelors degree. A lot of people think a degree is important but then don’t want to put the time in later to get into the trades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges admission pay attention to gpa, scores, and maybe a little to essays. Everyone is acting like they dissect the application. This is 100% not true.

This is 100% NOT TRUE! If it is true how can you reason the admissions that happen so subjectively? i.e. a kid with higher gpa and test scores is denied admission but a kid with lesser stats is admitted?

DP: the latter could be true because--1) the kids are at different high schools and so are considered in relation to a different population, 2) the course rigor of one was different than the course rigor of another, 3) the school yield protects so is more likely to accept students that fall in their middle band rather than high end students who they think will not attend.

Nonetheless, I do think they consider more things beyond GPA/scores and I think your references matter just as much if not more than essays. I know UVA says they spend 7 minutes per application. It's enough time when you're experienced to look at everything, but it's not enough time to dissect fully. I think SLACs spend more time and care more about the intangibles than larger universities.

My not so exception son got in to his very reach school option. Why? I have no idea. Maybe the reader was an Eagle Scout too. Maybe the essay caught his eye. It was not his GPA and SAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Checking the "toughest curriculum possible" box is a source of anxiety for parents and not even a blip on the admissions radar

[Anonymous]

Parents should have no involvement in college application process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents should have no involvement in college application process.

(says a person posting in a parent forum on a college and university discussion thread!)

[Anonymous]

Admissions should be race blind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges admission pay attention to gpa, scores, and maybe a little to essays. Everyone is acting like they dissect the application. This is 100% not true.

This is 100% NOT TRUE! If it is true how can you reason the admissions that happen so subjectively? i.e. a kid with higher gpa and test scores is denied admission but a kid with lesser stats is admitted?

DP: the latter could be true because--1) the kids are at different high schools and so are considered in relation to a different population, 2) the course rigor of one was different than the course rigor of another, 3) the school yield protects so is more likely to accept students that fall in their middle band rather than high end students who they think will not attend.

Nonetheless, I do think they consider more things beyond GPA/scores and I think your references matter just as much if not more than essays. I know UVA says they spend 7 minutes per application. It's enough time when you're experienced to look at everything, but it's not enough time to dissect fully. I think SLACs spend more time and care more about the intangibles than larger universities.

The state schools focus on the numbers. The elite private schools focus on social engineering their incoming classes.