Stop the Speculations :)

[Anonymous]

Did you consider AP exam scores? For example does a kid with multiple 5s stand out more than a kid with 3s and 4s, even though they may both have received As in their AP classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could you tell this year which applicants were AA or Hispanic?

Np.

Yes bc they write about it in diversity essay or in extracurriculars (black student association; students of color conference) and often mentioned as an aside in the LOR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

A student from a high achieving HS with 20 APs who takes 3 would get a lower score than a student from a rural school that only offered 6 APs.

Obviously. But, more commonly, what about the student who takes 8 or 10 APs at a school that offers 20? That should be enough, but how does that play out when the applicant from the nearby rural county took 3 of 6 offered?

Right, good question. I am sick of counselors, admissions officers, experts giving obvious advice and scenarios. I’m interested in more granular details, and since many of us live in affluentish suburbs or cities, how do these kids compare to each other? That is after all how students are picked- in school groups, yes?

At the end of the day, your kids are competing with the kids from their own school and maybe one or max 2 peer schools. That’s it.

Are the 2 readers ranking all of the students from same school against each other if there is no class rank?

Do the private school counselor letters basically tell the admissions committee who they think should be admitted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you tell this year which applicants were AA or Hispanic?

Np.

Yes bc they write about it in diversity essay or in extracurriculars (black student association; students of color conference) and often mentioned as an aside in the LOR.

Troll alert. This is absolute BS. Our HS is 85% black and there is no black student association. Also, there is no point in a an "aside" mentioning what is 85% likely to be the fact.

[Anonymous]

I love the weeding-out aspect of the Why Us essay — makes perfect sense that the admission resources should be devoted to those who actually want what that school offers.

But I’ve always wondered if this is in tension with the very real incentive to drive down admission rates. On some level, doesn’t the school also want as many people as possible applying?

How do schools think about those conflicting incentives — right-fit applicants vs. maximum number of applicants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you tell this year which applicants were AA or Hispanic?

Np.

Yes bc they write about it in diversity essay or in extracurriculars (black student association; students of color conference) and often mentioned as an aside in the LOR.

Troll alert. This is absolute BS. Our HS is 85% black and there is no black student association. Also, there is no point in a an "aside" mentioning what is 85% likely to be the fact.

It happens at my private….but sure call me names.
I know for a fact that several humanities teachers address the students’ racial and ethnic identity (and identity development) in their letter of recommendation, which is especially imp in a predominantly white school. Note the teachers are not white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the weeding-out aspect of the Why Us essay — makes perfect sense that the admission resources should be devoted to those who actually want what that school offers.

But I’ve always wondered if this is in tension with the very real incentive to drive down admission rates. On some level, doesn’t the school also want as many people as possible applying?

How do schools think about those conflicting incentives — right-fit applicants vs. maximum number of applicants?

Are they just happy to get the applications from the people they know that have no chance? They’ll put them in the “auto reject” pile, but it still helps their yield?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do essays often make or break a decision?

Rarely make.

But if kid is a braggart or comes across the wrong way, could break.

It’s true that essays won’t turn an unqualified applicant into an admission. But in a sea of highly qualified applicants, essays absolutely make a difference. Check out YouTube and Reddit for Ivy students who have read their admissions files; essays *always* figure prominently in the comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you tell this year which applicants were AA or Hispanic?

Np.

Yes bc they write about it in diversity essay or in extracurriculars (black student association; students of color conference) and often mentioned as an aside in the LOR.

Troll alert. This is absolute BS. Our HS is 85% black and there is no black student association. Also, there is no point in a an "aside" mentioning what is 85% likely to be the fact.

It happens at my private….but sure call me names.
I know for a fact that several humanities teachers address the students’ racial and ethnic identity (and identity development) in their letter of recommendation, which is especially imp in a predominantly white school. Note the teachers are not white.

It seems pretty unlikely any parent would have that kind of access to the LORs for other students.

Are you an administrator?

If so what kind of dystopia institution are you running where you monitor LORs and take notes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the weeding-out aspect of the Why Us essay — makes perfect sense that the admission resources should be devoted to those who actually want what that school offers.

But I’ve always wondered if this is in tension with the very real incentive to drive down admission rates. On some level, doesn’t the school also want as many people as possible applying?

How do schools think about those conflicting incentives — right-fit applicants vs. maximum number of applicants?

Are they just happy to get the applications from the people they know that have no chance? They’ll put them in the “auto reject” pile, but it still helps their yield?

No direct effect on yield, but will have a directly affect admit rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You comment specifically about MIT. There is no similar school in the Top 20. Therefore, you are likely referring to MIT.

Not OP, but the comment made about MIT is well known. MIT cares about the numbers. My assumption is that this is about one of the other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could you tell this year which applicants were AA or Hispanic?

They can tell in the award section if the applicant listed an award for one of the College Board Recognition Programs for minority groups.

[Anonymous]

National Recognition Programs are also for "rural students"

That is elite slang for poor whites who, believe it or not, get left behind also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you tell this year which applicants were AA or Hispanic?

Np.

Yes bc they write about it in diversity essay or in extracurriculars (black student association; students of color conference) and often mentioned as an aside in the LOR.

Troll alert. This is absolute BS. Our HS is 85% black and there is no black student association. Also, there is no point in a an "aside" mentioning what is 85% likely to be the fact.

It happens at my private….but sure call me names.
I know for a fact that several humanities teachers address the students’ racial and ethnic identity (and identity development) in their letter of recommendation, which is especially imp in a predominantly white school. Note the teachers are not white.

It seems pretty unlikely any parent would have that kind of access to the LORs for other students.

Are you an administrator?

If so what kind of dystopia institution are you running where you monitor LORs and take notes?

I’m a parent, but also member of faculty. Teachers discuss more things than many of you can imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you tell this year which applicants were AA or Hispanic?

They can tell in the award section if the applicant listed an award for one of the College Board Recognition Programs for minority groups.

Yes, so many ways to tell. Plus, a statement or two in essays.