Have colleges totally lost their value as a signal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My office mate is a UVA ‘83 alum, but openly states he would not be admitted to UVA if he applied today.

How many applicants did UVA have in 1979 relative to class size?

How many applicants does UVA have today relative to class size?

+1

NP here. I know Ivy plus grads (ie: NOT UVA) - that claim they would not be admitted today. Truth is, they have no idea, because relative to today's standards, those applicants would have adapted, and likely would have been admitted today. I think they are just being humble. In the case of state schools, state schools have likely raised their standards, from 30+ years ago, including UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never say that college admissions back in the 90's were purely based on merit. However, they were certainly more predictable.

They were more predictable because there were way fewer applicants with strong on-paper credentials relative to admission spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never say that college admissions back in the 90's were purely based on merit. However, they were certainly more predictable.

They were more predictable because there were way fewer applicants with strong on-paper credentials relative to admission spots.

The greater number of strong on-paper credentials relative to admissions spots is due to the trend of individual students applying to more schools. As a university professor, I have not seen an overall increase in student competence over the years. There may be more strong applicants applying to each school now, but that's because kids are applying to many more schools than they used to. It's such a vicious cycle. Each applicant can only attend one school at the end of the day. So the overall increase in number of applications has increased uncertainty and competitiveness, but that doesn't mean the yield of qualified students who attend the schools is any more talented. It's a shame the process has to be so stressful and unpredictable for students today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never say that college admissions back in the 90's were purely based on merit. However, they were certainly more predictable.

They were more predictable because there were way fewer applicants with strong on-paper credentials relative to admission spots.

The greater number of strong on-paper credentials relative to admissions spots is due to the trend of individual students applying to more schools. As a university professor, I have not seen an overall increase in student competence over the years. There may be more strong applicants applying to each school now, but that's because kids are applying to many more schools than they used to. It's such a vicious cycle. Each applicant can only attend one school at the end of the day. So the overall increase in number of applications has increased uncertainty and competitiveness, but that doesn't mean the yield of qualified students who attend the schools is any more talented. It's a shame the process has to be so stressful and unpredictable for students today.

That's true. But the reason behind this is that colleges have all gone woke and are significantly decreasing the merit-based admissions. Students therefore need to apply to more to counter this increased uncertainty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:colleges have all gone woke and are significantly decreasing the merit-based admissions.

derp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never say that college admissions back in the 90's were purely based on merit. However, they were certainly more predictable.

They were more predictable because there were way fewer applicants with strong on-paper credentials relative to admission spots.

The greater number of strong on-paper credentials relative to admissions spots is due to the trend of individual students applying to more schools. As a university professor, I have not seen an overall increase in student competence over the years. There may be more strong applicants applying to each school now, but that's because kids are applying to many more schools than they used to. It's such a vicious cycle. Each applicant can only attend one school at the end of the day. So the overall increase in number of applications has increased uncertainty and competitiveness, but that doesn't mean the yield of qualified students who attend the schools is any more talented. It's a shame the process has to be so stressful and unpredictable for students today.

That's true. But the reason behind this is that colleges have all gone woke and are significantly decreasing the merit-based admissions. Students therefore need to apply to more to counter this increased uncertainty.

Yes, DEI is the source of all evil in this world /s

Oh brother!