Are Grades and Test Scores all that Matter at Big State Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But lower stats kids did get in. That’s why we know stats are not relevant to VT.

Obviously, those "lower stats" kids had things your kid did not. You have no idea what they brought to the table - what kinds of EC, leadership, commitments outside of school, interests, etc. No idea whatsoever. You also have no idea the rigor of their classes, etc. In short, you simply don't know, though you obviously think you have all the answers.

One thing is for certain - VT is not closely examining or carefully scrutinizing each of its 45,000 applications.

They DO read the essays, which they deem "very important."

I'm sure the essays are read, but there's not enough time and admissions staff to give all of them THAT close a look. Some applications are weeded out early to focus on others.

Unless you are an adcom, you have no way of saying what happens. If it was so easy, why do we wait weeks and weeks to hear back from some of these schools?

Many schools hire temporary staff to read through them and rank order them. My neighbor did this for UC Berkeley.

No school is rank ordering 45,000 applications (e.g. that kid'e application is ranked 36, 264).

Are you saying I'm a liar? Honest to God, my neighbor did this. Unless you are saying they have a cut off and only read the ones above that, which he did not tell me, but I could imagine. I believe they read their stack and presented the ones they felt were meritorious. I did not literally mean they rank 45,000 kids. My wording was imprecise.

NP: I am friends with an admissions officer that an Ivy and T20 and I have served on an enrollment management/admissions committee as a faculty member at a large public university. From my experience and what I have learned from my friends, some applications are not read by admissions officers/temporary staff. The enrollment management software does the first cull. Some of the reasons include incomplete applications (e.g., recommendation letters missing) and the applicant doesn't meet the minimum academic standards. For example, my university, pre-Covid, eliminated applications that didn't meet the College and Career Readiness Benchmark SAT scores. We also have a minimum HS unweighted GPA that is different for transfer students from 4-year and 2-year colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But lower stats kids did get in. That’s why we know stats are not relevant to VT.

Obviously, those "lower stats" kids had things your kid did not. You have no idea what they brought to the table - what kinds of EC, leadership, commitments outside of school, interests, etc. No idea whatsoever. You also have no idea the rigor of their classes, etc. In short, you simply don't know, though you obviously think you have all the answers.

One thing is for certain - VT is not closely examining or carefully scrutinizing each of its 45,000 applications.

They DO read the essays, which they deem "very important."

I'm sure the essays are read, but there's not enough time and admissions staff to give all of them THAT close a look. Some applications are weeded out early to focus on others.

Unless you are an adcom, you have no way of saying what happens. If it was so easy, why do we wait weeks and weeks to hear back from some of these schools?

Many schools hire temporary staff to read through them and rank order them. My neighbor did this for UC Berkeley.

No school is rank ordering 45,000 applications (e.g. that kid'e application is ranked 36, 264).

Are you saying I'm a liar? Honest to God, my neighbor did this. Unless you are saying they have a cut off and only read the ones above that, which he did not tell me, but I could imagine. I believe they read their stack and presented the ones they felt were meritorious. I did not literally mean they rank 45,000 kids. My wording was imprecise.

NP: I am friends with an admissions officer that an Ivy and T20 and I have served on an enrollment management/admissions committee as a faculty member at a large public university. From my experience and what I have learned from my friends, some applications are not read by admissions officers/temporary staff. The enrollment management software does the first cull. Some of the reasons include incomplete applications (e.g., recommendation letters missing) and the applicant doesn't meet the minimum academic standards. For example, my university, pre-Covid, eliminated applications that didn't meet the College and Career Readiness Benchmark SAT scores. We also have a minimum HS unweighted GPA that is different for transfer students from 4-year and 2-year colleges.

PP again: Sorry, should say two admissions officers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But lower stats kids did get in. That’s why we know stats are not relevant to VT.

Obviously, those "lower stats" kids had things your kid did not. You have no idea what they brought to the table - what kinds of EC, leadership, commitments outside of school, interests, etc. No idea whatsoever. You also have no idea the rigor of their classes, etc. In short, you simply don't know, though you obviously think you have all the answers.

One thing is for certain - VT is not closely examining or carefully scrutinizing each of its 45,000 applications.

They DO read the essays, which they deem "very important."

+1
Methinks the PP has a kid who was not admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT waitlisted some high stats kids this year so they could better predict enrollment.

They have also been clear that they want to increase their 1st Gen population. Kids from UMC families who were using it as a safety did not get in (some of the time).

Link to this statement? Every kid I know going to VT is high stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But lower stats kids did get in. That’s why we know stats are not relevant to VT.

The stats are all over the place because Engineering and English are on the same scattergram. And English requires much lower stats. When you see a green check in the lower stats area, there is a good chance the kid was admitted to a program that is less in demand/takes kids with lower stats. The super high stats are often engineering, because high stats in liberal arts fields will often choose UVA/WM instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT waitlisted some high stats kids this year so they could better predict enrollment.

They have also been clear that they want to increase their 1st Gen population. Kids from UMC families who were using it as a safety did not get in (some of the time).

Link to this statement? Every kid I know going to VT is high stats.

What mom needs to tell herself to deal with her kids rejection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT waitlisted some high stats kids this year so they could better predict enrollment.

They have also been clear that they want to increase their 1st Gen population. Kids from UMC families who were using it as a safety did not get in (some of the time).

Link to this statement? Every kid I know going to VT is high stats.

What mom needs to tell herself to deal with her kids rejection.

+1
Apparently so.

[Anonymous]

rigor in courses taken is also critical for some state schools like UVA as are national awards

[Anonymous]

I wish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But lower stats kids did get in. That’s why we know stats are not relevant to VT.

Obviously, those "lower stats" kids had things your kid did not. You have no idea what they brought to the table - what kinds of EC, leadership, commitments outside of school, interests, etc. No idea whatsoever. You also have no idea the rigor of their classes, etc. In short, you simply don't know, though you obviously think you have all the answers.

One thing is for certain - VT is not closely examining or carefully scrutinizing each of its 45,000 applications.

They DO read the essays, which they deem "very important."

I'm sure the essays are read, but there's not enough time and admissions staff to give all of them THAT close a look. Some applications are weeded out early to focus on others.

Unless you are an adcom, you have no way of saying what happens. If it was so easy, why do we wait weeks and weeks to hear back from some of these schools?

Many schools hire temporary staff to read through them and rank order them. My neighbor did this for UC Berkeley.

No school is rank ordering 45,000 applications (e.g. that kid'e application is ranked 36, 264).

Are you saying I'm a liar? Honest to God, my neighbor did this. Unless you are saying they have a cut off and only read the ones above that, which he did not tell me, but I could imagine. I believe they read their stack and presented the ones they felt were meritorious. I did not literally mean they rank 45,000 kids. My wording was imprecise.

NP: I am friends with an admissions officer that an Ivy and T20 and I have served on an enrollment management/admissions committee as a faculty member at a large public university. From my experience and what I have learned from my friends, some applications are not read by admissions officers/temporary staff. The enrollment management software does the first cull. Some of the reasons include incomplete applications (e.g., recommendation letters missing) and the applicant doesn't meet the minimum academic standards. For example, my university, pre-Covid, eliminated applications that didn't meet the College and Career Readiness Benchmark SAT scores. We also have a minimum HS unweighted GPA that is different for transfer students from 4-year and 2-year colleges.

Your sample doesn't show a rule or widespread practice. You'd think that a faculty member, possibly with a terminal degree, would understand that and not spew anecdotal information as if it's gospel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But lower stats kids did get in. That’s why we know stats are not relevant to VT.

Obviously, those "lower stats" kids had things your kid did not. You have no idea what they brought to the table - what kinds of EC, leadership, commitments outside of school, interests, etc. No idea whatsoever. You also have no idea the rigor of their classes, etc. In short, you simply don't know, though you obviously think you have all the answers.

One thing is for certain - VT is not closely examining or carefully scrutinizing each of its 45,000 applications.

They DO read the essays, which they deem "very important."

I'm sure the essays are read, but there's not enough time and admissions staff to give all of them THAT close a look. Some applications are weeded out early to focus on others.

Unless you are an adcom, you have no way of saying what happens. If it was so easy, why do we wait weeks and weeks to hear back from some of these schools?

Many schools hire temporary staff to read through them and rank order them. My neighbor did this for UC Berkeley.

No school is rank ordering 45,000 applications (e.g. that kid'e application is ranked 36, 264).

Are you saying I'm a liar? Honest to God, my neighbor did this. Unless you are saying they have a cut off and only read the ones above that, which he did not tell me, but I could imagine. I believe they read their stack and presented the ones they felt were meritorious. I did not literally mean they rank 45,000 kids. My wording was imprecise.

NP: I am friends with an admissions officer that an Ivy and T20 and I have served on an enrollment management/admissions committee as a faculty member at a large public university. From my experience and what I have learned from my friends, some applications are not read by admissions officers/temporary staff. The enrollment management software does the first cull. Some of the reasons include incomplete applications (e.g., recommendation letters missing) and the applicant doesn't meet the minimum academic standards. For example, my university, pre-Covid, eliminated applications that didn't meet the College and Career Readiness Benchmark SAT scores. We also have a minimum HS unweighted GPA that is different for transfer students from 4-year and 2-year colleges.

This makes sense but it’s also why kids who move are at a disadvantage. The software can’t factor in two different grading scales, two different class ranks, two different types of schools, an adjustment year, or see a recovery and excelling after adjusting. A human being has to do that and no one gets to the killer essay of the software already culled them. Shallow process but they want the money from the application fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But lower stats kids did get in. That’s why we know stats are not relevant to VT.

Obviously, those "lower stats" kids had things your kid did not. You have no idea what they brought to the table - what kinds of EC, leadership, commitments outside of school, interests, etc. No idea whatsoever. You also have no idea the rigor of their classes, etc. In short, you simply don't know, though you obviously think you have all the answers.

One thing is for certain - VT is not closely examining or carefully scrutinizing each of its 45,000 applications.

They DO read the essays, which they deem "very important."

I'm sure the essays are read, but there's not enough time and admissions staff to give all of them THAT close a look. Some applications are weeded out early to focus on others.

Unless you are an adcom, you have no way of saying what happens. If it was so easy, why do we wait weeks and weeks to hear back from some of these schools?

Many schools hire temporary staff to read through them and rank order them. My neighbor did this for UC Berkeley.

No school is rank ordering 45,000 applications (e.g. that kid'e application is ranked 36, 264).

Are you saying I'm a liar? Honest to God, my neighbor did this. Unless you are saying they have a cut off and only read the ones above that, which he did not tell me, but I could imagine. I believe they read their stack and presented the ones they felt were meritorious. I did not literally mean they rank 45,000 kids. My wording was imprecise.

NP: I am friends with an admissions officer that an Ivy and T20 and I have served on an enrollment management/admissions committee as a faculty member at a large public university. From my experience and what I have learned from my friends, some applications are not read by admissions officers/temporary staff. The enrollment management software does the first cull. Some of the reasons include incomplete applications (e.g., recommendation letters missing) and the applicant doesn't meet the minimum academic standards. For example, my university, pre-Covid, eliminated applications that didn't meet the College and Career Readiness Benchmark SAT scores. We also have a minimum HS unweighted GPA that is different for transfer students from 4-year and 2-year colleges.

Your sample doesn't show a rule or widespread practice. You'd think that a faculty member, possibly with a terminal degree, would understand that and not spew anecdotal information as if it's gospel.

NP Oh, for crying out loud. I’m so sick of people attacking people’s experiences. This is an anonymous internet chat forum, not a dissertation. Every time one of you pop up with this, it makes you sound desperate to deflect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT does not focus on grades and test scores. I have no idea what they do care about though.

They most certainly do. Sorry your kid didn't get in.

It’s been published by VT that they care about URMs right now- and less on scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT does not focus on grades and test scores. I have no idea what they do care about though.

Grades seemed the most important based on Naviance. It was one of the schools that had an easy to see line - almost everyone got in with a GPA over x and few got in below that number. The Test scores were not as easy to assess.

Maybe at your kid’s school. UVA had a clear line which we appreciated. VT did not for my kid’s school. And results for class of 2022 were even harder to predict. Many high stats kids did not get in. They are clearly chasing something other than grades and test scores.

But many did. They don't have room for ALL high stats kids, so they have to pick and choose. Why can't people realize this?
DP

Then what are they differentiating on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But lower stats kids did get in. That’s why we know stats are not relevant to VT.

Obviously, those "lower stats" kids had things your kid did not. You have no idea what they brought to the table - what kinds of EC, leadership, commitments outside of school, interests, etc. No idea whatsoever. You also have no idea the rigor of their classes, etc. In short, you simply don't know, though you obviously think you have all the answers.

One thing is for certain - VT is not closely examining or carefully scrutinizing each of its 45,000 applications.

They DO read the essays, which they deem "very important."

Clearly you’re not in the loop. VT does NOT read the essay and they proudly admit this. They read their four supplemental questions though.