Duke no longer scoring essays

[Anonymous]

It’s a student article from a student paper. It means absolutely nothing

[Anonymous]

We hired a consultant to help us understand the rules so we could develop a good strategy but DC wrote the essays. Consultant read over them and made suggestions but that was it. Even if essays are no longer scored, DC would still need to put in the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a student article from a student paper. It means absolutely nothing

I don’t understand this comment. The articles states the facts about a change in Duke policy. It’s not a student OpEd.

I don’t know what the article is expected to “mean”…however, Duke has changed their policy…that is confirmed in the article.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a consultant to help us understand the rules so we could develop a good strategy but DC wrote the essays. Consultant read over them and made suggestions but that was it. Even if essays are no longer scored, DC would still need to put in the time.

Sure, but some consultants do much more. There are varying degree of consulting and prices just like anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a consultant to help us understand the rules so we could develop a good strategy but DC wrote the essays. Consultant read over them and made suggestions but that was it. Even if essays are no longer scored, DC would still need to put in the time.

The consultant still made suggestions, which I assumed your DC followed. It's unfair for those who don't hire consultants. And yea, you can say, "well, you can hire one, too; no one is stopping you". That is not the point. And that is why college admissions is a game. If you hired a consultant, then your kid didn't achieve it on their own.

It's messed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We hired a consultant to help us understand the rules so we could develop a good strategy but DC wrote the essays. Consultant read over them and made suggestions but that was it. Even if essays are no longer scored, DC would still need to put in the time.

The consultant still made suggestions, which I assumed your DC followed. It's unfair for those who don't hire consultants. And yea, you can say, "well, you can hire one, too; no one is stopping you". That is not the point. And that is why college admissions is a game. If you hired a consultant, then your kid didn't achieve it on their own.

It's messed up.

I think it's mostly the college admissions system fault.

They made it so unclear, complicated, unpredictable and unfair.

[Anonymous]

I volunteer to read college admissions essays for schools in lower income areas in the DMV. It used to be those essays needed help and the students seemed unsure of the application process. In the past two or three years, the quality of the essays has really stepped up and students seem much better informed. There seems to be more emphasis in these schools and through third party organizations to do college application and essay boot camps. We've also seen these organizations take kids as a group for college visits, where individual families might not be able to do so. I assume they also help with SAT prep. I think these are all very positive developments to help level the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They say they are TO and won’t score essays but they consider the former and read the latter. How are applicants supposed to judge them a reach/target/safety if they have no discernible standards for admission?

Duke is a reach.

[Anonymous]

No one even read the article?

Despite the changes, Guttentag wrote that essays and standardized testing scores are still considered in the admissions process.

“Essays are very much part of our understanding of the applicant, we’re just no longer assuming that the essay is an accurate reflection of the student’s actual writing ability,” he wrote. “Standardized tests (SAT or ACT) are considered when they’re submitted as part of the application.”

According to Guttentag, essays will now be used to “help understand the applicant as an individual rather, not just as a set of attributes and accomplishments.” He also wrote that the admissions office now values essays that give “insight into who the unique person is whose application we’re reading” and that “content and insight matter more than style.”

“Because of that they are not given a numerical rating, but considered as we think holistically about a candidate as a potential member of the Duke community,” he wrote.

They're still using the essays, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one even read the article?

Despite the changes, Guttentag wrote that essays and standardized testing scores are still considered in the admissions process.

“Essays are very much part of our understanding of the applicant, we’re just no longer assuming that the essay is an accurate reflection of the student’s actual writing ability,” he wrote. “Standardized tests (SAT or ACT) are considered when they’re submitted as part of the application.”

According to Guttentag, essays will now be used to “help understand the applicant as an individual rather, not just as a set of attributes and accomplishments.” He also wrote that the admissions office now values essays that give “insight into who the unique person is whose application we’re reading” and that “content and insight matter more than style.”

“Because of that they are not given a numerical rating, but considered as we think holistically about a candidate as a potential member of the Duke community,” he wrote.

They're still using the essays, people.

Good news for rich people who can hire consultants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one even read the article?

Despite the changes, Guttentag wrote that essays and standardized testing scores are still considered in the admissions process.

“Essays are very much part of our understanding of the applicant, we’re just no longer assuming that the essay is an accurate reflection of the student’s actual writing ability,” he wrote. “Standardized tests (SAT or ACT) are considered when they’re submitted as part of the application.”

According to Guttentag, essays will now be used to “help understand the applicant as an individual rather, not just as a set of attributes and accomplishments.” He also wrote that the admissions office now values essays that give “insight into who the unique person is whose application we’re reading” and that “content and insight matter more than style.”

“Because of that they are not given a numerical rating, but considered as we think holistically about a candidate as a potential member of the Duke community,” he wrote.

They're still using the essays, people.

We get it...but it seems to be another school that is just conceding that ChatGPT is taking over. Basically, you can tell ChatGPT...write me an essay of why Duke is the best school for me coming from high school X, with these interests and activities, etc. So, the facts are your own, but ChatGPT will tie your life to Duke in 30 seconds. You then keep asking it to refine it or say now write this essay in the style of X which is perhaps an example of past Duke essays that they say were excellent essays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one even read the article?

Despite the changes, Guttentag wrote that essays and standardized testing scores are still considered in the admissions process.

“Essays are very much part of our understanding of the applicant, we’re just no longer assuming that the essay is an accurate reflection of the student’s actual writing ability,” he wrote. “Standardized tests (SAT or ACT) are considered when they’re submitted as part of the application.”

According to Guttentag, essays will now be used to “help understand the applicant as an individual rather, not just as a set of attributes and accomplishments.” He also wrote that the admissions office now values essays that give “insight into who the unique person is whose application we’re reading” and that “content and insight matter more than style.”

“Because of that they are not given a numerical rating, but considered as we think holistically about a candidate as a potential member of the Duke community,” he wrote.

They're still using the essays, people.

We get it...but it seems to be another school that is just conceding that ChatGPT is taking over. Basically, you can tell ChatGPT...write me an essay of why Duke is the best school for me coming from high school X, with these interests and activities, etc. So, the facts are your own, but ChatGPT will tie your life to Duke in 30 seconds. You then keep asking it to refine it or say now write this essay in the style of X which is perhaps an example of past Duke essays that they say were excellent essays.

Have you actually used ChatGPT? The quality of the writing is pretty bad if you're looking for great writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We hired a consultant to help us understand the rules so we could develop a good strategy but DC wrote the essays. Consultant read over them and made suggestions but that was it. Even if essays are no longer scored, DC would still need to put in the time.

The consultant still made suggestions, which I assumed your DC followed. It's unfair for those who don't hire consultants. And yea, you can say, "well, you can hire one, too; no one is stopping you". That is not the point. And that is why college admissions is a game. If you hired a consultant, then your kid didn't achieve it on their own.

It's messed up.

Until you become Director of Admissions at a very top school, this is not going to change. So instead of complaining about how unfair it is, why not work the system? The point is not to mess up your child's chances of being admitted to his/her top choice college, rather it is to support this dream to the best of your ability. If that means seeking outside resources to strengthen the application, then do so and stop bellyaching about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one even read the article?

Despite the changes, Guttentag wrote that essays and standardized testing scores are still considered in the admissions process.

“Essays are very much part of our understanding of the applicant, we’re just no longer assuming that the essay is an accurate reflection of the student’s actual writing ability,” he wrote. “Standardized tests (SAT or ACT) are considered when they’re submitted as part of the application.”

According to Guttentag, essays will now be used to “help understand the applicant as an individual rather, not just as a set of attributes and accomplishments.” He also wrote that the admissions office now values essays that give “insight into who the unique person is whose application we’re reading” and that “content and insight matter more than style.”

“Because of that they are not given a numerical rating, but considered as we think holistically about a candidate as a potential member of the Duke community,” he wrote.

They're still using the essays, people.

We get it...but it seems to be another school that is just conceding that ChatGPT is taking over. Basically, you can tell ChatGPT...write me an essay of why Duke is the best school for me coming from high school X, with these interests and activities, etc. So, the facts are your own, but ChatGPT will tie your life to Duke in 30 seconds. You then keep asking it to refine it or say now write this essay in the style of X which is perhaps an example of past Duke essays that they say were excellent essays.

Have you actually used ChatGPT? The quality of the writing is pretty bad if you're looking for great writing.

what version? have you noticed how fast it's improving already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one even read the article?

Despite the changes, Guttentag wrote that essays and standardized testing scores are still considered in the admissions process.

“Essays are very much part of our understanding of the applicant, we’re just no longer assuming that the essay is an accurate reflection of the student’s actual writing ability,” he wrote. “Standardized tests (SAT or ACT) are considered when they’re submitted as part of the application.”

According to Guttentag, essays will now be used to “help understand the applicant as an individual rather, not just as a set of attributes and accomplishments.” He also wrote that the admissions office now values essays that give “insight into who the unique person is whose application we’re reading” and that “content and insight matter more than style.”

“Because of that they are not given a numerical rating, but considered as we think holistically about a candidate as a potential member of the Duke community,” he wrote.

They're still using the essays, people.

We get it...but it seems to be another school that is just conceding that ChatGPT is taking over. Basically, you can tell ChatGPT...write me an essay of why Duke is the best school for me coming from high school X, with these interests and activities, etc. So, the facts are your own, but ChatGPT will tie your life to Duke in 30 seconds. You then keep asking it to refine it or say now write this essay in the style of X which is perhaps an example of past Duke essays that they say were excellent essays.

Have you actually used ChatGPT? The quality of the writing is pretty bad if you're looking for great writing.

what version? have you noticed how fast it's improving already?

You mean last week when it was cranking out gibberish?