In your opinion, how should the elite colleges decide conduct admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT needs to go back to being an IQ test and should be the basis of admission along with gpa. No more extracurriculars! They are turning high schoolers into freaks who can do research but can barely process information.

It never was an IQ test. Debunked. Inform yourself.

The old SAT with the analogies section was basically an IQ test. It correlated as well with IQ tests as IQ tests did with other IQ tests. The changes made in the last 15 or so years have made this less and less true. There’s still a pretty good correlation, but it’s not as high as it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one's educational experience is enhanced by a class of drones. That being said, for highly selective schools I'd want to see the stress on class rigor and being challenged, GPA, SAT/ACT test scores, interesting ECs that really demonstrate some passion and talent, teacher recommendations, and can they write a compelling essay.

I'd get rid of legacy, significant wealth, and nearly all admissions advantages for athletes. If Duke wants a competitive basketball team, fine. I understand that's a special thing. Same with Notre Dame football. But crew and tennis and lacrosse and soccer and Columbia football are pretty ridiculous. The SLACs are usually appalling with this. Nearly half of Williams and Amherst are "athletes."

I'd also put way less emphasis on race even in the post SC era. Context always matters, but have seen way too many mediocre private school students getting spots solely because they check a box. It's never the brilliant kid from SE or the immigrant in Gaithersburg with the 1300 that gets into a T20. I would, however, really like to find the first generation and low income smart kids. That's a special group of students.

I'd also limit the international admits for undergrad. Grad school is a different story. But for undergrad, no student has ever said all that's missing from my college experience is more wealthy students from mainland China and the Persian Gulf.

Basically, less class. More talent.

You want "talent" but you kept ranting about athletes. You do know that athletic performance requires talent, right? So much so that as a general rule only about 7% of high school athletes have the talent to compete at any level in college.

And Amherst and Williams athletes are, in fact, genuine athletes not "athletes" in skeptical quotes as you put it.

I'm sorry your kid got cut from the 8th grade club team but why haven't you gotten over it by now?

Hate this disingenuous crap. Stop trying to degrade the person and just make your point. For most non-athletes, the athlete draw is an unfair process that shouldn't mean they can just walk into an elite institution. Especially at LACs, golf should not allow you to waltz into a campus. No one is going to the softball games, so why are we subsidizing them? Sure, these are genuine athletes, but lacrosse and crew should give the same EC boost as drawing or writing, not recruit you to the institution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one's educational experience is enhanced by a class of drones. That being said, for highly selective schools I'd want to see the stress on class rigor and being challenged, GPA, SAT/ACT test scores, interesting ECs that really demonstrate some passion and talent, teacher recommendations, and can they write a compelling essay.

I'd get rid of legacy, significant wealth, and nearly all admissions advantages for athletes. If Duke wants a competitive basketball team, fine. I understand that's a special thing. Same with Notre Dame football. But crew and tennis and lacrosse and soccer and Columbia football are pretty ridiculous. The SLACs are usually appalling with this. Nearly half of Williams and Amherst are "athletes."

I'd also put way less emphasis on race even in the post SC era. Context always matters, but have seen way too many mediocre private school students getting spots solely because they check a box. It's never the brilliant kid from SE or the immigrant in Gaithersburg with the 1300 that gets into a T20. I would, however, really like to find the first generation and low income smart kids. That's a special group of students.

I'd also limit the international admits for undergrad. Grad school is a different story. But for undergrad, no student has ever said all that's missing from my college experience is more wealthy students from mainland China and the Persian Gulf.

Basically, less class. More talent.

You want "talent" but you kept ranting about athletes. You do know that athletic performance requires talent, right? So much so that as a general rule only about 7% of high school athletes have the talent to compete at any level in college.

And Amherst and Williams athletes are, in fact, genuine athletes not "athletes" in skeptical quotes as you put it.

I'm sorry your kid got cut from the 8th grade club team but why haven't you gotten over it by now?

Actually, both kids are at T20s. And they are both very athletic. States, varsity, etc. One recruited by D3 schools. But they chose D1 schools for the education. Best of luck to your "athletic" child.

But I still think it's a waste of space for tiny little D3 schools like Amherst and Williams to devote nearly half their spots to "athletes."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'd also limit the international admits for undergrad. Grad school is a different story. But for undergrad, no student has ever said all that's missing from my college experience is more wealthy students from mainland China and the Persian Gulf.

Seriously this. The biggest shock of undergrad has been meeting someone 1 family dinner removed from Mohammed bin Salman and a friend who got a rec letter from Yoon Suk Yeol. The wealth and distance from reality is actually so palpable its acidic. Many wealthy internationals are less politically correct than American ones and quicker to display problematic beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people care a lot about the SAT, while others think the extracurriculars are what count. What do you think?

no common app

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people care a lot about the SAT, while others think the extracurriculars are what count. What do you think?

40 point scale

ACT or SAT - required, max. two attempts (two total, not two ACT and two SAT), no superscoring, max. 10 points.

ACT:
36: 10 points
34 - 35: 8 points
31 - 33: 6 points
26 - 30: 4 points
20 - 25: 2 points
18 - 20: 1 point
Below 20: 0 points

SAT:
1580 - 1600: 10 points
1500 - 1570: 8 points
1400 - 1490: 6 points
1200 - 1390: 4 points
1000 - 1190: 2 points
900 - 990: 1 point
Below 900: 0 points

GPA - unweighted, max. 10 points.

GPA:
3.90 - 4.00: 10 points
3.70 - 3.89: 8 points
3.55 - 3.69: 6 points
3.40 - 3.54: 4 points
3.25 - 3.39: 2 points
3.00 - 3.24: 1 point
Below 3.00: 0 points

Rigor: AP classes, IB classes, DE classes.
(I know nothing of IB and DE enrollment classes, so an equivalency would need to be created).

11+ AP tests with min. 4: 10 points
8 - 10 with min. 3: 7 points
5 - 7 with min. 3: 5 points
3 - 4 with min. 3: 2 points
1 - 2 with min. 3: 1 point

Essays: 0 - 10 points (subjective)

Varsity sport(s), min. 2 years: 4 points
Paid job, min. 2 years: 3 points
Club officer, min. 2 years: 2 points
Volunteer hours, min. 25: 1 point

Tally it up.

45 - 50: Top 10
40 - 45: 11 - 25
35 - 40: 26 - 50
30 - 35: 51 - 100
25 - 30: 100 - 200
20 - 25: 200 - 350
15 - 20: Community College

[Anonymous]

I like the Oxford way - different tests for different majors.

[Anonymous]

I have no idea why colleges should care about any athlete that doesn't help the bottom line.

football, basketball ..I get it

but the squash players add nothing to the bottom line, to the campus culture, or school spirit. ditto fencing, sailing, skiing, on and on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one's educational experience is enhanced by a class of drones. That being said, for highly selective schools I'd want to see the stress on class rigor and being challenged, GPA, SAT/ACT test scores, interesting ECs that really demonstrate some passion and talent, teacher recommendations, and can they write a compelling essay.

I'd get rid of legacy, significant wealth, and nearly all admissions advantages for athletes. If Duke wants a competitive basketball team, fine. I understand that's a special thing. Same with Notre Dame football. But crew and tennis and lacrosse and soccer and Columbia football are pretty ridiculous. The SLACs are usually appalling with this. Nearly half of Williams and Amherst are "athletes."

I'd also put way less emphasis on race even in the post SC era. Context always matters, but have seen way too many mediocre private school students getting spots solely because they check a box. It's never the brilliant kid from SE or the immigrant in Gaithersburg with the 1300 that gets into a T20. I would, however, really like to find the first generation and low income smart kids. That's a special group of students.

I'd also limit the international admits for undergrad. Grad school is a different story. But for undergrad, no student has ever said all that's missing from my college experience is more wealthy students from mainland China and the Persian Gulf.

Basically, less class. More talent.

You want "talent" but you kept ranting about athletes. You do know that athletic performance requires talent, right? So much so that as a general rule only about 7% of high school athletes have the talent to compete at any level in college.

And Amherst and Williams athletes are, in fact, genuine athletes not "athletes" in skeptical quotes as you put it.

I'm sorry your kid got cut from the 8th grade club team but why haven't you gotten over it by now?

only 7 percent. ONLY ..lol

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I think it is fine how it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people care a lot about the SAT, while others think the extracurriculars are what count. What do you think?

40 point scale

ACT or SAT - required, max. two attempts (two total, not two ACT and two SAT), no superscoring, max. 10 points.

ACT:
36: 10 points
34 - 35: 8 points
31 - 33: 6 points
26 - 30: 4 points
20 - 25: 2 points
18 - 20: 1 point
Below 20: 0 points

SAT:
1580 - 1600: 10 points
1500 - 1570: 8 points
1400 - 1490: 6 points
1200 - 1390: 4 points
1000 - 1190: 2 points
900 - 990: 1 point
Below 900: 0 points

GPA - unweighted, max. 10 points.

GPA:
3.90 - 4.00: 10 points
3.70 - 3.89: 8 points
3.55 - 3.69: 6 points
3.40 - 3.54: 4 points
3.25 - 3.39: 2 points
3.00 - 3.24: 1 point
Below 3.00: 0 points

Rigor: AP classes, IB classes, DE classes.
(I know nothing of IB and DE enrollment classes, so an equivalency would need to be created).

11+ AP tests with min. 4: 10 points
8 - 10 with min. 3: 7 points
5 - 7 with min. 3: 5 points
3 - 4 with min. 3: 2 points
1 - 2 with min. 3: 1 point

Essays: 0 - 10 points (subjective)

Varsity sport(s), min. 2 years: 4 points
Paid job, min. 2 years: 3 points
Club officer, min. 2 years: 2 points
Volunteer hours, min. 25: 1 point

Tally it up.

45 - 50: Top 10
40 - 45: 11 - 25
35 - 40: 26 - 50
30 - 35: 51 - 100
25 - 30: 100 - 200
20 - 25: 200 - 350
15 - 20: Community College

10 Points going to any kind of athletics is obscene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people care a lot about the SAT, while others think the extracurriculars are what count. What do you think?

40 point scale

ACT or SAT - required, max. two attempts (two total, not two ACT and two SAT), no superscoring, max. 10 points.

ACT:
36: 10 points
34 - 35: 8 points
31 - 33: 6 points
26 - 30: 4 points
20 - 25: 2 points
18 - 20: 1 point
Below 20: 0 points

SAT:
1580 - 1600: 10 points
1500 - 1570: 8 points
1400 - 1490: 6 points
1200 - 1390: 4 points
1000 - 1190: 2 points
900 - 990: 1 point
Below 900: 0 points

GPA - unweighted, max. 10 points.

GPA:
3.90 - 4.00: 10 points
3.70 - 3.89: 8 points
3.55 - 3.69: 6 points
3.40 - 3.54: 4 points
3.25 - 3.39: 2 points
3.00 - 3.24: 1 point
Below 3.00: 0 points

Rigor: AP classes, IB classes, DE classes.
(I know nothing of IB and DE enrollment classes, so an equivalency would need to be created).

11+ AP tests with min. 4: 10 points
8 - 10 with min. 3: 7 points
5 - 7 with min. 3: 5 points
3 - 4 with min. 3: 2 points
1 - 2 with min. 3: 1 point

Essays: 0 - 10 points (subjective)

Varsity sport(s), min. 2 years: 4 points
Paid job, min. 2 years: 3 points
Club officer, min. 2 years: 2 points
Volunteer hours, min. 25: 1 point

Tally it up.

45 - 50: Top 10
40 - 45: 11 - 25
35 - 40: 26 - 50
30 - 35: 51 - 100
25 - 30: 100 - 200
20 - 25: 200 - 350
15 - 20: Community College

10 Points going to any kind of athletics is obscene.

Meant 4 pts.

[Anonymous]

Add a single question: how much did you spend on your “prep” (college admissions counselors, SAT tutoring, etc) for this application?

Entire admissions scene is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea why colleges should care about any athlete that doesn't help the bottom line.

football, basketball ..I get it

but the squash players add nothing to the bottom line, to the campus culture, or school spirit. ditto fencing, sailing, skiing, on and on

Ok, but by that logic colleges should just stop asking about ECs at all -no EC is going to add anything to the bottom line, to the campus culture, or school spirit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT needs to go back to being an IQ test and should be the basis of admission along with gpa. No more extracurriculars! They are turning high schoolers into freaks who can do research but can barely process information.

Sounds like a boring crowd of admits, all with the same profile then.

+1

How about we just let the universities decide what they want to do. Simple easy solution.

If you have the "resume" for a T25, then you will likely gain admission to several in the 25-75 range (if not a T25). I prefer the diversity and variety of students that the current system brings. I wouldn't want to attend school with 1600 kids who all had 1580+ and 10+ APs, there are plenty of "equally smart" kids who only got a 1500 but have done so much more already with their path in life. Admit them.

You mean start a nonprofit