Insider Perspectives from a Highly Selective Admissions Office

[Anonymous]

A question about indicating race. From what is in this thread, it seems that Asian applicants should not identify their race on the application. Worst case is they will be held to the same standards as other Asian kids, and best case is they will be held two more lenient requirements. Correct?

How are mixed-race applicants reviewed? If my child is 3/4 Asian and 1/8 White descent, is the best approach just the indicate mixed race?

Finally, if my non-Asian child does not identify her race on the application she will be assumed to be Asian or white? That seems to penalize people for deciding to keep their race private, yes?

[Anonymous]

My guess is Bowdoin. SAT 25%680 I think when the OP said average SAT near 750, it was more like unhooked average near 750. Because their 75% is at 750.

[Anonymous]

At Hopkins, the SAT section scores are all below the 750 level OP claims is the median for her school. It's really a small number of schools at that level.
http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1509

[Anonymous]

Not Bowdoin. They are test-optional, so their score ranges are meaningless as they exclude the worst testers. OP is claiming her school's 50th percentile is at 750. I don't think any LAC has a median that high. Just HYPSM, UChicago, CalTech. The OP already said her school is not HYPSM, so process of elimination...

[Anonymous]

5. The vast majority of essays received are bad, if not awful. It's really a case of splendid essays that make a difference for the admissions process.

NP. As an alum, I had the opportunity to participate in a "get to the know the admissions process" at my alma mater, a USNWR top 20 school. During this seminar, participants reviewed a bunch of essays submitted by qualified applicants from a previous year. I can confirm that they ranged from mind-numbing to pretty bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5. The vast majority of essays received are bad, if not awful. It's really a case of splendid essays that make a difference for the admissions process.

NP. As an alum, I had the opportunity to participate in a "get to the know the admissions process" at my alma mater, a USNWR top 20 school. During this seminar, participants reviewed a bunch of essays submitted by qualified applicants from a previous year. I can confirm that they ranged from mind-numbing to pretty bad.

Yup. And parents tend to be really poor judges of what a good admissions essay looks like, so I've seen situation where their "help" makes things worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5. The vast majority of essays received are bad, if not awful. It's really a case of splendid essays that make a difference for the admissions process.

NP. As an alum, I had the opportunity to participate in a "get to the know the admissions process" at my alma mater, a USNWR top 20 school. During this seminar, participants reviewed a bunch of essays submitted by qualified applicants from a previous year. I can confirm that they ranged from mind-numbing to pretty bad.

Yup. And parents tend to be really poor judges of what a good admissions essay looks like, so I've seen situation where their "help" makes things worse.

So what makes an essay "good" vs. a "bad" essay? Or what made these essays "bad"?

[Anonymous]

Every source I can find says that scores on the new SAT are higher than the old SAT--except OP. One of the issues/concerns with the new SAT was that resulted in score inflations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every source I can find says that scores on the new SAT are higher than the old SAT--except OP. One of the issues/concerns with the new SAT was that resulted in score inflations.

Here is the release from Williams with the new/old SATs showing the new SATs to be slightly lower than the old SATs. I think that the OP could be right on the new SATs for this year.

https://communications.williams.edu/news-releases/12_12_2016_earlydecision/

[Anonymous]

Basically, the essay is the one opportunity the applicant has to stand out and to offer a glimpse of his or her mind/voice. Be smart, be interesting, be thoughtful, be funny, take risks. Too often kids/families get hung up on saying the right things and not making any mistakes. Which leads to really pedestrian essays, especially when the questions asked are so trite (who inspires you, describe a lesson you learned from failure, why do you want to go to school X).

You want an essay that leaves the reader saying "I want to meet this kid!" Or that leaves people who know you laughing (or crying) and saying "Yeah, *this* is what I love about [your name here]."

[Anonymous]

OP, For URM, do you consider their background? For example, would an AA applicant who has two highly educated parents (and maybe even multi-generations of highly educated relatives) who attended Ivies and are now professionals be considered at the same benchmarks as another AA applicant from the inner city who has to work to provide for the family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every source I can find says that scores on the new SAT are higher than the old SAT--except OP. One of the issues/concerns with the new SAT was that resulted in score inflations.

Care to post any of those sources?

[Anonymous]

http://ugaadmissions.blogspot.com/2016/11/early-action-decisions-are-available.html

Quick Early Action Numbers*

Applications Received: 15,614
Offers of Admission: 8,059
Mid 50% Admitted Average GPA: 4.00-4.26
Mid 50% Admitted Average SAT (old, CR+M): 1300-1480
Mid 50% Admitted Average SAT (new, EBRW+M): 1300-1430

For the middle 50%, the new SATs are LOWER.

[Anonymous]

Here's Vanderbilt - new SATs are LOWER

https://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/vandybloggers/2017/02/class-of-2021-early-decision-summary-statistics/

Old SAT*
Middle 50% Critical Reading: 710-790
Middle 50% Math: 750-800

New SAT*
Middle 50% Evidence Based Reading and Writing: 710-760
Middle 50% Math: 730-790

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, For URM, do you consider their background? For example, would an AA applicant who has two highly educated parents (and maybe even multi-generations of highly educated relatives) who attended Ivies and are now professionals be considered at the same benchmarks as another AA applicant from the inner city who has to work to provide for the family?

This is SO MUCH easier said than done. I feel awful for these kids now who are expected to be self aware enough to make us laugh or cry under the extreme pressure of the application process. It is a type of navel gazing that isn't taught and doesn't come naturally to most people.