Reply to Insider Perspectives from a Highly Selective Admissions Office

Forum Index » College and University Discussion

Reply to "Insider Perspectives from a Highly Selective Admissions Office"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]Thanks for all the feedback. I fell asleep right when I got back from work, so I’m sorry I couldn’t respond last evening as mentioned. I think people absolutely have the right to question any information that is presented to them. Anyway, this thread exploded beyond what I had anticipated, so I will back out from further replies; I will answer everything that is posted thus far.

[quote]How much weight you give to SAT subject test scores? 
Do AP test scores factor into admissions at all? A lot of people on DCUM have indicated that they are only used for freshman class placements, but there is a divide of opinions on College Confidential. 
Assuming you require all test scores to be submitted, would you look with disfavor on a kid who got a great test score to start, for example 1570 out of 1600 on the SAT, retaking the test multiple times to try for a perfect 1600?[/quote]

We look at them if an applicant sends them. We like seeing above a 750 on each test. But they are not required, so those who don’t have them will be penalized. We consider AP scores too if we receive them; it can be particularly telling if we’re seeing a strong kid with a bunch of 1-3’s that they may not be ready for college level work. But again, it’s optional; all these tests help us determine the academic merit score to give the candidate. When we receive multiple scores, we only look at the highest sections, so retaking multiple times won’t hurt. We don’t care that much about test scores as applicants and parents think we do.

[quote]OP - Can you talk to us about "donors"?? I assume you don't flag small time (a few K per year) donors, right? Or do you??[/quote]
Sorry, I don’t know the specifics. Beginner admission counselors don’t do the tagging.

[quote] Athletes need at or near a 4.0 UNWEIGHTED to achieve "non-committee-reviewed" spots? We are always telling our DC how important grades are, as well as how important it is to take a rigorous schedule of honors and AP classes, but do all the recruited athletes at elite schools really have straight As in rigorous schedules?[/quote]

This is generally a school specific question, but we want to see near a 4.0 UW or at it. I don’t know the exact score range we want, maybe a 3.75+? We don’t ask for all A’s, but we want to see mostly A’s. Also, the coaches consider the rigor of the coursework and we have worked with them to let them know what we’re looking for.

[quote] 1) Let me rephrase my question: Are you USING the current concordance tables? Are you attempting to scale new SAT scores to old SAT or ACT? 
2) You said you are waiting for CB to release a more accurate table...is that something you expect to happen in this admissions cycle? Has CB indicated this is coming? [/quote]

1. We used the concordance tables to get a sense of how to evaluate new SAT scores, but we’re not scaling scores. On their profile, all of the applicants tests- old, new SAT, ACT, etc- will be detailed, no scaling. 
2. Not sure, we don’t know how College Board will work on this. I think we’ll have to wait for data from more schools to see if there’s something egregiously off with the new SAT concordance charts. It’s hard to tell at the moment what the specific cause is for new SAT scores being lower than old ones. 
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics