Reply to Insider Perspectives from a Highly Selective Admissions Office

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[quote=Anonymous][quote]Isn't it a little silly to aim for diversity as measured by the census while at the same time claiming to admit the strongest students?
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Yes, I see how it can be perceived as such. None of us think the admissions process is perfect. There are many flaws, and that's why we work together with our peers to find better ways in making the process equitable.

[quote]My DD has struggled for many years with anxiety and depression. She is also extremely bright, a terrific writer, and gets excellent grades. She is thriving now, and has written essays on her experience, and I suspect that she may want to write about her anxiety experience in her application essays. Is this a bad idea? Would an admissions office conclude that a student with anxiety & depression would be a poor fit for a rigorous college program? Or would she be viewed favorably as someone who has learned to manage her condition?[/quote]

Tough question. I think the answer to this really depends on the person reading the application. In my personal situation, I know what depression and anxiety are like (was a psychology major), so I feel a level of sympathy. But I do know many people who perceive anyone with a mental illness as being weak or unfit for a rigorous college education. Unfortunately, despite all the training we get, we are built with different worldviews and will react to certain things differently. My encouragement would be to avoid the topic. I know it's likely an important one and one that highlights how much she has overcome, but I feel it would be better addressed by a letter of recommendation than by her directly.

[quote]Interesting. There are many colleges who provide alumni "interviews" but very few who've ever used the alumni feedback towards admissions. You're saying that at this college the admissions office did use this information in previous years?[/quote]

Yes, we read all the interviews we receive from our official sources from the applicants who're not pre-rejected.

[quote]How old are you, OP?[/quote]
Very young for an admissions officer. I do know that there was a SAT on a 1600 scale before the old SAT; I may have misread the comment.[/quote]

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