Reply to Feedback for admissions offices: what did you like/dislike about the process?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't understand the purpose of requiring IQ tests for young children (or maybe any children).  They are really expensive and of such limited utility.  I wish it was not the norm around here--I was shocked when I found out it was.[/quote]

You're complaining about spending around 400 bucks but you're applying to private school?  Not getting that.[/quote]

The obvious purpose is to not have laggards in the room. That's the one main academic benefit vs public, especially combined with smaller class sizes.[/quote]

"Laggards"?

Trust me, kids who do poorly on these tests at age 3 can turn out to be superstars later. Kids who do well on these test can turn into "laggards" later.

Schools know this. They ask for these tests because it gives the process a false aura of empiricism.[/quote]

You don't understand statistics, or how to make complex decisions in zero sum game environments.

Those tests, while imperfect, are still better than anything else, when used appropriately.[/quote]

And you, my friend, don't understand much about these tests. Again: under age 8 or so, there is very little stability in scores. The same child can be 15th percentile at age 3, 95th at age 4, and 60th at age 5. Schools take note of the kid whose scores are the very top and the very bottom, both of which can flag a child whose needs the school will not be able to meet (either b/c the child has severe learning issues or is so advanced he/she will be bored). For other kids the scores are largely irrelevant to admissions decisions -- though at times they are helpful to admissions staff who need to articulate a quasi-objective reason for rejecting Big Donor's kid).[/quote]

Great job. You are making my same point, at 5 times the length. [/quote]

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