AP exams allow schools to judge across school districts/states. An A at Walter Johnson in MCPS may or may not be the same as an A at Walter Johnson in Des Moines, IA

Anonymous wrote:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/opinion/rethinking-college-admissions.html?ref=opinion

If the best schools begin to actively discourage college resume padding, what happens to the grinds and tiger parenting offspring? Are they going to take their smarts and find purpose and meaning to channel their energy and hard work? Or are they going to stick to their conventional path and game their essays and interviews to fake passion and commitment to get in? Are they going to shift their attention to those really great state universities that are too big to do holistic admissions and abandon the Ivies? What will you do?

This is already happening . . . and don't forget the "social justice" projects that consist of shaking down your wealthy parents' friends for money, then mailing in a check to your "cause" -- rather than actually participating in any volunteer work that might conflict with your "outdoor leadership" program, (translation: glamping).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the intent is noble, but it seems largely self-serving, to the extent some of those schools want maximum discretion to describe their admissions policies as holistic and then turn away Asian students.

I see what you mean, but isn't it also possible that colleges want to have successful philosophy, theater, psychology, fine arts, and language and literature departments, etc. in which student success is less correlated with high schoolers' standardized tests? And dare I say, less common choices for Asian Americans?

Do you have any actual evidence for this, or, dare I say, are you simply indulging in casual racism?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the intent is noble, but it seems largely self-serving, to the extent some of those schools want maximum discretion to describe their admissions policies as holistic and then turn away Asian students.

It's the 20's and 30's again. Except instead of Jews, it's now asians. The sad thing is, Jews are now in positions of power in academia but have quickly turned a blind eye on this.

I guess phenotype and 'passing' really make those lessons forgotten.

I find the knee jerk reaction from fellow Asian-Americans perplexing. Why the assumption that our children can't be athletes, artists, philosophers, leaders and have genuine interests rather than what their parents read in "Harvard Girl?" Look at the really successful young entrepreneurs in China - they are not all gaokao top scorers. Everyone I know in S. Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and China is appalled by the crushing conformity and pressure put on young people and how it just kills creativity and new ideas. They talk about it as a central cause of the economic and cultural malaise much of Asia has been mired in. Only developing countries need their entire educated class focused on engineering and medicine. No one believes that adult talent is fully predicted by standardized testing or the ability to relentlessly memorize everything. Most high scorers won't make it past middle management, so an elite institution wants other characteristics to better predict future accomplishments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the intent is noble, but it seems largely self-serving, to the extent some of those schools want maximum discretion to describe their admissions policies as holistic and then turn away Asian students.

I see what you mean, but isn't it also possible that colleges want to have successful philosophy, theater, psychology, fine arts, and language and literature departments, etc. in which student success is less correlated with high schoolers' standardized tests? And dare I say, less common choices for Asian Americans?

It seems like a straw-man argument. Can Harvard not find students now for the Hasty Pudding Club? Is there a shortage of Whiffenpoofs at Yale, or members of the Triangle Club at Princeton?

I think there is a lot of truth to the notion that the emphasis on APs and standardized assessments takes away from real academic engagement. But, I doubt the system will change much in the short term, unfortunately.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the intent is noble, but it seems largely self-serving, to the extent some of those schools want maximum discretion to describe their admissions policies as holistic and then turn away Asian students.

I see what you mean, but isn't it also possible that colleges want to have successful philosophy, theater, psychology, fine arts, and language and literature departments, etc. in which student success is less correlated with high schoolers' standardized tests? And dare I say, less common choices for Asian Americans?

Language and literature are not on the SAT?

Anonymous wrote:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/opinion/rethinking-college-admissions.html?ref=opinion

If the best schools begin to actively discourage college resume padding, what happens to the grinds and tiger parenting offspring? Are they going to take their smarts and find purpose and meaning to channel their energy and hard work? Or are they going to stick to their conventional path and game their essays and interviews to fake passion and commitment to get in? Are they going to shift their attention to those really great state universities that are too big to do holistic admissions and abandon the Ivies? What will you do?

This is so condescending. You are such an elitist. You devalue somebody whose goal is to make a lot of money or have a prestigious job. Why not accept that some of us want things like that?

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the intent is noble, but it seems largely self-serving, to the extent some of those schools want maximum discretion to describe their admissions policies as holistic and then turn away Asian students.

I see what you mean, but isn't it also possible that colleges want to have successful philosophy, theater, psychology, fine arts, and language and literature departments, etc. in which student success is less correlated with high schoolers' standardized tests? And dare I say, less common choices for Asian Americans?

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the intent is noble, but it seems largely self-serving, to the extent some of those schools want maximum discretion to describe their admissions policies as holistic and then turn away Asian students.

It's the 20's and 30's again. Except instead of Jews, it's now asians. The sad thing is, Jews are now in positions of power in academia but have quickly turned a blind eye on this.

I guess phenotype and 'passing' really make those lessons forgotten.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the intent is noble, but it seems largely self-serving, to the extent some of those schools want maximum discretion to describe their admissions policies as holistic and then turn away Asian students.

+1

+2 more holistic admissions just means that the brand of the high school will matter more. We are just pushing admissions pressure downwards.

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the intent is noble, but it seems largely self-serving, to the extent some of those schools want maximum discretion to describe their admissions policies as holistic and then turn away Asian students.

+1

Perhaps the intent is noble, but it seems largely self-serving, to the extent some of those schools want maximum discretion to describe their admissions policies as holistic and then turn away Asian students.

Since when are grades, test scores and academic rigor considered "padding" on a resume?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/opinion/rethinking-college-admissions.html?ref=opinion

If the best schools begin to actively discourage college resume padding, what happens to the grinds and tiger parenting offspring? Are they going to take their smarts and find purpose and meaning to channel their energy and hard work? Or are they going to stick to their conventional path and game their essays and interviews to fake passion and commitment to get in? Are they going to shift their attention to those really great state universities that are too big to do holistic admissions and abandon the Ivies? What will you do?