Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT needs to go back to being an IQ test and should be the basis of admission along with gpa. No more extracurriculars! They are turning high schoolers into freaks who can do research but can barely process information.

Not the American way. The culture of college in the US is academics plus social life/athletics/clubs/etc.

It was the American way for most of America. This shift is relatively recent and has become poisonous to our institutions who've had to reduce the quality of te education to keep up with the test optional dummies and the 1520, which now means nothing. We need smart people back in our top colleges.

The American way for most of America was rich/white/connected regardless of intellect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT needs to go back to being an IQ test and should be the basis of admission along with gpa. No more extracurriculars! They are turning high schoolers into freaks who can do research but can barely process information.

God no. That's the last thing these schools want. Talk about a class of freaks, a bunch of kids with great SATs and perfect GPAs and zero going on outside of that

It’s funny, I work with tons of people with super high GPA and test scores and they’re generally interesting people with lots of different hobbies. Massively different personalities too. Not sure why you think high grades and scores necessarily mean deficits in other areas.

You work with people who have gotten through interview processes. If the only screen is GPA and IQ, you'll have plenty wouldn't get over that bar

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT needs to go back to being an IQ test and should be the basis of admission along with gpa. No more extracurriculars! They are turning high schoolers into freaks who can do research but can barely process information.

It never was an IQ test. Debunked. Inform yourself.

The old SAT with the analogies section was basically an IQ test. It correlated as well with IQ tests as IQ tests did with other IQ tests. The changes made in the last 15 or so years have made this less and less true. There’s still a pretty good correlation, but it’s not as high as it used to be.

Analogies are the easiest section to coach. The old test had to change its name from "Aptitude " to "Assessment " because it was proven nor to measure IQ. This was in the 70s I think. Not an IQ test. Wasn't then, isn't now. Stop promoting fake news.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one's educational experience is enhanced by a class of drones. That being said, for highly selective schools I'd want to see the stress on class rigor and being challenged, GPA, SAT/ACT test scores, interesting ECs that really demonstrate some passion and talent, teacher recommendations, and can they write a compelling essay.

I'd get rid of legacy, significant wealth, and nearly all admissions advantages for athletes. If Duke wants a competitive basketball team, fine. I understand that's a special thing. Same with Notre Dame football. But crew and tennis and lacrosse and soccer and Columbia football are pretty ridiculous. The SLACs are usually appalling with this. Nearly half of Williams and Amherst are "athletes."

I'd also put way less emphasis on race even in the post SC era. Context always matters, but have seen way too many mediocre private school students getting spots solely because they check a box. It's never the brilliant kid from SE or the immigrant in Gaithersburg with the 1300 that gets into a T20. I would, however, really like to find the first generation and low income smart kids. That's a special group of students.

I'd also limit the international admits for undergrad. Grad school is a different story. But for undergrad, no student has ever said all that's missing from my college experience is more wealthy students from mainland China and the Persian Gulf.

Basically, less class. More talent.

No, they are STUDENT ATHLETES. They are generally kids whose academic chops are top tier AND they are competitive on a field or court.

Yeah, it’s actually pretty humbling to see what some of these kids have accomplished. These aren’t the old jock stereotypes at all. We have a family friend that got into HYP this year - 4.0 GPA, perfect SAT *and* one of the top in our state (a large one) for their sport (that isn’t a country club sport). A lot of people are in denial that there is a large group of applicants that are both elite academically and then an elite athlete on top of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT needs to go back to being an IQ test and should be the basis of admission along with gpa. No more extracurriculars! They are turning high schoolers into freaks who can do research but can barely process information.

God no. That's the last thing these schools want. Talk about a class of freaks, a bunch of kids with great SATs and perfect GPAs and zero going on outside of that

How horrible. Academia full of...academics, instead of future middle managers. Whatever will we do if we actually supported innovation and intellectuals rather than the next consultant at Deloitte?!

This is where there is a disconnect. The middle managers are the ones with the high scores. The athletes (who have just as high scores at most places) are the CEOs.

Largely due to business nepotism. DC recently showed me internship opportunities that are only available to "Student athletes" for a hedge fund investment analyst and quant trading position. What a ridiculous qualification for a life-changing internship.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT needs to go back to being an IQ test and should be the basis of admission along with gpa. No more extracurriculars! They are turning high schoolers into freaks who can do research but can barely process information.

God no. That's the last thing these schools want. Talk about a class of freaks, a bunch of kids with great SATs and perfect GPAs and zero going on outside of that

How horrible. Academia full of...academics, instead of future middle managers. Whatever will we do if we actually supported innovation and intellectuals rather than the next consultant at Deloitte?!

This is where there is a disconnect. The middle managers are the ones with the high scores. The athletes (who have just as high scores at most places) are the CEOs.

Largely due to business nepotism. DC recently showed me internship opportunities that are only available to "Student athletes" for a hedge fund investment analyst and quant trading position. What a ridiculous qualification for a life-changing internship.

Nepotism implies a personal relationship. Some employers like athletes because of traits they associate with sports- perseverance, dealing with failure, teamwork, leadership.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCUM's defense of athletic recruitment reminds us all that it is not about making a fair system for education sake, but about how Lily at Sidwell can backdoor her way into a college.

Look at the posted mission statement of any T20. Most are about developing future leaders, not future professors

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who is fine with the way it is?

Anonymous wrote:DCUM's defense of athletic recruitment reminds us all that it is not about making a fair system for education sake, but about how Lily at Sidwell can backdoor her way into a college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT needs to go back to being an IQ test and should be the basis of admission along with gpa. No more extracurriculars! They are turning high schoolers into freaks who can do research but can barely process information.

God no. That's the last thing these schools want. Talk about a class of freaks, a bunch of kids with great SATs and perfect GPAs and zero going on outside of that

How horrible. Academia full of...academics, instead of future middle managers. Whatever will we do if we actually supported innovation and intellectuals rather than the next consultant at Deloitte?!

This is where there is a disconnect. The middle managers are the ones with the high scores. The athletes (who have just as high scores at most places) are the CEOs.

Largely due to business nepotism. DC recently showed me internship opportunities that are only available to "Student athletes" for a hedge fund investment analyst and quant trading position. What a ridiculous qualification for a life-changing internship.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT needs to go back to being an IQ test and should be the basis of admission along with gpa. No more extracurriculars! They are turning high schoolers into freaks who can do research but can barely process information.

God no. That's the last thing these schools want. Talk about a class of freaks, a bunch of kids with great SATs and perfect GPAs and zero going on outside of that

How horrible. Academia full of...academics, instead of future middle managers. Whatever will we do if we actually supported innovation and intellectuals rather than the next consultant at Deloitte?!

This is where there is a disconnect. The middle managers are the ones with the high scores. The athletes (who have just as high scores at most places) are the CEOs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one's educational experience is enhanced by a class of drones. That being said, for highly selective schools I'd want to see the stress on class rigor and being challenged, GPA, SAT/ACT test scores, interesting ECs that really demonstrate some passion and talent, teacher recommendations, and can they write a compelling essay.

I'd get rid of legacy, significant wealth, and nearly all admissions advantages for athletes. If Duke wants a competitive basketball team, fine. I understand that's a special thing. Same with Notre Dame football. But crew and tennis and lacrosse and soccer and Columbia football are pretty ridiculous. The SLACs are usually appalling with this. Nearly half of Williams and Amherst are "athletes."

I'd also put way less emphasis on race even in the post SC era. Context always matters, but have seen way too many mediocre private school students getting spots solely because they check a box. It's never the brilliant kid from SE or the immigrant in Gaithersburg with the 1300 that gets into a T20. I would, however, really like to find the first generation and low income smart kids. That's a special group of students.

I'd also limit the international admits for undergrad. Grad school is a different story. But for undergrad, no student has ever said all that's missing from my college experience is more wealthy students from mainland China and the Persian Gulf.

Basically, less class. More talent.

You want "talent" but you kept ranting about athletes. You do know that athletic performance requires talent, right? So much so that as a general rule only about 7% of high school athletes have the talent to compete at any level in college.

And Amherst and Williams athletes are, in fact, genuine athletes not "athletes" in skeptical quotes as you put it.

I'm sorry your kid got cut from the 8th grade club team but why haven't you gotten over it by now?

Hate this disingenuous crap. Stop trying to degrade the person and just make your point. For most non-athletes, the athlete draw is an unfair process that shouldn't mean they can just walk into an elite institution. Especially at LACs, golf should not allow you to waltz into a campus. No one is going to the softball games, so why are we subsidizing them? Sure, these are genuine athletes, but lacrosse and crew should give the same EC boost as drawing or writing, not recruit you to the institution.

You are missing the point. They aren't just waltzing in and their academic achievement is on par with any other applicant. The idea that you think these kids aren't both high achieving students and high achieving athletes is misguided.

Well the rest of us have to observe that they clearly aren't academically bright and just hush up about it, so the prep kid parents don't get mad. These students aren't academically on par, and that lie needs to stop being spread. They are massively mediocre, posh moochers that couldn't get into a D1 program.

Based on my kid's current experience being recruited for D1 and selective SLACS, I can tell you that your broad-brushed observations are wrong. Especially with the SLAC's. On initial phone calls, after the pleasantries are done it goes right to how are your grades, what classes are you taking, can you send your official transcripts, what is your school profile, please send official class list for the next year, etc. If the process started real early, they will ask for transcripts at the end of every semester and cut those who aren't hitting what it will take to get in. Pre-read time is right around the corner, if they don't make it through that the coaches will find someone else. This is real, not an observation.