<p>The latest example of the devolution, dilution, and pollution of higher standards of education at the Ivy League is brought to us today by the Boston Globe in an article authored by a Mr. Contreas.</p>
<p>According to Mr. Contreras, four Lawrence High School (accredited yet?) graduates will be attending Harvard and Brown in the fall. Two of the graduates scored 1900 on the SAT. Oddly, Lawrence superintendent Wilfredo T. Laboy (has he passed the certification test yet?) praised, according to Contreras, all four for their "perfect" or "near perfect" scores. 1900 is not perfect, nor is it near perfect. In fact, 1900 can more accurately be characterized as "far from perfect."</p>
<p>With literally thousands of Valedictorians with perfect (by the way, that would be 2400) scores being rejected by Harvard and Brown, which four more qualified students didn't make the cut. Makes one wonder if the cut is worth making.</p>
<p>Did you even read the article? They apparently come from a background where people struggle to even learn basic english. These Valedictorians with perfect scores are usually from Upper-Middle Class whose parents provide them with ample resource.</p>
<p>Judging from the no. of posts I'm assuming you're nothing more than a troll!</p>
<p>I DID read the article, and I have to say, I thought the 1900 as a "perfect or near perfect score" comment was a little odd. I reread it a few times to see if that comment was referring to another test score.</p>
<p>As far as being a troll... just because someone decides to post on CC for the first time, why does that make them a troll? This issue obviously has hit a nerve for gimme a break, and he/she decided to post. We ALL had a first time!! ;)</p>
<p>GAB, this story sounds like a classic American rags to riches story. While your sanctimonious, vitriol is not surprising, it's unwarranted. Those who follow this site know for the most part how admission works in these schools. These young people happen to be the most fortunate. They are the exceptions and not the rule. Given their upbringing, it would seem likely that they will make the most of their good fortune. I would hope that most posters would be happy for them as opposed to lamenting the process that allowed them this wonderful opportunity.</p>
<p>Yes, that's just what we need. Students struggling to learn English permeating the Ivy League. That being said, I do not mean to diminish the significance of their achievements. But it isn't Harvard Community College, is it? I suppose I am operating under misperception that the brightest students attend the Ivys. </p>
<p>Please, enough with the class struggle pablum. It diminishes the real achievements of students, regardless of race, gender or class.</p>
<p>By the way, I've been reading CC for over one year. Just couldn't stand it anymore.</p>
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It diminishes the real achievements of students, regardless of race, gender or class.
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<p>Are you downgrading their achievements as students? I for one am happy for them. They went from immigrants (and having to learn new languages) to one of the top schools in the world. What's wrong with that? Everyone that knows anything about college admissions knows two things.</p>
<p>1) Scores don't tell the whole story, college admissions is a holistic process
2) College admissions involve some luck. </p>
<p>These people are exceptions to the rule that the top Ivy's are reserved to the 2400's and the 4.0's.</p>
<p>Once Harvard and Brown abolished the $10 million dollars donation and your-child-is-in "delay admissions," then I'll feel outrage about them accepting 1900 SAT student.</p>
<p>I meant to add that Lawrence, Massachusetts is a very impoverished city--full of many immigrants who work hard to get their piece of the American dream</p>
<p>The drop out rate at Lawrence High School is quite high. Those living in Lawrence face an uphill battle and must deal with rampant gang activity and other sorts of crime</p>
<p>The Ivy League is fortunate to get students like these young women who have clearly overcome the odds</p>
<p>Yes, this is one of those "feel good" stories, we will read it today and forget it tomorrow, but for these girls, this will be their lives for the next four years.
Is it really the best choice for them? Are they being set up for success or for failure?</p>
Is it really the best choice for them? Are they being set up for success or for failure?
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<p>According to the user JHS, some Harvard admits are conditionally accepted; they must complete remediation during the summer before they can enroll in the fall.</p>
<p>Given that their high school and living environment seem to be difficult and harsh, earning a 1900 on the SAT is commendable. Having said that, I don't believe they are a good match for Harvard. I think they would be better off at one of the UMass campuses, where their achievements would make them highly competitive within the school.</p>
<p>But, Harvard does take care of its conditional admits. Good work ethic and remediation mean that these students are not being set up for failure.</p>
<p>Congratulations to these young girls! Schools like Brown and Harvard look very carefully at students during the admissions process, and look at the whole student. I trust their judgement that these girls will thrive at these universities. To suggest, based on an SAT score alone, that they are a poor fit for these universities is absurd. A 1900 is a respectable score especially for students who don't have the advantage of expensive SAT prep. The SAT is just a test that measures your ability to do well on the SAT. It is not an infallible measure of intelligence.</p>
<p>leonine, how familiar are you with the Lawrence Public School system? These girls have an uphill battle. I hope as fabrizio suggested that they are offered some remediation program.
I think it is interesting that you say that the SAT is not an infallible measure of intelligence, but yet you seem to think that the Harvard admissions office is infallible in their judgement.</p>
<p>If the SAT alone does not measure intelligence, how about SAT II Exams, AP Exams, and grades? Why do you presume that students that do well are affluent and have extensive pre-SAT prep? Why do you find it necessary to defend academically deficient students by playing the social victim card? </p>
<p>Furthermore, to the extent that joining the "million dollar plus donation" clubs guarantees acceptance at the Ivys is equally reprehensible. See? Not about class. It's about brainpower. I'm amazed that you can type with your hearts bleeding all over your keyboards.</p>
<p>I kind of agree with you, gimme a break. However, I've come to realize that the elite college admissions in America isn't completely about merit, and that is something I cannot change. I suppose if it were completely based on merit, then maybe all those kids who attend prestigious private prep schools would only get in.</p>
<p>The commonly-held notion of "merit" in college admissions is flawed. I don't necessarily think that someone with a 2400 and 4.0 necessarily deserves admittance over someone with a 2000 and 3.7. I think colleges take a number of factors into consideration which aren't always directly related to grades or SAT and AP scores. Maybe someone is simply a harder worker, though not necessarily as bright. And maybe this is what makes them desirable to the admittance officers. Maybe someone has much more enthusiasm than someone with perfect scores but not that much ambition. The truth is we don't know why certain people are picked over those who are seemingly more "qualified" on paper. But I like to think, perhaps naively, that these institutions have had years to determine the best way to choose students. In short, the merit system rightly isn't simply based on grades and SAT scores.</p>
<p>Some people will just be jealous. So what if they got a 1900? They lived in an impoverished area and overcame the odds. To me, they are more qualified than the uppity-rich people who have boarding school educations and who have had everything handed to them on a silver platter. Get over it -- they deserved it. And if some rich, New England kid gets rejected because they were accepted, so be it. </p>
<p>And for people who were saying Harvard may not be the best fit -- who are you to judge? Harvard picked them, not you. Leave those decisions to the admissions committee -- they are the most qualified to answer, not you.</p>
<p>Geez, I'm sad that there are actually people out there bitter that kids overcoming the odds actually are going to one of the greatest schools in the nation.</p>
In short, the merit system rightly isn't simply based on grades and SAT scores.
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<p>Nor should it be, in my opinion.</p>
<p>To me, merit also includes the following:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Results in extracurriculars. For example, first / second / third place in debate, math, oratory, literary, science, and other competitions at the local, state, and national levels.</p></li>
<li><p>Results in other well-known competitions, such as YES and ISEF to name only two.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Basically, merit is demonstrated achievement and potential. It is not just SAT and GPA, although many of its critics like to simplify it down to that.</p>
<p>We don't need to worry whether or not these students will struggle. They have good work ethic, and they will attend schools that take care of their conditional admits.</p>