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And for people who were saying Harvard may not be the best fit -- who are you to judge?
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<p>So, I can't give my opinion? Didn't know our nation was heading toward the direction of a state that places excess limits on freedom of speech.</p>
<p>You can say whatever you like, but in the end, it was the admissions committee's decision and it sort of upsets me that people are actually wondering whether Harvard is the best fit or not. They chose Harvard and Harvard chose them. If they're not happy, they'll go elsewhere. Why is it so hard to just accept that there are people who you may not necessarily think deserve to be there whose best fit school is Harvard?</p>
<p>big schools always have to have a few of these "inspirational" stories every year in order to persuade more people to apply. things like this are nothing more than a media stunt. people who settle for "hand me downs" usually cant do things by themselves</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>
<p>I'm sad that there are people out there who automatically hate people due to the economic situation (rich) that they are born into. Who are you to say that everything has been handed to them? Do you understand how full of hypocrisy your post is? </p>
<p>"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>Wow, go cry.</p>
<p>did you ever stop and think that maybe the Ivies dont care as much about SAT scores as you think?</p>
<p>Tyler,</p>
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did you ever stop and think that maybe the Ivies dont care as much about SAT scores as you think?
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<p>Before you wrote this, did you consider for one microsecond the possibility that a graduate of a failing high school will be inadequately prepared for Harvard?</p>
<p>SAT scores aren’t everything, but since the “holistic” crowd likes to tout the “whole person” so much, they should recognize that these students may have had insufficient preparation for the environment they’ll face. Then again, that’s why these schools have remediation.</p>
<p>Imagine how great it will be (haven't read the article, just the posts) when these students can be Harvard-grad leaders for their ethnic or economic populations. </p>
<p>From the very beginning in this country, people or institutions have been giving bright, ambitious newcomers a break. </p>
<p>You just have to appreciate the creativity, determination, and industry required to overcome certain hardships. Deciding who to let into college is a complicated process, and one person's 1900 might be more impressive than another's 2200 when the file in its entirety is considered.</p>
<p>Also consider that these SAT scores probably resulted from absolutely no preparation. </p>
<p>Choking_victim, you probably have it nice. Good social status, more than enough wealth, and nobody is hating you for that. It's people in that social class that hate lower class students for overcoming the challenges that you will never be able to hope to understand and taking a spot in universities that you have been raised to believe rightfully belongs to people of your class... Think about that for a second.</p>
<p>I don't doubt that students from failing high schools do need some extra help to meet the academic challenges of an Ivy League school. I am a resident of MA and somewhat familar with schools like Lawrence schools. But these girls worked very hard, had great grades and I suspect they will be able to meet the challenges ahead of them even if there are some bumps in the road, and maybe they will value the opportunity more than some of the folks who simply feel entitled to be there. As for the SAT all I can say is that I know many intelligent kids with widely varying scores. I know a kid who got 1100 (old test) and got straight As at BU. She had all the prep money could buy, just wasn't a good tester, but she is a good and intelligent student. My own daughter got just under 2300 with no prep. Is she an order of magnitude brighter than the other kid, not in any way that I can quantify. I think there is a tendency to want everything to be cut and dry and have it be all about the numbers, and obvisouly the numbers count, but ultimately intelligence is all about how you use it. I suspect these girls will make good use of the opportunity before them.</p>
<p>leonine,</p>
<p>Thank you, that was a well-written and fair post.</p>
<p>"Choking_victim, you probably have it nice. Good social status, more than enough wealth, and nobody is hating you for that. It's people in that social class that hate lower class students for overcoming the challenges that you will never be able to hope to understand and taking a spot in universities that you have been raised to believe rightfully belongs to people of your class... Think about that for a second."</p>
<p>You're right, I do have it nice, and I'm grateful every day that I wake up that I'm able to live the way I live. What ticks me off is the constant use of the word "you". When you say "...taking a spot in universities that you have been raised to believe rightfully belongs to people of your class", how do you know that I believe that I rightfully belong at Princeton, Duke, Stanford, etc? Are you basing your opinion off of a few snotty rich kids that you've come across that possess this attitude, or do you really know every single priviledged child of America? All I'm trying to point out is that this unecessary prejudice against people, rich or poor, based solely on wealth, is disgusting and needs to stop.</p>
<p>" I am a resident of MA and somewhat familar with schools like Lawrence schools. But these girls worked very hard, had great grades and I suspect they will be able to meet the challenges ahead of them even if there are some bumps in the road, and maybe they will value the opportunity more
than some of the folks who simply feel entitled to be there."</p>
<p>leonine, I am VERY familiar with the Lawrence School System, I teach at a Community College where we have many graduates from Lawrence. I have first hand knowledge of the lack of preparation these students have. These girls will definitely have some "bumps in the road", however, with hard work and some support ( remediation would be a wonderful plan- not only for these girls, but for many students who are coming from failing high schools) they may be able to overcome any obstacles and be successful. I wish them luck.
I only wish that our country would try to address these inequities in our educational system starting at the pre-K level, so that all children would be getting the the type of quality education that would prepare them to attend ANY college, Ivy or not.</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>What? I thought only 250 people got a perfect SAT score every year.</p>
<p>Don't you love affirmative action? </p>
<p>I'd be complaining if these people were privileged, but they weren't AT ALL... so I guess I'm okay with the fact that they got into the Ivies. On the other hand, had they gone to some elite private school and earned 1900's on the SAT's, I'd have a HUGE problem with their acceptance. That's all. :)</p>
<p>Don't these schools have a 97-98% 4 year grad rate. As for the numbers people, seems the odds are in their favor. Seems that whatever they are doing with their incoming students supports completion of their degree.</p>
<p>I've heard that Harvard is one of the HARDEST schools to get into, but also one of the HARDEST to flunk out of.</p>
<p>aquamarinee... there may be only 250 perfect scores in ONE sitting one the SATs, but Harvard(like many colleges) "superscores" the SATs, meaning they take the highest score of each test each time you take it, so there are more students who obtain 2400 this way.</p>
<p>I didn't talk about perfect scores. What are you talking about?</p>
<p>Harvard wanted them there, so they accepted them. Harvard is so powerful and prestigious that they can accept whoever they want. In fact, if they wanted they could accept only kids who scored exactly 2000 on their SATs.</p>
<p>Just because you're a valedictorian with a 2400 SAT, excellent ECs, Invented the IPod, and won an award from Jesus doesn't mean you have a "spot" at Harvard. Nobody can take a "spot" you don't have, so nobody should be complaining. They aren't obligated to take anybody.</p>
<p>i'd rather have the name jesus</p>