<p>So I was reading a college guide book, and it suggested multiple times that Elon "took average students and turned them on to the life of the mind." It continued to say that Elon "prides itself" in this. I have a hard time believing that Elon accepts average students when the admission rate is 40% and the SAT score range is well above average.</p>
<p>Am I missing something here?</p>
<p>Maybe it’s using “average” to describe students who would probably not get accepted at the more competitive, exclusive, prestigious schools.</p>
<p>KaiserinSisi makes a good point. My son has been impressed with the dedication of the professors, and their encouragement to have intellectual discussions in class. The academics are what he is most impressed with at Elon…</p>
<p>Elon puts together a unique class each year, full of students who are average in some areas and exceptional in others. Just because you have an average GPA or SAT score doesn’t mean you have average passion, creativity, leadership skills, or average ability to excel. I think Elon does the best job of perhaps any university of putting together a class of uniquely talented students that other schools might classify (wrongly) as average… </p>
<p>Until there is a better way to classify students by their unique potential instead of GPA/SAT stats, observers of Elon will always be shocked by how many average students are accepted while other statistically better qualified students are waitlisted…</p>
<p>I read that same guide book, but I think it’s getting harder for average kids to get in. Elon gets more selective every year. This year’s average SAT is around 1910.</p>
<p>“So I was reading a college guide book”…agree with BLK; you may want to look at the date that book was published and what date they are using stats from…</p>
<p>FWIW, Elon’s target SAT for 2009-2010 according to institutional publications was 1820 so if BLK is correct, they easily surpassed their goal…</p>
<p>In the new student orientation newsletter it says the Class of 2014 has
an average (mid 50%) SAT of 1915
and
an average GPA of 4.09.</p>
<p>scoutmom: was the average ACT listed as well? assuming 27/28 but just curious</p>
<p>No the ACT scores were not listed in the newsletter.</p>
<p>Regarding that GPA, Elon uses a 6.0 scale for GPA (A in AP = 6, A in honors = 5, A in regular/college prep = 4).</p>
<p>Elon has changed greatly in the last few decades. 20 - 30 years ago they were taking in truly average students. That’s not the case any more, but I think they still attract students who don’t necessarily think of themselves as “intellectual,” and who tend to be very involved with their EC’s - sports, leadership, community service, etc. Their students tend to be high achievers, but not usually valedictorians.</p>
<p>Elon seems to put tons of kids on their wait list and pluck from it pretty routinely.
I don’t know how that factors into its stated acceptance rate.</p>
<p>Reading through the Elon site has me concerned (drinking/partying). My high school senior is very interested in Elon but I am concerned with the academics in sciences and engineering. Can anyone speak to this? I have a smart child and want him to be challenged not “drift” through. Thanks</p>