ADCOMS DEBATE: PersonalQualities VS Grades/TestScores

Applying to College
1

<p>Alright, so I posted something of the similar, but this post is MEANT for you guys to fight over who is right.</p>

<p>THE ARENA:</p>

<h1>1ranked school in the United States (dont wanna specify, this is general)</h1>

<p>(I wanna make the post vague so that you guys can put in your own factors.)</p>

<p>Here's the general conflict between admitting people: Do you think essays/extracirriculars/personality is more important than grades/testscores, or vice versa? To what extent are grades acceptable for '#1rankedschool'? To what extent is personality acceptable to '#1rankedschool'? Is it different for math/science majors? etc.etc.</p>

<p>MY ARGUMENT: passion is the most important thing, grades just need to be satisfactory.</p>

<p>2 People from the same school want to major in EnvScience at '#1rankedschool'</p>

<p>personA: 4.0 GPA, varsity athlete, communityservicemen, EnviroscienceAP
personB: 3.5 GPA, president of green club, enviroscience</p>

<p>I would admit personB, because he shows his passion for the environment through being president of the green club... so what do YOU think?</p>

<p>PS not restricted to the situation above, I just put that as my example</p>

<p>PSS i know ranking is not important, for the sake of argument, lets say it is</p>

<p>edit: Being president of green club means more than it says. Lets say the guy organizes many environmental awareness rallies. Rigorous activism on the streets. Writes letters to legislators. Lobbies for environmental protection etc. etc. super passionate show, all in all.</p>

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<p>Grades and test scores get you past the "first read" so to speak. Without a GPA and SAT/ACT score that is in range for the school, they aren't even going to get to your essay or really delve into you ECs. I read somewhere that the first application read takes all of 7 minutes. If you don't past this initial read, you have no shot. </p>

<p>I personally would choose applicant A because their scores and GPA are much better and I don't really think being president of one club shows your interest that much as compared to the first applicant. If applicant A is taking AP Enviro and is active in community service I certainly think that that is as good as being president of the green club. Also top colleges love varsity athletes and especially ones with great grades.</p>

3

<p>Again and again, adcoms will tell you that the #1 most important factor is the transcript (i.e. grades + rigor). </p>

<p>I would also pick person A. Substantially higher GPA and varsity athlete. Being president of one club (person B) doesn't really prove anything. Person A managed to balance sports and maintain a perfect GPA which is fairly demanding depending on the school.</p>

4

<p>cadence: you have a pony in the race. your position is very clear on this subject. This thread will quickly devolve into a flame thread where you take one position and others attack you. You should just let it lie. </p>

<p>You've made your point elsewhere, no one backs you, and you try again with this thread. Sorry, but I won't play any longer</p>

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<p>They won't ever look into an applicants personal qualities if they don't have the stats.</p>

6

<p>I'd probably say Person A would be admitted at the high end school for sure</p>

<p>This might be a better example of your point-</p>

<p>MAJOR: Poly Sci at an Ivy</p>

<p>PersonA: GPA:4.0 rank:3 SAT:2360 EC: Math club, NHS, Volunteer Club, Tennis Club, engineering technology club, State Science Fair winner x2, green club volunteer, store cashier- see where I'm going?</p>

<p>PersonB: GPA: 3.67 rank:58 SAT: 2090 EC: Student Gov President, Student Government 4 or so years, Varsity Athlete, YMCA Youth in Government, Foreign Travel, high foreign language proficiency, stated career interest as a Foreign Service Officer, work as tennis coach, etc.</p>

<p>I don't think passion alone can raise the dead so to speak, but a strong subjective profile can certainly outweigh a lackluster objective profile.</p>

<p>So in a sense you're right- a focused interest works well.</p>

<p>Most applications have themes... and you can describe an applicant in a sentence or two.</p>

<p>Your example is too vague for it to be valid. Imo person A would be admitted, since being president of the green club certainly does not outweigh the other candidates advantage of .5 in gpa, AP course level, AND varsity athlete.</p>

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<p>I don't really think this situation shows much, but maybe someone with a 3.75 GPA, a 2050 SAT, a year round sport with a daily two hour commitment, who was president of a club he/she was passionate about, and was an activist or something (if it was enviro. club or something), and managed to write a good or even great essay. Would that person be better than the girl who has a 4.0 UW GPA, but does nothing except some useless clubs, study, and do the mandatory essay contests that her classes require (but she does well on them). I mean, I personally think that while the first person doesn't have the same kind of obsessive drive, he/she seems more intellectual and passionate which is what will cause success in the world.</p>

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<p>This thread is stupid. Adcoms at top universities have so many applications glowing with "passion" that they could settle their "debates" with rock, paper, scissor.</p>

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<p>That would be hilarious to see.</p>