<p>They may very well choose kid 2. I think you underestimate how selective Ivies are. However it gets tricky. Kid 2 was better prepped for the SAT for who knows what reason, so in this case using the SAT to determine capability at an Ivy will be dicey. Ivies really aren’t but so hard (especially places like Brown w/a 3.6 average graduating GPA). A person with a 1300 (the person w/the 1950) could probably handle it just as the person with the 2300 SAT. Remember that exams in university courses are often (and especially at top Us) not standardized or multiple choice. Also, assuming that both people were enrolled, it is assumed they can pay for the prep. material for those classes (the books) whether via scholarship, their own cash, etc. Given that, if “both” were admitted, the playing field is kind of level. They can easily compete directly w/each other (before, during prep for the SAT, the wealthy student could probably easily afford tutoring, test prep. books, etc. whereas Kid 1 may not be able to do so). Also, top schools have abundant support services which can be used to ensure success (surprisingly, at Emory, both prepped and unprepped students use it, so it’s not like the underprepped students are straining resources. If anything, the student w/the 2300 SAT is complacent and doesn’t use them or study as hard and gets lower grades than a person w/1950-2100. This happens a lot)
I like to assess how and what they can do once they get there. I would honestly use the GPA and maybe look at intended major. If STEM for both, I would be more inclined to choose kid 2 (I think SAT math in particular may speak in this case).</p>
<p>Also, I think the problem in these discussions is that it assumes that it was a URM who “took someone’s spot”. I think you would be surprised to find the number of white people who may fall into the 25 percentile at top schools. After all, if the URM accounts for maybe 13-20% (I think ours is 15%), then URMs cannot be the only ones occupying the bottom 25%. Many of them are international students with low critical reading scores (as low as the 4-500 range). It seems no surprise that last year, when 17% of the freshmen joining Emory were international, that the top 75% went up, but the bottom 25% went down (I could indeed be reading too much into it, but there was apparently dramatically increased demand for English as a Second Language course). Also, I know a Vietnamese student who was from a poorer background who got in w/a 1240 (I am from a poorer background and my SAT was slightly above the 1380 something average of my class, and I am African American. Taking AP classes seriously made the SAT seem fairly doable once I got to it). I also know many URMs who did not gain admissions w/scores between 11-1300 something (one was my friend from HS who was rejected ED and then told me to apply RD since I had lots of APs and a much higher SAT), so it gets weird (I also know many URMs with about my score and several w/higher scores). There are also many in the bottom 25% that are actually excelling, in the STEMs at that. I think you’ll be surprised. </p>
<p>I really don’t know if that hypothetical situation happens like this. You’d also need their essays, particularly for any schools that care about yield/interest or have unique curricula/student body. Normally, they probably look at the stuff you posted, look at the essays, and determine if they are a fit and will take advantage of what they have to offer. I really think the admissions officers at top schools (minus engineering schools) understand that their schools are, again, not but so difficult, so quite a large range of SAT scores are indicative of being able to handle the work. If they always simply looked at otherwise even “stats” and chose the higher SAT score, then the school is merely cherry-picking SATs to preserve selectivity, thus maintain or preserve rank as opposed to choosing a qualified “fit.” If they don’t choose the qualified “fit”, they may not have any chance of yielding the students. And even if they do, it may be possible that retention suffers (like the many in the 75% at schools like mine, that certainly did not have Emory as a top choice as they really wanted HPY or some top 10. Given that Emory actually uses interests, it now rejects a fair share of students that would be in the 75%)</p>
<p>Yeah, I think the admissions process/scheme is much more difficult than simply “admitting the URM who has overcome hardship over the awesome wealthy kid with stellar scores”. You must also look into the inclination now-a-days (in this economy) to admit the wealthier student as they are less likely to need financial assistance. Yes, some of the top schools are actually not need-blind. Emory claims to be, but I am suspicious after seeing the international student pop. for last year balloon from 11-17%, and even seeing Oxford’s balloon to 20%. No doubt getting a full payment for first semester up front provided incentive for this sudden increase. They serve as a revenue source. </p>
<p>Yeah, my point is, admissions to top schools is very iffy. We can’t assume someone w/a 2300 SAT was rejected b/c a URM took their spot. Maybe the school sensed that they had no chance of yielding the 2300 SAT student, and perhaps gave it to an Asian with a 2100-2150 (and forbid it if this person is also wealthier than the 2300 student). For some reason it seems to bring more comfort by pointing at the URM w/the 1950-2100 score and saying they took the spot instead saying a wealthier non-URM with a better essay took my spot (also, this idea of “taking spots” is taking it too personal. I mean, I understand the frustration but…).</p>
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