Are colleges legally allowed...

Applying to College
41

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You definetly can. Many schools are female only.

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How on earth did they manage to get away with that?

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<p>You guys are forgetting that:</p>

<p>a) Not a lot of people know that it is illegal to do something like rejecting men from an all-women school.
b) Out of those who know, not a lot of people are willing to go to an all-women school.</p>

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It seems like you are under the impression that admissions decisions based on ethnicity and culture are absolutely illegal, when in fact they often play a large role in determining the distribution of the freshman class at a university.

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<p>It's not an impression. It's a fact. The problem is that, as someone pointed out, it's difficult to prove.</p>

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Did you get accepted at any of your schools?

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<p>Of course.</p>

<p>--</p>

<p>P.S. What I said in my previous post was a vague response to the off-topic generated by everybody else. It has little to do with me specifically, so you guys are wasting your time trying to relate any parts of it to me.

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<p>Student615,</p>

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And if your application was so incredibly perfect that you're near positive it's this single specific background issue that's causing you trouble, then I have to wonder why you included such obviously touchy information?

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<p>I am certain that: I had excellent recommendations, I left a positive impression on my interviewers, I was borderline qualified, and I had a reasonable (not too many and not too little) amount of EC's. So, it could very well be application boom of 2007.</p>

<p>The issue I have in mind is not necessarily a position, but just a detail from my history, that could be taken either positively or negatively depending on how it's looked at. I was hoping that it would be looked at from the positive point of view. I was not thinking about the negative side when I was filing the application, but hey... it is possible to find a negative side to anything.</p>

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But yes, as you say, it's your time, your money, and you (and presumably your parents) are certainly free to do what you want with both of them. If your application really was evaluated unfairly, then best of luck to you. And if nothing comes of your legal efforts, then best of luck in improving your situation through other means.

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<p>Thanks a lot for that. By the way... the only reason I want to find out the reasons for my rejections is so that I would be able to not make the same mistake(s) again. Not to change any of the decisions.</p>

42

<p>....................I am certain that: I had excellent recommendations, I left a positive impression on my interviewers, I was borderline qualified, and I had a reasonable (not too many and not too little) amount of EC's. So, it could very well be application boom of 2007.........................</p>

<p>I think you have your answer right in this paragraph..........</p>

43

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I think you have your answer right in this paragraph.

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<p>That's what it looks like to anyone with no insight into my particular case.</p>

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<p>Psionic vision: since you admit that you were only "borderline qualified" and only had "reasonable" (not amazing) ECs, even if the college DID reject you for an illigal reason, I imagine it would be basically impossible to prove it in court, since you weren't clearly a shoe in otherwise. The college can point to the fact that this was one of (if not the) hardest years ever for college admissions, that you didn't stand out for whatever reason, etc.</p>

45

<p>psionic vision
get over it
where did u apply?
what were ur stats?
why would they reject you?</p>

<p>and
u cant prove anything.
and i think u need to get over it.
Ur trying to take it too far.
You are being a baby about it.Just let it go.</p>

46

<p>No one is gonna change this kiddo's mind - no one can 'help' this kiddo - he/she asked a question - doesn't like the answer - ooooo wellllll
let him/her waste their time - just doesn't get it</p>

47

<p>People are responding harshly and prematurely, without really trying to understand the OP's position. No, I don't think it was the most well-stated question, but I also think he's made a concerted effort to explain himself better in later posts, and the situation is clearly not an issue of "let me in, I'm awesome" whining. If you have nothing to add, then don't respond.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, to the OP: If your asking is, as you say, just to get an idea of how your situation was viewed so that you can be better informed for the future, then there are plenty of other, more productive and less easily mimsunderstood ways you can go about finding helpful info. If you're comfortable doing so, talk to your school guidance counselor and ask his/her opinion about the info. Ideally, it's part of their job to know how to structure a strong application. Try emailing admissions offices and phrasing your question in a different light: not "why didn't I get in," but "I'm worried about something on my application and I'd like to avoid repeating a mistake if it was something that could have had a negative impact on my app," etc. You might have better luck not at the schools you applied to. If there's anyone you can talk to (again, ask your GC, who might have connections) in the admissions department of other schools (or you could talk to admissions at the school you actually end up attending), they might be good to contact. If you're willing to pay for the advice, you could also talk to a college application advisor (usually available privately as well as through companies such as Princeton Review, Kaplan, etc.). No, none of these will give you the exact answers you want--whether or not School X viewed your situation in a particular way--but that specific response won't necessarily give you any more helpful info, either. You'll still get a general set of outside opinions that could be helpful in determining how to frame your situation in the future.</p>

<p>And hopefully, part of what this thread has done is to demonstrate the importance of framing. Initially, your question did not come off well, but there are ways of asking the same thing in less abrasive terms. Right now, you're on a board full of hundreds and hundreds of kids who just got rejected all over the board, and the popular response is going to be "suck it up," especially given that you haven't provided specifics to garner anyone's sympathy or understanding (which is certainly your right, but can lead to suspicion/doubt).</p>

<p>Again, truly, good luck, whatever comes of the situation.</p>

48

<p>Actually, I think it was a pretty clear post. The title even summarizes it pretty well. And there isn't more than one answer. Yes, the college CAN legally do what it did unless the OP can prove systemic discrimination. Since she has stated multiple times, I believe, how unique her situation is, that won't be happening. I'm not claiming it's a clear-cut situation, but it does have a legal answer that applies to whatever the specifics may be: yes unless systemic discrimination. </p>

<p>As another poster said, she just doesn't like the answer.</p>

49

<p>STUDENT615 - a bit bothered by your generalized response to some of us posters on this thread - this kiddo has asked a question - given vague information - is ill informed regarding what they think they know - and has received many suggestions regarding the issues they have addressed. If you have a problem with that - that is yours to own - but don't negate what others have attempted to say. That's not fair.</p>

<p>This kiddo - by their own posts - has shown that they have little understandint regarding many college issues - the posts they have put up definitely indicate that. If this kiddo's situation is sooo unique - as they claim to be - then it is very difficult to give very direct information based on generalized information. This kiddo has indicated an entitlement regarding the info they seek. Based on the known - the advice has been pretty much right on - you have added additional very good/direct info as well.</p>

<p>I hope this kiddo can find an answer that will appease him/her - because in the long run - I really feel that it won't make much of a difference for them.</p>

50

<p>This "kiddo" has indeed indicated a lack of understanding, which is why I think that responses should show him the benefit of the doubt, while still being honest (and not redundant), which is what I've attempted to do. </p>

<p>And when I mention a lack of clarity in the post, I mean that later posts by the OP have been very different than the original post. Post #41, in which the OP states that "the only reason I want to find out the reasons for my rejections is so that I would be able to not make the same mistake(s) again. Not to change any of the decisions," is quite different than the original post as well as most poster's interpretations of the situation. Many are saying "get over it, you won't get your decision changed," and I agree that the OP early posts might have warranted such responses, but he's since provided some clarification and that's no longer the case. If, in reality, it still is the case, then fine...he'll find out the hard way. But it's certainly not my business to write him off.</p>

<p>Regardless, I'm very sorry that you're bothered. I still find many of the responses here unnecessarily presumptuous, but I don't see that I'm in any way misleading the OP or negating valuable advice.</p>

51

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and only had "reasonable" (not amazing) ECs

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<p>Reasonable by amount, but outstanding by theme and specialization. My EC's suggested that I have a specific (not too narrow) range of interests that I concentrate my attention on during my spare time. So I am not too worried about that.</p>

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I imagine it would be basically impossible to prove it in court, since you weren't clearly a shoe in otherwise.

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<p>I understand.</p>

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psionic vision
get over it... You are being a baby about it.

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<p>As I said earlier, the only reason I am trying to find out the reason(s) I was rejected is to not repeat the same mistake(s) on my future applications.</p>

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<p>You were not rejected because you made a mistake on your app. You were rejected because schools simply don't have enough room for everybody.</p>

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<p>Uhhhh. Future applications as in transfer or undergrad again? Because I believe graduate school looks at applications differently than undergrad.</p>

54

<p>Two things: Yes, it is ok for a private orginization to have its own membership rules even if it regards race/natural origin/gender, etc.</p>

<p>Second, if you are not an american citizen (which unless you were born here and moved international), you cant sue anyone or use our court system (with some limited exceptions, which you probably dont have). So you cant really do anything even if you did have a case.</p>

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Second, if you are not an american citizen (which unless you were born here and moved international), you cant sue anyone or use our court system (with some limited exceptions, which you probably dont have)

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<p>I am pretty sure that's untrue.</p>

56

<p>colleges can take whoever they want. thats their right</p>

57

<p>Nope, it is true. I can't sue anyone in, say, France. Workers in Indonesia cannot sue Nike for not paying them minimum wage.</p>

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<p>Indonesian workers can sue Nike if they work on American soil. In this case the college is on American soil.</p>

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<p>And rules about how college should run and admit are FAR different than that of employment in this country. You're taking it out of context.</p>

60

<p>If all you want to know is how did the college look at this "unique factor" and what impact did it have on your application, call and ask them, and drop all this "are they legally allowed" nonsense.</p>