<p>It’s your blog. You can block who you want. I don’t blame you really.</p>
<p>Just know, Dean J, when I start my blog, I am going to be watching you like a hawk.</p>
<p>"I think UVA should revamp the Common Data list. I’ve seen a number of colleges that have outright false info out there. That legacy and race are in that first category, makes no sense at all, and I find it difficult to believe those are the most important things in the app process. SAT scores should be up there as should Talent. "</p>
<p>That is some hierarchy, eh? I know after reading that list of priorities, I will no longer think of the admissions process as a search for excellence.</p>
<p>It’s become real popular to trash the SAT test too, which is wierd to me for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that it is the only way to put two students from different schools side by side and compare them. For reasons that many have mentioned, comparing GPA’s isn’t effective. So I don’t have any idea why GPA would be above SAT scores in the evaluation process.</p>
<p>The other reason that it is wierd to me is that every elite school in this country, including Virginia, requires students to take at least 2 EXTRA SAT tests. If the test is junk as an evaluation tool, why are the schools requiring that?</p>
<p>It’s become real popular to trash the SAT test too, which is wierd to me for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that it is the only way to put two students from different schools side by side and compare them.</p>
<p>I have found it interesting to see how the various schools rank SAT scores. W&M for example ranks in among their highest criteria, while UVA puts it as a secondary item.</p>
<p>The SAT was originally designed to take class and wealth out of the equation during the admissions process. It was seen as an objective indicator of academic potential.</p>
<p>Duke prioritizes SAT scores above GPA and class rank.</p>
<p>Yeah I know, and it’s the only thing giving my daughter some hope right now.</p>
<p>What about legacy? Is Duke out of conrol with it’s legacy policy? I can’t say that I know.</p>
<p>“The other reason that it is wierd to me is that every elite school in this country, including Virginia, requires students to take at least 2 EXTRA SAT tests. If the test is junk as an evaluation tool, why are the schools requiring that?”</p>
<p>I have a bunch of friends who didn’t take subject tests and get in.
I know many students from the midwest only take the ACT and no subject tests get in.
My SAT/SAT IIs were pretty bad and I got in last year - not a URM, no legacy, not from NOVA, okay high school.</p>
<p>If your daughter is anything like you, VADAD1, then I can see as to why UVA would waitlist her. Maybe that thought you had that UVA was a safety school came off in her essays or maybe her essays were bland, boring or offensive in a way. Your daughter should have applied to some real safety schools for her like ODU, VCU, GMU, and so on. You can’t even use the “UVA doesn’t take anyone from my daughter’s high school” excuse because Dean J specifically replied and said they made a couple of offers.</p>
<p>SAT determines very little in college performance from what I’ve seen. I know someone who got in here with an 1850 and has a 4.0 her first semester. One of my suitemates with a 2300+ SAT has a 3.1 his first semester. SAT really proves nothing.</p>
<p>Vadad1, is this your first child going to college? My child, who did graduate number 1 in the class and is a resident of Virginia was told by guidance that in no way to think of UVa as a safety. EC’s, SAT’s and curriculum were very competitive and there was no guarantee of admission. Did your daughter really apply to a safety? I made sure my child had a real safety and it ended up as a full ride. Went to UVA instead. Your GC should have taken a good look at your daughter’s list and counseled her more realistically. I feel bad for your daughter but you taking this so hard is not good for her or you and possibly even for those who choose students off the wait list.</p>
<p>VADAD1, don’t hold your breath for a Duke acceptance. If you check out the Duke ED Decision thread, you will find candidates that were rejected (not deferred) with stellar SAT scores. Duke, like UVa, is looking for more than just a score.</p>
<p>Dean J: If the career services people are regularly attending your seminars should we be going to them for college advice instead of (or in addition to) guidance counselors? I’m not sure I understand your post. Thanks.</p>
<p>
In Northern Virginia, each school has a “College & Career Center” that helps with post-high school planning. The Career Center Specialists are guidance folks who run the College & Career Centers.</p>
<p>I hope that makes sense. The NOVA folks can probably chime in.</p>
<p>I stand corrected on the SAT II test. When I picked my daughter up, she did tell me that the one person who got into UVA that she spoke to did not even send them in, so obviously they are not required.</p>
<p>My guidance counselor told my daughter he thought she was safe for Virginia. He’s been doing his job at that school for over 20 years, and that’s what he thought. So apparently he learned something new in this process too.</p>
<p>My daughter has come to grips with her situation, and we are moving on, but that doesn’t change my opinion that UVA’s admission policies are deeply flawed, and I have two other children to think about, and I want to make sure they get a fair shake. So I’ll keep working this because I think it is the right thing to do.</p>
<p>I mean…as competive a everyone says Virginia is, they let in over 40% of thier in state applicants last year.</p>
<p>And thank you to all of those comments from people who have attempted to denigrate my daughter as “simply a score”.</p>
<p>I’ve insulted nobody in this thread yet people are insulting me, and somehow I am the bad guy.</p>
<p>My daughter happens to be a great student, and one of the kindest, most enlightened 17 year old I’ve ever known.</p>
<p>She’s not just a SAT score.</p>
<p>Vadad1, this process makes no sense. There’s a book called “the Gatekeepers” it’s a bit dated but insightful. It’s about the college admission process. You don’t seem to be “the bad guy” just a caring parent who want’s his daughter’s hard work acknowledged.</p>
<p>Claims that the UVA admissions office is ineffective at evaluating applicants are totally off base. It is the best way. There can’t be automatic acceptance into such a competitive pool. Here’s why. Let’s assume guaranteed acceptance is 2200 SAT and Top 5%. And although this is unlikely, let’s assume two students are going for 1 spot and only one can get in.
Student 1
Rank 5/100
SAT: 2200 after taking it 5 times
ECs: None</p>
<p>Student 2
Rank 1/100
SAT 2190
ECs: A great deal of leadership and community involvement.</p>
<p>Under guaranteed acceptance, the first would get accepted and the latter would be denied. But who do you feel deserves it more? It is simple to get SAT up to the desired levels with enough effort. Student two would be rejected despite better rank and ECs and insignificantly lower on the SAT. The holistic method would give student 2 acceptance which I think we can all agree would be righteous.</p>
<p>VADad1, of course your daughter is more than just an SAT Score. So is everyone else who applies to UVA. That’s why the admissions office works so hard to give each applicant a “holistic” review. I would bet that just about every single applicant was a great student and kind, and most are probably enlightened. We are talking about an incredible group of young people. There simply aren’t enough spaces for them all.</p>
<p>I am glad that you are both moving on, and I wish you and your daughter the best of luck.</p>
<p>Cladbury- there are a few problems with your example. First of all with such a competitive applicant pool the cut-off would need to be probably 2300 or higher. Secondly, you also assume there is only one spot. In reality, the 2290 who missed the 2300 mark would still get in.</p>
<p>And nobody ever said they were ineffective. I think they do a great job. But I also think there are exceptions that slip through the cracks that could be addressed with a few tweaks.</p>
<p>My example was completely hypothetical. I realize the examples I have done fit perfectly. I’m only pointing out that holistic is overall much fairer than other methods presented.</p>