<p>@thumper1 Obviously it’s their job. And for oncologists, telling people they have cancer is part of their job, and for firefighters, the risk on dying is part of their job and for teachers, failing people is part of their job and for florists, creating arrangements for funerals is part of their job . I know that. But that doesn’t mean it is easy and doesn’t affect people. Perhaps not depression, but I think it does take a toll and can definitely affect someone’s mood. I was watching a video for Butler’s admissions and when it came time to send out the rejection letters, nobody wanted to touch them to move them to the delivery van. And sure, the actual letters are computer generated. But as an ad com, you are physically writing a “no” or “reject” on someone’s application. A computer doesn’t decide who gets in and who doesn’t.</p>
<p>A cancer diagnosis is not the same type of thing as a rejection letter from a college. Being rejected from one college honestly doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. There are so many other schools out there – it’s not as if someone who gets rejected from Harvard or wherever is being denied a college education, or being denied a future. I can’t imagine admissions counselors being broken up about having to reject applicants here, any more than hiring managers get broken up about the fact that they can’t hire every single person who ever submits an application. </p>
<p>I think, realistically, admissions counselors have to adopt that perspective. If they had a dramatic emotional reaction like this to every rejection they would not stay in the job for long.</p>
<p>Calicash…again I say. These adcoms KNOW that part of their job is going to be denying admission to students. </p>
<p>Your comparison of a firefighter and oncologist, quite frankly, makes me sick. Do you really think those life and death situations compare to college admissions? </p>
<p>@thumper1 I’m not comparing them or saying that the stakes are equivalent. I’m just providing an example to show that certain aspects of a job can take a toll on people emotionally. Just how a lot of jobs require people to be the bearer of bad news, I was interested in discussing if some parents on here thought that some admissions officers could be hurt by the amount of rejecting they have to do.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s immature thinking, but I figured that some people get emotionally invested in their jobs and am guessing some admissions counselor out there has probably gotten emotionally invested in a few students who have gotten rejected. Just my perspective. Just wanted to create a discussion :)</p>
<p>Wondering if you are hoping they are emotionally invested in you… While I think ad-coms do feel bad about turning down some students, they also have the perspective to know that these students will likely end up at other colleges and do fine. Honestly, they are probably more likely than the average 18 year old to realize that their institution isn’t the “Golden Ticket” in life, and there are plenty of other avenues where students who are turned down will get an education and find success. I suppose there are a few ad-coms who can’t take it and end up moving to other jobs. But there isn’t a mass exodus going on, as much as some 18 year old would love to think that the anguish of turning them down should damage the mental health of an admissions officer…</p>
<p>Calicash. I’m not sure how old you are. But I have news for you. EVERY job has aspects that “take a toll” on the employees. Every single job. </p>
<p>@CaliCash <a href=“It’s More Than A Job | MIT Admissions”>http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/its_more_than_a_job</a> <a href=“Bleary-eyed | MIT Admissions”>http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/blearyeyed</a></p>
<p>@thumper1 My point exactly. :)</p>
<p>Rejections are never personal - or at least, ideally, they are never personal. A rejection letter is not a death sentence - it’s merely a declaration that a student is not fit for a specific school at that time. When Harvard rejects a student that gets into Princeton the very same day, I’m sure that Harvard admissions committee knew that the student would have other options and opportunities.</p>
<p>I haven’t read all of the posts on this thread but here is a thought, I’m sure someone else has mentioned this…</p>
<p>Students are aware of the low admissions rates. They full well know the odds involved. These are intelligent, uber savvy beings. This generation is incredibly astute! Each applicant knows that they have a 80%-95% chance of being rejected. No one is forcing them to apply. There is no bait & switch going on here OP. No guns, no duress, no torture, no scare tactics. Students are more than willing to put their money down for that winning lottery ticket.</p>
<p>@DeferredChicago Maybe I’m a softy, but those two pieces brought tears to my eyes.</p>
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<p>If you are referencing my post 46, then why bother starting a thread solely about college,admissions officers? </p>
<p>I want to add…just because there are aspects of a job that “take a toll” on the employee does not equate with depression or any other issue. It’s just the way it is.</p>
<p>@thumper1 I just want to see if it affects them more so than other jobs. I just read the MIT blogs and though they weren’t depressed, those two adcoms at just one school described being in tears at the prospect of having to turn down so many students.</p>
<p>There are lots of jobs where the rejection is personal. A casting director may be turning down a friend for the part. The football coach is cutting a quarterback that he’s personally trained, who may have had dinner at his house. A boss is firing someone he’s known for 30 years. Kurt Russell has to cut the last player on the 1980 hockey team who has been playing with the group for 6 months. That’s personal.</p>
<p>An admin not accepting Billy from Boston with a 2.1 gpa and low SAT score? I don’t think it keeps him up at night.</p>
<p>“it’s merely a declaration that a student is not fit for a specific school at that time.”</p>
<p>It’s not even that. The student might be a terrific fit. The denial is only a statement that the school had applicants who are even better. </p>
<p>cali: I’ll be blunt with you. I’ve interviewed maybe 300 applicants for my alma mater. I now oversee hundreds of interviews every year and help coordinate recruiting in a large metropolitan area. Of these 300, maybe 10-12 have been admitted in 25 years. I haven’t shed a single tear over the 290 kids rejected I’ve met. I’m hopeful for them – but as much as I might enjoy meeting them, I’m not invested in any of them.</p>
<p>Listen to this:
<a href=“Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR”>Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR;
<p>People get passionate. That’s fine. But to the point of tears? Are you kidding me? I make decisions that sway tens of millions of dollars – people get laid off in far away cities if I and my team make bad decisions. THAT gives me stress. Helping my college sort through high achievers wanting a “golden ticket”? That’s a walk in the park. I’m not heartless. I’m ecstatic for every one that gets in – but I also know that the other 95% will BE SUPER SUCCESSFUL. It’s not as if they’re going into the gutter and desolation. They’re mostly all fantastic kids with great futures ahead of them. NONE of them deserve my tears. Do you think the MIT admissions officers think that highly of their school and the rejected kids have failed? You’ve been gulping the Kool-Aid.</p>
<p>@Purpletitan: the pissing contests about Ivy A > Ivy B > Ivy C are almost never by actual students or alums. They’re by know-nothing HS students and their USNWR rankings obsessed parents. Those of us who have actually attended a selective school (hopefully) are wise enough to know it was serendipity and that having “been there and done that” that we KNOW our Ivy (or whatever) school is matched by MANY other colleges out there. The one refrain that irks me to no end: “Why is Cornell considered the worst Ivy” I gag when I see idiotic threads like that</p>
<p>Great post, t26E4. </p>
<p>I’ve been here on Ivy Day, when they watch the kids’ reactions on a few online sites (incl CC) - and the group is happy for the thrilled kids, moan with the disappointed ones. But these folks know they gave every candidate his/her moment, reviewed the apps as best they could, made the right decisions for the college. Not depressed. </p>
<p>CaliCash It is sad that many don’t understand your question in this thread. You are essentially asking if ADDCOM’S have a heart, but it is clear from the responses you have received that the answer is NO. I’m with you, if I had to reject so many well qualified applicants, it would break my heart knowing that too many young people’s dreams have been shattered for a universities petty desire to have low admit rate number to tout in its press release or webpage.</p>
<p>You’ve heard from Pizzagirl that low admit rates are only 1.5% of USNWR ranking weight and how it doesn’t matter. However, T26E4 is tired of hearing about “Why is Cornell considered the worst Ivy” I gag when I see idiotic threads like that." The answer is because Cornell has the highest admit rate. Cornell would not be viewed this way if its admit rate was lower than Harvard’s.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, too much of USNWR rating is based upon subject prestige of a school and low admit rates are a direct indicator of prestige. Imagine how Harvard would be viewed if it actually stated that only kids with 2300 SAT and 3.9 GPA could apply and because of this only a small number of applicants would meet this requirement, the admit rate would drastically increase even though the level of academic achievement of those who attend Harvard would not be much different. Let’s say this change in admission policy results in the admit rate being 60% rather than the 5% that Harvard currently enjoys, it would affect the perception of Harvard. Don’t believe me, ask the University of Chicago. It is one of the mandates of its Admission Office to lower its admit rate to the level of HYPSM. UChicago has be ruthless to achieve this goal and over the last 5 years has managed to go from a 25% accept rate to about 8% so it could be like the big boys.</p>