For those looking at elite schools: why do public universities have such a bad rep?

<p>^^^ this.</p>

<p>There are a lot of stereotypes about the negatives for both public and private schools.
No need to spread them.</p>

<p>I assume schools superscore because then that’s what they report on their CDS, making themselves look more impressive. And also, because they really don’t care that much about small differences in the scores, so using artificially inflated scores for lots of applicants doesn’t distort the evaluation.</p>

<p>Bay,
The schools you mention in post 186- are you saying they don’t accept/require counselor reccs or any reccs at all?</p>

<p>Jym,
If you have a specific question about a specific college’s admission policies, I’d suggest you research it or call yourself, as that is what I would be doing when attempting to answer your question.</p>

<p>My understanding with regard to CA u’s is that they literally will not accept any recs (unless they ask you for one) from anyone. Submitting one would be equivalent to throwing it in the trash. There are UC experts on this site who may have more precise or up to date info on this, that I defer to, but that is my understanding as a CA resident and parent of 3 college applicants.</p>

<p>Bay, I was just asking for clarification on what you wrote. Would still appreciate it.</p>

<p>I’m on my phone and otherwise engaged at the moment, but I can link you to the admissions websites later if you need me to. Otherwise you can visit them yourself as that is what I did.</p>

<p>Bay- I was simply asking you to clarify your statement about whether you were referring to these schools not requiring a counselor LOR, general/teacher LORs , either or neither. It was unclear.</p>

<p>Ok well my memory from what I read is that Texas says no recommendations are required and washington said we do not accept recommendation letters. If that doesn’t help you, why not look it up?</p>

<p>I can certainly look things up- though right now with bronchitis its not on my A list-- was simply asking for clarification of what you uposted. That is all.</p>

<p>Sorry about your condition. I will try to provide more info later if you still need it</p>

<p>Thanks, Bay. Would appreciate it.</p>

<p>(<<< envision the person typing this and simultaneously hacking/coughing up stuff you don’t want to think about.>>>)</p>

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<p>Note that a lot of schools which have automatic admit or automatic scholarship thresholds that depend on just GPA, rank, and/or test scores obviously do not need recommendations for students meeting those thresholds.</p>

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<p>Nowadays more likely a natural-born Wall Street analyst/investment banker/Washington lobbyist ;)</p>

<p>jym,</p>

<p>I’m back near my laptop, and here is what U Texas says about recs:</p>

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<p>[Recommendations</a> & More | Be a Longhorn](<a href=“http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/admission/recommendations]Recommendations”>http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/admission/recommendations)</p>

<p>Here is what U Washington says about recs:</p>

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<p>[No</a> Letters | University of Washington](<a href=“http://admit.washington.edu/Admission/Freshmen/NoLetters]No”>http://admit.washington.edu/Admission/Freshmen/NoLetters)</p>

<p>Heading out again, take care!</p>

<p>Haha. Love the tone of the UW answer! Definitely geared toward a teenager looking for an answer!</p>

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<p>Interesting how some schools now require letters of recommendation, while others more of less rule it out.</p>

<p>Thx bay.</p>

<p>Just got back from picking up Rx at the pharmacy. Who knew musinex D was now behind the counter?? Its apparently got sudafed in it. Not really planning to cook any meth anytime soon ;)</p>

<p>A close friend here is from Michigan, and when I talked to her some years ago, she was incredullous that UMich was a top choice and so highly regarded here. She lived near Ann Arbor and to her and her crowd, it was the safety school. But she went to one of those schools where kids tended to go to private colleges. But the truth of the matter is that most of the kids did go to UMich, and those kids were excellent candidates for most selective colleges. It was just percepion.</p>

<p>Fast forward to a few years ago when her child was up for college. SUNY Binghamton was looking awfully good, when one looked at sticker prices and though her student was a good student, UMich was a reach. Big change in perspective. We tend to take for granted, the familiar and what we consider “the given”.</p>

<p>UTexas has automatic admission based on the class rank (top 7%). They do not require any letters for it.</p>

<p>There are various other permutations and combinations where letters might help although they don’t say these are needed from teachers. One can’t get the major they need at UT just because they have been admitted since each major makes their own admissions. So a rec might help in a major, getting into honors programs, and/or get an admission if it is not automatic.</p>

<p>I know students who have gotten a full tuition ride just based on the rank and SAT scores without filing any rec.</p>

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<p>I don’t think they’re comparable. </p>

<p>In the event of a zombie outbreak, I’d much rather surround myself with your average politicians and your average natural-born salespeople* than natural born Wall Street analyst/investment banker/Washington lobbyist.</p>

<p>Come to think about it…surrounding myself with the latter may mean the zombies may be pacified for a time. That is…before they hire Gloria Allred to sue me for fraud, deceptive labeling, injuries incurred, and violating some mysterious regulations under the FDA…</p>

<p>:D</p>