<p>why do they ask for it on the app? it's optional, sure, but why would they need to know? do you think they're more likely to hire someone who is a different height than the majority of applicants? or is it just for the athletes?</p>
<p>I would guess for athletes. It's kind of amusing though, and I think it's a silly question, though. It would be good for me if they really did want students of different heights, because I'm in a low percentile for height. I haven't had my second growth spurt yet.</p>
<p>They also ask for your picture, so they can make sure to get enough red-heads in their class for diversity - Just kidding. </p>
<p>I think they ask height and weight (and the picture) so they can start building your file in the event that you are accepted. Once you are there, they need to keep track of this in case you end up wandering off and they have to call the authorities and give them a description. It may sound strange, but there it is a safety thing.</p>
<p>It's kind of funny that they would use that logic for 13-year-olds, it's fairly likely that by the time they would actually come to the school, they'll have gained 20 pounds and grown 5 inches, especially the boys.</p>
<p>"The Chosen" by Jerome Karabel mentions that Harvard, Princeton and Yale used pictures to eliminate certain ethnic groups. Specifically Jews that they may not be able to identify by name. It was a time when they used a "glass ceiling" on the Jewish people. I believe this was in the 30"s or 40's.</p>
<p>Yes, that's true, Harvard at one point actually had a standard about their men. Not only did they limit the number of Jews, but they were worried that they were getting the "little bald professor" image, so they wanted to admit more strong, handsome, robust young men to show that they were still applicable in the modern world, which was why they requested pictures. Hard to believe that such an excellent university did such ridiculous things . . .<br>
A lot of prestigious universities tried to exclude Jews in the 30s and 40s because it was thought that they were not naturally intelligent, but extremely hard-working (modern day overachievers), and therefor not worthy of a Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. education. That was actually why the SAT was invented, because they wanted a test that was supposedly "unbeatable", and that no amount of studying or preparing could conquer, which would therefor supposedly elimiting most of their Jewish applicants. Approximately four months later, a Jewish young man came up with a way to beat the SAT. And his name was . . . Kaplan.</p>
<p>pckitty, yes you're correct. They often eliminated emaciated looking men. They also required course work that Public Schools did not offer, such as the Classics. This kept students streaming in from the Boarding Schools. They were considered "Gentleman" and worthy of HYP. There really has never been a true Meritocracy at the Ivies. It's chock full of special interest types that the school's desire.</p>
<p>My grandfather and great-grandfather (both Jews) went to Harvard for grad. but they didn't for undergrad, and I suppose that that might have had something to do with why they didn't even apply. Neither of them attended boarding school. Was there a Classics requirement for non-humanties majors? I knew there was for humanties, but I didn't know about that for others.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly all students had to take and pass a Latin and Greek test. At the time only BS offered such course work. "THE chosen" even mentions how certain sports were meant to keep out certain types. Example he gives is squash. Offered only at the time at bs.</p>
<p>i think its because they dont want "troubled" kids coming to their schools - like bulumic or anorexic kids who have enough trouble at home as it is.</p>
<p>I have an old book about prep schools that claims there is a "look" that is a factor in admission. There are an awful lot of tall preps. At over 5'10" I was not unusually tall as I am in the real world.</p>
<p>Wow! Is there is reason they call St. George's St. Gorgeous? lol</p>
<p>Well if you think about it, there is evidence that tall men are more successful in business.</p>
<p>lol i summer in newport and those st. georges boys are gorgeous... and they all look the same. so yeah, i think they like that "all-american" (seems like such an innocent adjective, doesn't it?) and well-groomed look. so will being tall and lean help?</p>
<p>Lot's of blondes at the school.</p>
<p>Tall, Lean and Blonde. 85 ssat , excellent recs, ec's, grades and you're in</p>
<p>i know! there are so many blondes! the kids i've met from st. georges (the boys) are ALL 6'0 w/ blonde shaggy hair. it's so funny.</p>
<p>I'm so screwed. I'm 4 ft 11.5 in. I wrote my height and weight in metres and kilograms, though.</p>
<p>Not to worry, that gives you a "hook" (smiley face) among the trees.</p>
<p>haha
st. gorgeous!</p>
<p>There have been studies that show that tall white men are over-represented in the executive ranks. In fact, height and looks for a male are among the predictors for business success in the exec ranks of large corporations. I doubt that GMAT scores enter the picture, but MBA probably does. Don't ask me for the sources because I don't have them now. And for those of you who are not tall, white, male and St. Gorgeous -- don't worry! It's only a predictor -- lots of exceptions.</p>