<p>Let me response to both Mikalye and Student615's comments above:</p>
<p>Mikalye first:</p>
<p>I agree with you that much of this information is available for people who know where to look. I, however, am not of the opinion that just because it is possible to find something means that it is easy to find it (especially for international students).</p>
<p>For example, let's discuss just the UC system for a second. How many 15 or 16 year-old high school students would know:</p>
<p>(1) that the UCs have a hierarchy of how difficult it is to get into them (UC Berkeley, then UCLA, then UCSD, then UCI/UCSB/UCD, then UCSC, then UCR, then UC Merced?</p>
<p>(2) that the UCs use a different GPA system than other university systems do?</p>
<p>(3) that the GPA at these is computed using only the sophomore and junior years and is capped at 4 honors/IB/AP courses?</p>
<p>(4) etc., etc., low income applicable, what is average ECs, leadership, in-state versus out-of-state priority given, etc.</p>
<p>On the other hand, it only takes a person knowledgeable about the UCs a short while to sum up all this stuff and apply it to a poster asking about the UCs. I think flopsy posted 3,000 replies in one year rating only people on the UCs before his UCLA studies starting taking up too much of his time for him to continue to do so.</p>
<p>If we were to write up a summary for the "chances" thread on certain schools that I were sure would be "stickied" at the top of the section, then I'd be willing to do so--and thus save us from having to write a lot of the same stuff over and over. Unfortunately, I can't be sure of this happening.</p>
<p>Now, I agree with you that when it comes to the top colleges the chances are less likely to be as accurate. (I stated as much in my original post). However, it should still be clear that some have more chances than others. Looking at the 50% level on the SAT Math at Caltech and you see that over half the class had scores of 780 or above. Thus, if you are below the 780 mark, it is clear that your chances of acceptance are quite low compared to those with the higher scores. Therefore, it's not unfair to tell someone with a 700 SAT Math score applying to this school to retake the test (in fact, it may be what gets them in).</p>
<p>Also, as far as your MIT example--the fact that 19% of 750-800 Math scores were accepted actually tells me quite a bit when the average acceptee rate is 13%. Also, when you combine this with the knowledge that 60% of those accepted had 700-800 SAT CR scores and 87% had 700-800 SAT Math scores as well--then you begin to get a profile of the average acceptee. Of course, ECs, essays, recommendations, volunteer work and honors will enter in also. (Strangely enough, it actually more clearly maps who won't get in rather than who will be accepted.) </p>
<p>It is also for this reason that I respond much less to "chances" on top schools, like HYPS, Williams, Amherst, MIT, and Caltech than on other schools. I agree with you that there is going to be much more emphasis at these schools on the ECs and essays and recommendations in determining who actually gets in once the "required" GPA and SAT test scores have been achieved. </p>
<p>Student 615:</p>
<p>I agree with you that the kind of posts that bother me are the people that post something like 3.7 UW student, great ECs, good recommendations, which school should I go to? </p>
<p>As you state, giving some info about majors, interests, urban vs rural, financial ability to pay, state of origin, how far one is willing to travel from home, etc. all helps the responder. And someone who asks for chances at 25 to 30 schools is also a pain, as are those who ask which school is best so that they can get into medical school, whichout a bit of the info above.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I don't mind if someone gives all the stuff in the paragraph above this one and then asks for a few suggestions for schools in a particular major, like accounting, musical theatre, civil engineering, or chemistry. Then those of us that give "chances" can help out a tiny bit in narrowing down the 1400 choices. I think tokenadult's thread on "noteworthy schools" and "other schools to consider" is very helpful in this regard.</p>
<p>And I 100% agree with your final point. The people that help out students with "chances" or suggestions are doing this for free, so a thank you occasionally--especially if we've responded to your 10 different questions--is appreciated and is really all we're asking for. There are many people who are good in this regard, and unfortunately, a few who aren't.</p>