Then why would you want to go to one of the Ivies as they are letting in all those people who do not live up to your standards? Go to a school that has higher standards, that won’t let in just anyone no matter how good of a rower or hockey player he is.
@chelseash465 Just wanted to address your “hours and hours” comment. There are tons of other activities that consume just as much or more time. There will never be a consensus. I do agree there will always be loopholes whether that be legacy, athletic, urm, etc.
@dadof4kids I go to an elite private school, so maybe that has something to do with it. I assure you, these people were just from this last year. I know them personally. Our counselors update scores and GPAs after every single test and semester.
@dadof4kids I have no problem with recruited athletes who get the grades and the scores, I was simply pointing out that some get by way too easy. I probably should have elaborated more. I apologize if I came across as anything negative!
There are things people do for ‘hours and hours’ that they enjoy or that add personal growth, but how does that help the school community? I could train dogs for hours and hours, year after year, and that could help show my disciple and commitment, but will the school benefit from that dedication? If I do the hours and hours on a team, hopefully the Harvard team will benefit from that. If I practice the flute 5 hours per day, hopefully the orchestra will benefit from that, plus show the AO that I have disciple, that I will put in the time with books too.
@BigFlowerSusie Once again with the “time” argument. There are plenty of other activities that take up just as much time. I’m a former varsity athlete/club athlete. I stopped for more mentally stimulating activities. At that same time, I was a debater. I don’t know if you know anything about debate, but to be good, it takes a lot of time. I spent more time on debate than any sport I’ve ever played…Why? Because you go home and stay up hours on in because the research never stops. At the same time, constantly travelling hours for work purposes. I have managed to maintain over a 4.0 and got a good score. I am in the process of applying for schools, but it’s upsetting to see people who just play a sport and take classes that I could ace with my eyes closed, get into schools that people work incredibly hard at to get into. It’s an academic institution. I don’t think kids with mediocre grades should get into academic institutions for running fast and throwing balls. If he/she is great at a sport and gets the grades, go for it. But please…not the time/work hard argument.
@SAY I don’t find sports intellectually stimulating, so I’m not a huge fan. I love playing them, but not so much watching them. You can have school spirit with players that deserve to be there.
@Emsmom1 I promise you that was her score. I know the girl. This ivy is an amazing school and is just as good as HYP, but it’s easier to get into. That could be why.
@Emsmom1 The girl was also state champ in her division four years in a row. Despite her score, I was not as upset about her because her gpa was a 4.0 (W) by the time she graduated and as someone who had to work really hard to get a good score, I feel for bad testers. However, I know someone who is going to Penn (class of 2021) with a 3.6 and 24. I’m not a parent hearing this from kids. I’m a rising high school senior. I’m right in the middle of this. I see the scores, i see the grades, i know the people. I also know all the people who got rejected that could’ve done a heck of a lot more for the school than these kids could ever do. Then again, i don’t really get upset about rejections because the acceptance rates are insanely low.
@tonymom No offense, but you’re a parent. When I’m talking about these grades and scores, I’m not pulling these off websites. These are my PEERS at MY school. Out of the 4-5 students recruited to ivies for sports in the past 2 years, not one of them had over a 26 on the act or over a 3.7 (W). It could have to do with the challenge of my school, but it’s ridiculous.
I think schools do give a lot of credit for debate, and robotics, and MUN. Do they need to recruit a team of 65 debaters to fill a team like for football? No. At my daughter’s school, they give merit scholarships for gpa/ACT stats, but also give them for robotics, attending a STEM high school, Girl Scout Gold or Eagle Scout rank, and a few other things that, like you said, take a lot of time. Athletic scholarships are different, not merit. And I know that not every athletic gets accepted. My coach lost two recruits who did not make it academically. I’ve seen them play, and they are good but just weren’t right academically for our STEM school.
@twoanddone I get this a lot. No matter where you go, there will be problems with admissions. I may be young, but I’ve learned that nothing in life will ever completely live up to your standards. It’s all school politics. There’s tons of problems at my current score that I constantly address with admin. I share my side and they evaluate it. Sometimes things change and something they don’t. This won’t ever change and I understand people ave varying views on this topic. I respect your view regardless.
Also, I’m applying to some ivies, but none of them are my first choice.
@tiggerdad I’m a rising high school senior and I’ve had different experiences than you i suppose. I respect your view, but it’s just tiring to see literal geniuses who spend just as much time doing other activities and work extremely hard to get great grades at the same time, drive themselves to the brink of suicide and not even get in anywhere they actually wanted to go. Meanwhile, a guy with a 3.4 GPA, 26 act, parties every night, disrespects those around him, etc. goes to Yale for football. That’s how it is in my area and when you’re in the middle of all that, it’ll get to you.
@tiggerdad I never said “highest” but let’s be honest, it’s ignorant to think if you’re not recruited, you can actually get in with scores and grades on the lower side.
By the way…I care.
@mommajes Congrats to your son. Those are the kind of athletes these schools should go after.
@twoinanddone In my area, athletic recruits are the only kind. 65 players? Surely they can find kids with good grades, gpas. Trust me, I know they do, but they really lower their standards too much for some people.
@ashtash, I see you are frustrated. As a parent, when my own kids are stuck and upset about what’s fair and unfair in life, I remind them to swim in their own lane. You can’t change the Ivy league athletic recruiting system, you don’t know what’s in everyone’s application even though you think you do, and it’s a waste of your time and energy to mentally sort admitted kids into the categories of worthy and unworthy.
I suggest you focus on your own college search and application essays and spend whatever energy you have left over on volunteer work or pleasure reading. I think it’s a better use of your time and will calm you down.
@GnocchiB Nothing will ever change my opinion about it. It’s upset me since I was younger. I also don’t understand the hype about sports. At all. Never have, never will. It’s not intellectually stimulating what so ever. I appreciate your comments.
You don’t have to change your opinion, @Ashtash . I grew up in Texas as well and the obsession with football/glorification of the players was something that bugged me a lot (especially because I went to an all-girls school). But you’ll find that the colleges you seem to be looking at are very good at building a class that meets their institutional needs and provides a rich diversity of students’ talents, viewpoints and passions.
I’m not saying that the current admission system couldn’t use improvements in some areas, but just to have a good list of reaches, matches and safeties, present your best application and trust that the process will work out for you. The energy you spend railing at what you view as unfair is energy you could be spending on other things.
Good luck with everything this fall!
@Ashtash no offense taken but pointing out you don’t understand how the AI works with regards to athletic recruiting and your few examples are not indicative of Ivy recruiting. Your “spot” is not being taken by some less than worthy athlete. Ivy admissions is a crap shoot for all involved; athlete, URM, Legacy…you name it. There are plenty of threads here on cc to educate you about the process. The Ivy athletes I know far exceed the stats of their HS counterparts and are competitive on many levels. These schools aim for holistic admissions. Student athletes are a positive addition on many levels but I suspect you’ve already made up
Your mind…