<p>"If the Ivies continue to accept these well rounded kids (which in many cases do in fact have lower academic standings) we will see a gradual reversal in the rankings."</p>
<p>GradDad, I don't think that those who are accepted have lower academic standings than in the past. In fact, they are much higher as a group. What IS happening is students who once could have gotten into the Ivies now have to "settle" for second tier schools simply because of the numbers. The Ivies will not get weaker, but those below them will get stronger - provided that their endowments and faculty keep step with the demands of their students. Because of tradition and prestige, the Ivies will always get their pick of the best students nationwide. </p>
<p>The Ivies have always looked for well-rounded individuals. I know because I graduated from one 25 years ago, and the standards were the same. They are looking for leaders. They want their students to learn from each other as well as from their professors, so a diverse and engaged student body is a must. If anything, the reputation of the Ivies are increasing, not decreasing, because the sheer numbers allow for greater selectivity. Since I also interview for my alma mater, I know exactly the caliber of the admitted students - and they are all impressive. Of course, so are many of the denied students. </p>
<p>Lest you think the Ivies are the only ones searching for the socially well-rounded as well as the academically ambitious, look closely at the criteria for the top liberal arts colleges. They have the same standards. GPA, SATs, and class rank are important, but they do not define the admits as much as what the students do with their lives. The admissions office at Lehigh University, a national university, makes a point of telling applicants that they are looking for well-rounded individuals who can keep up their grades while participating in meaningful extra-curricular activities. They told our group specifically that the successful Lehigh candidate is a well-rounded and intelligent individual. Does that mean that Lehigh is dumbing down its student body? Of course not. It has been accepting students on this same model for decades, and the university is rising, not falling, in reputation. It's also one of the schools poised to snap up the Ivy denials, so I expect that this trend will continue.</p>