<p>Given the futility and the very high financial and psychic costs of the current selection process, there is a step that institutions can take that will dramatically reduce the pressure and competition that many of our most talented students now experience. Schools can scrutinize applications and decide which applicants are good enough to be admitted. But then, instead of struggling to choose the "very best" from among the good enough applicants, schools can just place the names of all the "good enough" students in a metaphorical hat, and draw the "winners" at random. Though a high-school student will still have to work hard to be "good enough" for Stanford, she won't have to distort her life in the way she would if she had to be the "best." </p>
<p>From an article that Barry Schwartz, a well known Swarthmore prof, wrote a couple of years ago ... </p>
<p>Wishing all my best to our ED folks as they wait -- who I bet are certainly good enough -- and also saluting the terrific Owls who find the time to post here, even with papers and finals in sight.</p>
<p>I was very tempted to change Stanford to Rice – both great schools. Rice is just more wonderful…</p>
<p>My only concern with that method would be that students might not work as hard, knowing both that (1) no matter how hard they work, the best they can get is a chance to be randomly selected to attend the school they love, and (2) they can get away with just being “good enough” and won’t have to work as hard as they might otherwise.</p>
<p>I do really like the idea, though. It would be interesting to play around with.</p>
<p>A while back he said that what motivated his theory was seeing students who had devoted so much energy during their high school years that by the time they arrived at Swarthmore, they were worn out. </p>
<p>One of the nicest parts about his approach is that getting a rejection would have to feel lots less personal. Irritating in some sense – but much less self-blame.</p>
<p>Hope your finals are going well, Fallen Angel!</p>
<p>Ah that’s actually a really good point. I wonder if there’s a way to balance the admissions process so that it encourages students to strive to do their best without stressing them to the point of being worn out?</p>
<p>And yes, a rejection would definitely feel a lot less personal. I would love to be able to say that my HYP rejections were merely a luck of the draw misfortune.</p>
<p>Thanks! I actually finished finals a couple days ago (I was frontloaded on workload for the week) and am now back at home for winter break. Appreciate the good wishes though. :)</p>
<p>interesting that if D doesn’t get into Rice, she will likely be a Swattie playing a varsity sport.</p>
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<p>They are, in a sense. As with Rice, there are many applicants that are “good enough”. Some get in and some do not. I guess the “soft” part of the application such as recommendation letters and essays come in to play here.</p>
<p>Right now, many people who qualify in the hard stats apply and the adcoms pick who they feel would contribute most and fit in best.</p>