<p>@Pulsar: Actually, I’ve been told that apps are not read until complete. Also, I believe 1/15 is actually the kickoff for reading apps at many schools which is why I used it. I asked some admissions offices about sending apps in early and was told that they won’t read them until 1/15 anyway. I’d say it’s a reasonable and workable assumption, but hyperbole practice won’t hurt you as long as you know that you’re doing it. </p>
<p>@Seven: I interview people as well and that’s partly why I’m skeptical that all apps get more than a quick glance. For schools with acceptance rates below 20%, I’m thinking admissions teams probably quickly cut the total down by half and then read the remainder with increasing care as the total dwindles. Most schools are happy with a rising applicant tide, I suspect, so the PR around this is meaningful.</p>
<p>In my opinion, if a child interviews poorly, it is more a reflection on the interviewer than the interviewee. AOs are very good at what they do and can draw out the best in a child. I have found though posts on this board, that “bad” interviews were often with non ao people, ie coaches.
Also, a former ao once told me that they do indeed cross off an otherwise promising candidate if the parents are truly horrible.</p>
<p>I am curious if AOs look for, and get to read “their” applicants, ie, the ones who they interviewed.</p>
<p>We do not read apps in October–only after 1/15. We are in the thick of heavy interviewing and traveling season in October; there is no time to read files, and the vast majority of apps do not complete until the deadline. Most people don’t even take their SSATs until November or December, so even at the biggest schools you can count on one hand the number of files that are complete in October. (I wouldn’t want to read teacher recs based on just one month of knowing the kid anyway.)</p>
<p>We read every file the same as any other, even if the child had a “bad interview”, b/c it could’ve been just a bad connection with the interviewer, and that should never be the reason a student is denied admission. “Bad interviews” are indeed rare. Most AOs are good at drawing out even the shyest of students, and most students are nice kids with good intentions. We cut them some slack for their lack of polish, as most of them are 13 and have never interviewed for anything in their young lives.</p>
<p>And yes, interviewers read their own interviewees’ applications. Those are the most fun.</p>
<p>Two of my interviewers are actually not AOs but other faculty members. (maybe due to large quantities of interviewees) Will they also read my materials instead of AOs?</p>
<p>As a parent, I would prefer to think of the process as selecting the group of students most suited to a particular school. Maybe that’s a distinction without a difference.</p>
<p>Periwinkle-most if not all of the schools that my d interviewed with stressed that they are trying to form a community, they want balance at every level. Having the top 10 soccer players looks wonderful during the fall, but what happens the rest of the year and academically?? The schools need to populate the chinese classes and have someone to write for the school newspaper. It is a balancing act on many fronts. I think the smaller the school the more important the balance becomes. </p>
<p>I want my d to come into contact with kids from all over the world and those that are different from her economically and socially. I believe that many “perfect” students on paper get sad mail on March 10 because they need to be more multi-dimensional and highlight it. It really isnt all about the grades. My d had a good, but not perfect SSAT score, grade wise she is doing better than ever, top % of her class.</p>
<p>I think they may have a quick way to sceen out for the first-round such as academic criteria. As they mentioned, they don’t want to have any student who will have too much difficulties to catch up the class. It would be bad for the student also if he is accepted and have a difficult time in the class. Then, they will start looking at the detail assessment on each applicant by reviewing all the materials filed. I don’t think they spend time equally for all applicants from the beginning. Anyway, all is close to the end and we’ll see the result. Everybody is winner if they learned anything. Good luck to everybody!</p>
<p>I think they have a ‘definite yes’ pile or list - that is composed of totally amazing candidates and legacies. Then there is a definite “NO” list - based on some scale - probably as suggested earlier grades and SSAT. The student has to make the first ‘cut’ for being able to perform.</p>
<p>That leaves the middle - which might be 80% of the aps and I have no idea what happens… that is the interesting part :)</p>
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