<p>“7. Recognize that being in the top 1% on the SAT doesn’t automatically translate into an acceptance a school with a <10% admit rate. That school could fill a class with one-percenters, but wisely, they choose not to because that would be pretty boring.”
There is nothing boring about admitting smart kids. "</p>
<p>Yes, that’s why Americans are flocking in droves to colleges in those countries where admissions is based purely on a number from a test. You can’t keep 'em away!</p>
<p>I don’t mind Carnegie Mellon’s cute little Scottie, but I thought it was hysterical when their mascot was a piece of tartan. Definitely plus points!</p>
<p>@saintfan and Pizzagirl</p>
<p>I think you confuse two different issues. The quality of college vs. admission policy. College may be great; but admission policy may be unfair. These are different issues.</p>
<p>Analogy: I don’t like weather in Boston. However, I like Harvard. My D may apply to Harvard; but I still don’t like weather in Boston.</p>
<p>BTW, many US colleges are great, thanks to the faculty from “merit based” countries that are working there. </p>
<p>@Pizzagirl,</p>
<p>Lots of international students “flock” to USA because they want to get US jobs and green cards. US passport is the beacon, not a holistic education and diversity.</p>
<p>I know top graduate colleges for STEM majors, where faculty is actively recruiting international grad students. Because US-educated students are NOT considered superior. </p>
<p>"Americans are flocking in droves to colleges in those countries where admissions is based purely on a number from a test. " (sarcasm intended)</p>
<p>Americans can’t. American students are not competitive in such environment. Seriously, I looked at admission to Oxford/Cambridge. It is almost impossible to get into Oxford/Cambridge after HS, even for a perfect SAT-GPA student. However, some students (from Berkeley, for example) are transferring to Oxford/Cambridge after the freshman year. </p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with the admissions policy at Harvard. Harvard is filling its halls with smart, creative, ambitious young people. They are looking for a well rounded class and their tactics are working just fine. If this hurts the feelings of parents of the rejected “perfect” kids, so be it.</p>
<p>"And yet you’re still salivating over the thought of your daughter joining them. "</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, again … Depends on the faculty. BTW, lots of faculty are from other countries. Often faculty value merit students. Adcoms - are just a barrier, one more hoop to jump. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Isn’t there a college whose mascot is an orange, or a “Mr. Orange”? Now that’s a silly mascot.</p>
<p>“chopped liver” … I love it. Seriously. Yummy.</p>
<p>“There is nothing wrong with the admissions policy at Harvard.”</p>
<ol>
<li>It is not transparent</li>
<li>There are rumors (and lawsuits) that say that Harvard discriminates against Asian students. I don’t like discrimination in any form.</li>
<li>Do they have to spend that much money and efforts on athletics? </li>
<li>All legacy - donors - recommendation letters from trustees smell bad. </li>
</ol>
<p>Just IMHO. </p>
<p>Harvard is probably not concerned about how it smells to you.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>“It’s not transparent” is code for “I am uncomfortable that I can’t be guaranteed that my child will have a spot.” Well, guess what. Life is uncertain.</p></li>
<li><p>This has been explained many times to you already. If a college in Massachusetts decides that it wants to ensure that it has students from all states, and winds up admitting a student from North Dakota, that is not “discrimination” against the hundreds of Massachusetts students who applied. </p></li>
<li><p>They don’t have to. Feel free not to apply to a school that offers athletic scholarships. </p></li>
<li><p>Why do you keep saying this when at elite schools, the MAJORITY OF LEGACIES ARE REJECTED?
What part of that is unclear? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Besides, californiaa, there are plenty of schools in this country that have transparent admissions policies. Get a score of X on your SAT or ACT, have a GPA of x.x, and you’re in. Why aren’t those sufficient for you? Oh, because you’ve predetermined only certain schools are “worthwhile,” based on nothing other than “I heard someplace that …” </p>
<p>I suggest you save your breathe PG. </p>
<p>californiaaa is like another [ banned] poster we both remember who would just not give up, no matter what was said…
reminds me of a pit bull that grabs onto an ankle and just wont let go…</p>
<p>@Hunt: That’s good because Harvard Square DOES smell funny. </p>
<p>Nrdsb: I think you may be thinking of Syracuse, which has Orange as its mascot.</p>
<p>Harvard has Crimson and Wellesley has Blue (no real mascot). </p>
<p>“Isn’t there a college whose mascot is an orange, or a “Mr. Orange”? Now that’s a silly mascot.”</p>
<p>Otto the Orange is the Syracuse mascot</p>
<p>“3. Do they have to spend that much money and efforts on athletics?”</p>
<p>Harvard offers no athletic scholarships</p>
<p>It’s so amusing to read the vitriol slung at Harvard and the like by people who nevertheless would cut off their right arm to get in. So much written about the “less qualified” students admitted over the “perfect” children of CC posters. Of course, the disgruntled parents/students seem to think that their definition of “more qualified” is some kind of established, undeniable GIVEN, when in fact, that’s complete bunk.</p>
<p>And YET…the hallowed halls of Harvard remain full to the brim with articulate, intelligent, wonderful students, who go on to do JUST FINE there even though they may only have made a 2310 instead of a “more qualified” 2320. Just boggles the mind with the UNFAIRNESS of it all, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>Get over it or don’t, californiaa. Either way, life goes on at Harvard and it’s not going to fall apart if a “perfect” student here or there gets the thin letter instead of the packet. </p>
<p>Harvard is happy with how their classes are chosen. It’s not broken, therefore they aren’t going to fix it. And for those who continue to stew in their own bile over this global problem, too bad, so sad.</p>
<p>Harvard also apparently is still fond of referring to itself in the third person. </p>
<p>I know it’s a side point, californiaaa, but speaking as someone who has been there & done that with quite a few US students, you are mistaken about Oxford/Cambridge. GPA doesn’t count (b/c the UK system doesn’t feel that you can meaningfully compare them across schools), but a US student who has a clear idea of what they want to study, a 2100 SAT and 3-5 relevant AP scores of 5 can get into Oxbridge (to be fair, depending on the subject that they are applying to study they may also have to submit some graded work from school and/or take an aptitude test for the subject, but those are not insurmountable hurdles). The interview is challenging, but it is for all the applicants, and for a student who is genuinely interested in and suited to their subject it can even be engaging and invigorating.</p>
<p>Also, no, you cannot transfer into Oxford or Cambridge. If you know a student who did a year at Berkeley and then went to Oxbridge, they either went for term/year exchange program OR they applied to come in as a first year. There is no transfer option with either university. </p>