<p>Just realized this was on the UPenn forums I thought it was just in general. Oh well</p>
<h1>4 and #12 your sense of entitlement will be an anchor in the future lose it or be perpetually angry.</h1>
<p>It is because of these unspoken quotas that I now tell my daughter that the people who make it to these top schools are not necessary the best and the brightest of all the applicants that apply. They were lucky to be the best in their “quota” groups. This was veru evident this year at my daughter’s school when the valedictorian with almost perfect SAT I and II scores, state awards, etc. was denied from Columbia and someone else ranked lower in the class with SAT I of 2180 and lower SAT II scores with no awards was admitted to Columbia. Even the teachers at their school imply that it is because the admitted student is URM.</p>
<p>Who determines this unspoken breakdown of all the groups at all the top colleges?</p>
<p>Disillusionagain, just because someone has more awards and higher test scores than another applicant doesn’t always mean they are smarter/more qualified. A large part of the application is based on essays and recommendations. The most intelligent people I have met at Penn aren’t defined by high scores and awards (although many of these same people do have these qualities) they are genuinely interesting and passionate individuals.</p>
<p>@Poeme
I know that everything is not defined by test scores and awards, but I was pointing out that because of quotas not everyone accepted is the best Of the “total” pool of candidates. The two candidates had recommendations written by the same teachers and I know for a fact that the teachers wrote a better recommendation for the rejected kid (valedictorian) who they cited as being one of the top five they ever taught. The accepted kid was ranked around six and was in the same clubs and did not have leadership positions. The accepted kid was the best in her pool of candidates.</p>
<p>The admitted student being a URM could have been a big reason behind the acceptance; it also might not have been. There are certainly cases of URMs with high test scores and grades not getting into a school while URMs with lower test scores and grades get into the same school. In that situation, did the best of the best get in?</p>
<p>I am not denying that various measures of diversity influence the ultimate decisions of admissions offices, but they are just variables among many others. And because of that, it is hard to say an applicant is better than another. All we can say is that they are different, and I believe that those who are more effective at representing their individuality/uniqueness and passion (provided they also meet a certain academic threshold) are the ones admitted to selective colleges.</p>
<p>From the what you were saying about the Columbia applicants, both appear to be qualified for admission and could handle the work if they got there. That is what is important. There are too many other things we do not have visibility of to say one candidate was clearly superior to another.</p>
<p>^i agree. There are too many variables. </p>
<p>Who is and who isn’t the best and brightest.</p>
<p>All these schools accept the best and brightest but who is the arbiter and what measurement truly determines who makes up this elite group?</p>
<p>For one, a rejection from an Ivy doesn’t mean that one failed to measure up to best and brightest stature nor does acceptance bestow a crown.</p>
<p>An Ivy admission is a status symbol. Any two cars can get you from point A to point B but we want to be seen in the Porsche because it tells onlookers that we are better. But are we?</p>
<p>This a really depressing and self-deprecating thread. </p>
<p>In a year you’ll have no memory of these feelings. Really. Apply to as many schools as you can that you decently like in the next 10 days, and don’t worry. </p>
<p>Whatever was meant to be was meant to be. No need to dwell in the past, because the outcome in the end is identical. </p>
<p>If any of you are interested, read Zen and the Art of Happiness. It’s perfect to counter what you’re feeling right now.</p>