4 ms·

There is a simple explanation: Academics is not the primary focus at most top schools outside of perhaps MIT, Caltech and Chicago. When it comes down to it, the

There is a simple explanation: Academics is not the primary focus at most top schools outside of perhaps MIT, Caltech and Chicago. When it comes down to it, their goal is to develop the next generation of 'elites', and the basic MO is to get a bunch of current gen elites and surround them with a cross-section of the society, so that their education is 'well-rounded'. Edit: this comment, while obviously passing some judgment on elite schools, should not be taken as an endorsement of the parent comment. Admitting based on test scores has severe issues in a society where schooling quality and resources are so unevenly distributed.

saint_fiasco 8y ago
If school quality and resources are not evenly distributed, don't 'hollistic' admission policies make things worse? A poor person can study for the SATs just like the rich kids (expensive tutors don't actually raise the score very much), but there is no way they will have the same opportunities (money, time, connections) for the sort of fancy extracurriculars that rich kids do to impress admission committees.
- tacomonstrous 7y ago
  Yes of course. My critique of the system as one meant for the fostering of elites carries the corollary that it's not a great one for underprivileged students. The actual solution is not messing around with admission criteria, but rather tackling the unequal distribution of opportunity at the primary and secondary school level.
loblollyboy 8y ago
If I were a school I would just recruit people based on their instagram, selecting for physical attractiveness, psychopathic tendencies, creativity, narcissism and/or special skills/talents.
- 4ntonius8lock 8y ago
  They already do. It's just more subtle and complex... but they do review social media. And narcissism and psychopathy is going to bring you big points. Those things let you get the things they want to see (school president, etc)

saint_fiasco 8y ago

If school quality and resources are not evenly distributed, don't 'hollistic' admission policies make things worse? A poor person can study for the SATs just like the rich kids (expensive tutors don't actually raise the score very much), but there is no way they will have the same opportunities (money, time, connections) for the sort of fancy extracurriculars that rich kids do to impress admission committees.

tacomonstrous 7y ago
Yes of course. My critique of the system as one meant for the fostering of elites carries the corollary that it's not a great one for underprivileged students. The actual solution is not messing around with admission criteria, but rather tackling the unequal distribution of opportunity at the primary and secondary school level.

loblollyboy 8y ago

If I were a school I would just recruit people based on their instagram, selecting for physical attractiveness, psychopathic tendencies, creativity, narcissism and/or special skills/talents.

4ntonius8lock 8y ago
They already do. It's just more subtle and complex... but they do review social media. And narcissism and psychopathy is going to bring you big points. Those things let you get the things they want to see (school president, etc)