Friday, December 02, 2005

The Wonderful World of the College Application Process

Let's play a little game, shall we? I call it "The Wonderful World of the College Application Process", where we pit two prospective students against one another and decide which one deserves to go the better school. But first, let's choose some contestants. Hmm, what are some typical, non-discript names, umm, how about Greg and, umm, Lee for instance. Let's say both go to the same school, which is known for its academic prowess. Now to choose a university, anyone will do. Hmm, Brown University sounds an excellent institution of higher learning that would be looking for two outstanding students like Greg and Lee. Now, of course, a school can't accept students based on names alone. (although the name "Greg" does give the impression that he is an extremely smart and attractive young man) So we have to have to determine these students' eligability based on a series of admission factors. Here we go:
Obviously, Brown doesn't want a couple of slugs occupying their classrooms, so admission officiers must determine the success of these students throughout their high school career and the difficulty of the courses they take.

Grades and Rigorous nature of Courses:

Lee: Five AP courses (English, Calculus BC, Latin, Physics, US History)
GPA = 4.06
Member of the National Honor Society
Member of the Latin National Honor Society
Greg: Five AP courses (English, Calculus AB, French, Chemistry, US History)
GPA = 3.98
Member of the National Honor Society
Member of the French National Honor Society
Tough call since both go to the same school. I'm gonna have to give Lee the edge here with the higher level calculus course and the slightly better GPA. But at least Greg can speak a second language that actually exists.
Now, the college application process doesn't end at academics. Certain "other" factors exist to pursade universities into selecting different students.

"Other" Factors:
Lee: Described as Jewish, family is in highest fifth of annual income
Greg: Described as White, family is in highest fifth of annual income

Another difficult call. Lee might have the slight advantage of being described as Jewish, but little the schools know that he has all but renounced his faith in some odd, puberty-induced rejection of God. Sounds a little deceptive to me. However, not only is Greg white, but he happens to like rap music, which deserves a punch in the face every time he breaths. There are few things on this planet worse than a white kid from the suburbs liking hip-hop. But since both students have families with highest income of any other person on the planet, we're gonna have to call this one a push.
But no university wants to promote sloth on their campus, so participation in extra-curricular activities is another important factor as well.

Extra-Curricular Activities:
Lee: Works with about fifty other students on lighting for the school's theater productions (the school only puts on two plays a year), sits at home, watches porn
Greg: Four seasons of cross country, four seasons of indoor track, four seasons of outdoor track, frequent contributor to the school newspaper, co-founder and co-president of the Free Write Club, worked on service trips to Tijuana and Appalachia, frequents his church's youth group
Gee wiz, if college selection was based on this one factor it would be a blowout. But the competition remains close as we approach the end - oh wait, I forgot one little aspect to the application process.

SAT Scores:
Lee: 2400
Greg 1900
Now whose more likely to get into a good school?

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