The fact is, admission into an Ivy is very competitive. My son applied to only one, and only because it’s located close to where we live. It really wasn’t his first choice; I talked him into applying when I saw his SAT score.
He is largely self-taught (through homeschool), and he scored in the top 1% on the SAT; at ages 16 and 17, he took some courses at a local college and maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA there (in classes such as Calculus); and he was involved in many activities.
But, acceptance into an Ivy was a longshot, to say the least. There are many students with more impressive records. He expected rejection, and indeed, he was rejected.
Yes, probably most of the students who apply to the Ivies are qualified, but with 26,000 students applying, all of them with high SAT scores and high grades, a school has to make some hard choices. The Ivies have to look at the whole picture. I was wondering if the admissions officers would appreciate that my son was self-taught and still scored in the top 1%. But, apparently they didn’t... lol.
This young man (Kwasi) aced 11 AP courses, scored in the top 1% on the SAT, maintained an A-average through school, is a musician and singer, and works in the radiology department at a hospital. There is no doubt that he’s qualified.
Also, I noticed that he was accepted from one Ivy in December, which means he applied early.
So, I say CONGRATULATIONS to Kwasi! I’m sure he will excel wherever he chooses to go.
In the meantime, your daughter and my son and so many other excellent students also will succeed wherever they go.
I understand what you’re saying and I know your son worked hard to achieve what he did.
What hurts these kids is watching those with lower SAT / ACT scores, lower GPS, lower class rankings, those who didn’t work as hard as they did get offered admissions, sometimes with full rides, to universities from which they were rejected. This happened to both my daughter and, three years later, my son.
That’s what angers me.
I believe college admission should be based on merit and not skin color. My daughter asked why she should have worked so hard only to watch as those who didn’t work as hard as she did get offered admission when she didn’t.
I saw the pain this caused her because of completely unfair policies like government-enforced and approved preferences in college admissions and scholarships. Three years later she told me it still hurt.
When AA is in effect, there are REAL people who are hurt as a result of these racist policies.