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Comment by johan_larson | Hacker News Reader

The more I read about the contortions US colleges go through in the name of social justice, the better scores-only admission looks to me.

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I'm genuinely curious to know if scores-only admission would deliver a more economically-diverse student population. I don't know how you'd investigate that though.

My hypothesis is, if there's no benefit to doing expensive extracurricular activities, hiring a personal essay coach or college counselors, getting recommendation letters, and all the other ceremony, elite colleges might become more accessible to students of limited means. There's only so much of an advantage that expensive test coaching can give you, right?

The case where it might help is the bright kid from a working class background; you know, the kind who works part-time and therefore doesn't have time for extracurricular activities.

My undergrad was basically scores only (gpa/SAT grid) and I’m in America. This is only an issue at the very elite schools.

Interesting. Thanks for providing that additional viewpoint. My impression, based on my experience navigating the American grad school admissions process, was that the undergrad process was the same thing turned up to 11. I read about personal essay writers and interview coaches and the right set of extracurricular activities.

Not at all, only for the top schools. I got into 2 of my state schools (1 of which is also being sued for this) and I was a very average student (#2 in class, 1500/1600, 66 college credits).

You only need a fancy resume if you apply to the T20 schools, some of which are more selective if you’re from out of state.

> (#2 in class, 1500/1600, 66 college credits)

That doesn't sounds like an average student to me. You were entering college as a junior, effectively.

Thanks for the info, though.

I think you're being overly modest; #2 in your class is by definition not "very average" :-). Unless you're saying that the average applicant at your school was #2 in their class and had a 1500 SAT score. Which again would put your school in the top bracket by my estimation, even if it's a state school.

No kidding. #2 in class and 1500/1600 puts you in the running for Harvard/Stanford, does it not? At the very least that does not sound like a "very average student".

It really doesn't. I was #2 in a class of 39 (lol) and my Math SAT was pretty poor (710) - not good enough to get into schools like CMU, Berkeley, or even GT.

Plus I didn't have research, ISEF awards, USAMO/USACO medals, and everything else that's expected at elite institutions.

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