Dan Rather Reporting on College Admissions

Applying to College
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<p>Got an e-mail today reporting a college admissions expose’
Might be interesting. Disregard if already announced/posted.</p>

<p>DAN RATHER REPORTS” TO TAKE A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE HIGH-STAKES, HIGH MONEY WORLD OF THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS</p>

<p>“Dan Rather Reports: The Admissions Game” premieres Tuesday, May 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET</p>

<p>DALLAS (May 22, 2008) – Today’s process of applying to college has become so tortured and demanding that many people –students, teachers, and experts – say the system is broken. Many question whether the process is fair, and whether or not it really serves the interests of parents, students, or the colleges themselves.</p>

<p>The subject of college admissions also strikes at some of the most controversial issues facing this country: questions of race, wealth, privilege, and class.</p>

<p>In this Tuesday’s episode, “Dan Rather Reports” goes inside the process of college admissions. The program will bring you a seldom-seen look into an admissions committee meeting and Rather speaks with university presidents, guidance counselors, and students from two very different high schools.</p>

<p>One man has made it his mission to take on this system - a system he says has been taken over by billion dollar industries. “The commercialization of college admissions has created a crisis by undermining educational values,” said Lloyd Thacker of the Education Conservancy.</p>

<p>The pressure to get into a top-ranked school has driven some students to extremes, paying tens of thousands of dollars to coaches who help them market themselves properly in their college application process. At the same time, the commercialization of admissions has made it even harder for low-income students to compete in the admissions game, especially if they can’t afford costly tutors or SAT preparation. </p>

<p>Rather also speaks to some college presidents who agree it’s time to make a change. </p>

<p>“We’ve made a mess of it and we can do better,” said Doug Bennett, the president of Earlham College in Indiana. “We make some people very anxious about getting into college. Very well prepared students grow tremendously anxious. And we have a lot of other students - and I worry more about these [students] - who aren’t sure that college is right for them. Aren’t sure they can afford it. And then wind up not going at all.”</p>

<p>“Dan Rather Reports: The Admissions Game” premieres on HDNet, Tuesday, May 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET with a re-air at 11:00 p.m. ET to accommodate West Coast Prime Time.</p>

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<p>Is this available on broadcast television? Thanks for the link.</p>

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<p>You can watch it online next week: </p>

<p>[HDNet</a> Original Programming - Dan Rather Reports](<a href=“http://www.hd.net/danrather.html#watch]HDNet”>http://www.hd.net/danrather.html#watch)</p>

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<p>This is a really dumb question but what is HD Net. I assume it’s High definition TV network and if you have one does that mean you can watch the Dan Rather report? What website do you go to to watch it online?</p>

<p>I admit it I am technically challenged when it comes to anything other than my computer and DVD player.</p>

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<p>Was wondering if anyone else watched the broadcast. The information wasn’t earth shattering for me but I was a little surprised about how many thought the process was stressful and took some joy out of their senior year. While some reforms would be necessary, I don’t see higher ed being as acessible as some would like it to be.</p>

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<p>Personally, I thought the college process was exciting and slightly disappointing.</p>

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<p>Dan Rather’s report is still available online at:
[Education</a> Conservancy](<a href=“http://www.educationconservancy.org/]Education”>http://www.educationconservancy.org/) . </p>

<p>One interesting quote from the show:
"THERE’S A PROFESSOR AT A TOP IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL. HE SAID TO ME, “THACKER, THERE’S SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG.” HE SAID, “THIS CLASS, WE’RE TOLD, HAS THE HIGHEST AVERAGE SAT SCORES. THE HIGHEST AVERAGE GPA. YOU KNOW, 4.9 OR SOMETHING. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS CLASS IS LESS CONNECTED TO LEARNING THAN ANY CLASS I’VE EVER TAUGHT.” SO, IN OTHER WORDS, SOMEBODY’S RESPONSIBLE FOR TELLING THE KIDS WHAT’S IMPORTANT. THEY’RE PERFORMING TO MEET OUR EXPECTATIONS, AND YET THE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES ARE NOT THOSE THAT WE WOULD DESIRE. "</p>

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<p>^ fantastic bump, thanks!!!</p>

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<p>after what this man did to my president, nothing he says has any credibility even if it is just college applications.</p>

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<p>^ That’s why I didn’t listen to much of what Dan Rather said.</p>

<p>The people he interviewed, on the other hand, had some VERY interesting things to say. The $40k college consultant woman made me laugh so hard. She tried to make it seem like paying some tool that much money is actually validated. Way more people get into HYPSM without crazy-expensive losers than with them.</p>

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<p>Thanks, Mrs Weasley, for bumping up this thread. I missed it somehow last May. Very interesting piece!</p>

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<p>Mrs. Weasley -</p>

<p>I was struck by your post. Things will not change at the ‘top school’ until it seeks out and admits those kids who seek out learning - problem is - those top schools do not always care about that detail. </p>

<p>I have a child who was deferred in early decision from what was (and may no longer be so it is all for the best ) his first choice school. All three recomendations from his teachers say just that - that he is one of the kids most connected to learning that each of the recomenders has ever known. But, alas, the ‘numbers’ - his first semester grades in 6 APs were not what admissions wanted to see - and they told that to his GC when he inquired ! They are waiting on better grades - because the schools want the ‘numbers’ for the brag sheets !</p>

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<p>I just wanted to say that that was a fantastic report. I think there are a couple of loose ends that could have been explored such as SAT optional schools like Wake Forest, Bowdoin, Middlebury, etc…
And I think that this year that report is even more relevant because of hard financial times in addition to an even larger graduating class.
In actuality I dont think things will change very much for a long time to come. Hopefully when I have children applying to college the system wont be as bad. As someone who got into my first choice school ED, the entire system wasn’t as bad for me as what other people have to go through. BUt at the same time, it was still pretty tough and stressful to get all of the essays and materials together as well as keep on top of my grades.
Although I must say, I was WAY WAY WAY more relaxed than most of my graduating class who are hyperobsessed with college admissions.</p>

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<p>LOL, he must have just had a kid apply!</p>

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<p>anothermom3: The video names a college that does not participate in the US News annual ranking. Do you think your child’s early decision school is too concerned with their numbers because of all of these ranking systems?</p>

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<p>zfox001, did you apply to an SAT optional school? Do you think that the stress on applicants comes from the fact that applying to college is an arduous process or are there other stressors? </p>

<p>The video suggested that some of the students were applying to certain schools only because of parental pressure and some were applying to schools that were beyond their grasp. Do you think applying to the wrong schools causes stress for students?</p>

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<p>Mrs. Weasley - I really could not answer that question. I do not know. At some level, I do not think the answer is really relevant because no one would change the path we’re on with the information. My DS1 would still have applied, even were the school concerned with numbers and rankings. My DS1 is about as unconcerned with that stuff as one 17 year old could be. The whole applications process is an imperfect one, often less than holistic, and it is what it is. That is my mantra these days - it is what it is. DS1 moved on from his deferral - would he go to that school if offered a place, well, yes. But, there are other schools that he would attend too.</p>

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<p>I thought it was a great piece and seemingly well balanced if only in how crazy the whole system is, and not just for HYP. But I saw no solutions really – not even the reaching across the table as the Kenyon President proposed. That Amherst doesn’t fill out the forms is fine, that Reed has never participated is great, but I think the reasons why these rankings and private college counseling hold esteem and gain business is because of the counselor with far more on her plate than the college application process. I also think that volunteer organization is a fabulous program to help kids with organizing the process. Seriously, our dining room table was covered in stuff for months!</p>

<p>PS… if all three recommendations are saying the same thing, than there is nothing new about the student offered, which while the trait is a good one, might suggest there’s not a whole lot more to this person. Don’t know, but just saying. It was my impression that every piece of an application should reveal something slightly different in order to offer a full impression.</p>