I think most colleges want to have amazing young people as students at their institutions. David Hogg, and the other young people from Parkland, who have experienced unbelievable tragedy and have stepped up to be the change they want to see in the world, are amazing young people. If I were an administrator or admissions counselor, I’d give a second look to bringing leaders like this to my institution.
If I were an adcom I’d hope I could look past the politics also. I think the exception would be those protests attempting to stop someone from speaking on campus. Taking part in something like that is so profoundly against our Constitution and basic freedoms that a person like that wouldn’t be a ‘fit’ on an American campus.
There are a few who come to mind - Emma Watson, Brooke Shields, Malala, for example
He is not just more publicized, getting publicity can help very little if you come across as an idiot. He is extremely well spoken, thoughtful and intelligent. He presents himself far better than most people his age.
“He presents himself far better than most people his age.”
Most people of ALL ages, IMO. I watch and listen to these Parkland kids and wish many of our politicians were as passionate and articulate.
Just shows that SAT scores can’t predict “success.” What David, and other organizers from Parkland, have is an intangible quality that the college process will not discern. There are kids with all As and perfect SAT scores who would never put themselves out there for their beliefs, and do it so eloquently that they are accused of being an imposter. David will undoubtedly have more college options in the future.
@sylvan8798 - I wasn’t referring to Malala or Emma Watson. I meant students with celebrity parents.
As for Brooke Shields, she may have gone to Princeton but her last book was so poorly written I couldn’t finish it.
lol
^^^^^ which is exactly makes Brooke Shields a " celebrity " admission.
<<just shows="" that="" sat="" scores="" can’t="" predict="" “success.”="" what="" david,="" and="" other="" organizers="" from="" parkland,="" have="" is="" an="" intangible="" quality="" the="" college="" process="" will="" not="" discern.="">>
Said another way, you don’t need to attend an ivy to be successful. Students make the school, not the other way around.
Well, his scores are in about the 85th percentile. That indicates at least adequate candlepower to be a tv spokesperson, or activist. Those aren’t rocket surgery.
“Well, his scores are in about the 85th percentile”
True but if Stoneman Douglas is like our HS ( and demographically it is) that score would place him in the bottom 50 percent of his class which schools may take into consideration, though UCs might not. I still think he’s extremely smart. SATs don’t really measure intelligence. And Hogg has said on social media that he’s dyslexic which also would account for scores that don’t match his intelligence.
^Merciful Diety. With my miserable 1280 SAT, it is inconceivable that I have a 3.73 GPA, 308 credits and a PhD in physics. Someone explain where that came from.
@dadx “rocket surgery” Ha. I’m stealing that.
But that begs the question of how to define success?
Feel free. I stole it from someplace that I no longer remember. I’ve always been a fan of Norm Crosby, and it fits with his schtick
Colleges have access to a huge database of high school info that allows them to assess applicants. Schools from all across North America, and in recent years, some from Europe and Asia participate. They will know where he ‘placed’ in his school, just as they will any other applicant.
Cardinal Fang makes the important point. Assuming you were an Admin, can you be dispassionate enough to accept him anyway if his political views are repugnant (or accept a counterpoint student whose different views you find repugnant)? Or are you so stuck in your views that you are intolerant of variant viewpoints and must create an environment with clones of your views.
I certainly can be dispassionate enough. As an admissions person, I’d take him in a heartbeat, and probably really make it worth his while to accept. Likewise, I’d also accept and entice Kyle Kashuv, preferably in the same class. In my grad school setting were two just like them. They disagreed on every possible political view and argued vehemently through every single class, while retaining a friendship. They were the most entertaining and enlightening people on campus and people I consider friends after decades.
How dispassionate should we be? I hope I’d admit the student who passionately and successfully organized in favor of unrestricted gun rights. But I draw the line at the (hypothetical) student who espouses views truly repugnant to the values of my (hypothetical) college. Should I admit the kid who says black people are subhuman and should be enslaved again?
Cardinal: You are jumping to a very unlikely extreme. I would imagine any student who promotes slavery also has some other issues that will show up in the admissions process.
However, well-meaning and thoughtful people differ every day on legitimate issues, such as the one Hogg was discussing. I prefer not to demonize either side but to look at the facts.