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<p>Not only that, but she is a talented writer.</p>
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You know, repeating this doesn’t convince anybody of anything. I guess the hilarity might be lost on somebody who really does have two moms, for example.</p>
<p>As I’ve said before, the article, taken as a whole, isn’t bad. I wouldn’t say much if it were in the high school newspaper. But the WSJ, one would think, has some editors on staff. Perhaps mokusatsu is right and they liked the cheap shots.</p>
<p>I agree with Hunt and xiggi on this one. Why is it so hard for some posters to understand that this can be offensive, especially to the minorities mentioned? The excuse that it’s satire doesn’t make it any less offensive for those people. </p>
<p>Also, MommaJ’s suggestion of just “turning the page and moving on” puzzles me because, well, then why not do the same for those posts that mention being less-than-amused by Ms. Weiss’ letter? What is the reason for rejecting any sort of criticism? Is it because you enjoyed what is being critiqued? </p>
<p>And by the way, this isn’t coming from someone offended by the letter. I honestly didn’t think much of it. Admissions in my country are determined only by an exam, so I can’t relate to the letter enough to be amused or offended.</p>
<p>The article is the only joke worth laughing at.</p>
<p>I do wonder if supreme court will have the last laugh by doing away with holistic admissions or impacting it someway by their impending decision.</p>
<p>Fisher v UT decision will be out soon…</p>
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<p>Do you think that the timing of this WSJ essay wasn’t a total coincidence, but a way to say out loud to the Court what lots of folks have been whispering for years?</p>
<p>@texaspg</p>
<p>I doubt the creators of holistic admissions will do away with holistic admissions. Even through the swing vote and author of the opinion that started holistic admissions is gone, institutional pride will make it very difficult for the Court to overturn itself.</p>
<p>If the Court outlaws consideration of race, admissions at selective schools will get more holistic, not less.</p>
<p>Hunt - how so?</p>
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<p>Holistic admissions will give the schools the OPACITY in the admissions process to admit whomever they want.</p>
<p>Holistic admissions in action:
<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/sats/who/[/url]”>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/sats/who/</a></p>
<p>The Court is not going to outlaw holistic admissions–at most, it’s going to say that race can’t be considered. So, the schools will consider all sorts of things, like SES, personal challenges, ECs, and more–and will end up with an ethnic mix not much different from what they’re doing now. It will just be in a black box.</p>
<p>GMT, that’s an interesting exercise–and it really shows you how it can go without considering race–and it also shows you how a savvy admissions person could really consider race without leaving any clear evidence of having done so.</p>
<p>This girl and I have the same stats nearly and I was rejected from six schools (many the same she was shut out from) in one day.
Maybe I should have written an article ridiculing members of her affinity group, had mommy and daddy get me published and then hide my bitter feelings under “it’s just satire guise omg” when faced with criticism. </p>
<p>How is she a victim? </p>
<p>Really. I’m sick of seeing these whiny rich kids blaming others for their first world problems.
She worked hard. And? So did THOUSANDS. Some, like me, probably worked harder. Feeling entitled to schools with single digit acceptance rates reeks of stupidity.</p>
<p>At first this whole thing didn’t bother me. Whiney senior who’s bitter-no big deal. However, the longer and more involved this gets, the more annoyed I am. I mean come on. National interviews? Dad’s publication? </p>
<p>The original piece wasn’t well written nor funny. This family just seems desperate for the publicity.</p>
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<p>Granted it is from the late 1990s but…
Wow. They rejected the 1240 (out of 1600) SAT candidate because they didn’t like his essay but accepted the 920 ( applicant with 510 Verbal) because of his essay. I’m willing to bet that the rejected one wrote his own essay ( neither parent is college educated) and didn’t have it modified a million times. Reading the essay they 'liked" leads me to believe that the author had lots of assistance. It is too clean and polished for an applicant with a 510 verbal…Sorry to be so cynical …</p>
<p>*thousands </p>
<p>Yep.</p>
<p>
Note that the accepted student’s essay mentions that his/her first language was Spanish. That could either (a) justify a somewhat lower verbal SAT score or (b) suggest that the readers were looking to benefit Latino applicants. Take your pick, and welcome to holistic admissions. (Which I support, by the way. I also support affirmative action.)</p>
<p>I think those of us who can identify with the author of the article, can laugh because we have had some of the same thoughts at times. The running joke in my family is that you need to cure cancer if you want a prayer of a chance to be admitted to the Ivies.</p>
<p>
That joke doesn’t denigrate anybody–and I will note, in fairness, that Weiss includes several jokes like that. When she’s complaining that she’s an “underachiever” compared to others, her piece is funny and has some nuance.</p>
<p>I note, with interest, that she doesn’t complain about legacies. I wonder why that is?</p>