<p>Paula Porter, director of college guidance at York Country Day School in Pennsylvania, writes a compelling case, calling for admissions reps to reexamine the perhaps unrealistic expectations they are giving prospective students during the interview process: [The</a> Answer Sheet - A plea to college interviewers](<a href=“http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/college-admissions/a-plea-to-college-interviewers.html]The”>http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/college-admissions/a-plea-to-college-interviewers.html).</p>
<p>Are candidates really being given an unclear picture of their prospects when interviewing with admissions reps? Anyone personally experienced or heard of this?</p>
<p>All you have to do is read through these boards to confirm it’s true. I am floored by what kids say they are told by college reps. But when you stand back you realize it’s just business. It’s their job to get as many applicants as possible so they can reject as many as possible and climb in the rankings.</p>
<p>I think Alums are supposed to be ambassdors for the college - not admission officers - so they are supposed to represent the college in the best light - I try to let the student know we meet with ALL candidates and not the best ones - however - although I post this repeating on my own college forum - candidates - kids who arent accepted yet themselves - argue repeatedly that I am wrong and that getting an interview means you have a leg up. </p>
<p>I think some kids hear what they want to hear -</p>
<p>Yes, as Garrou points out in her response, even saying something as vague as “You’d be a great fit here,” can give a student the wrong impression and lead to major disappointment if they’re rejected. It’s logical that a person is more likely to get their hopes up at such a hugely important moment, but it seems like the onus should be on the admissions staff to moderate some of that enthusiasm, rather than expecting students to take everything they hear with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>I have had only one interviewer ever tell me that I would be a good fit. I have thus far had 9 interviewers with a mix of admissions officers and alumni. I consider interviewing to be by far my best strength and have had that affirmed. My sister, however, had every interviewer (all alumni) tell her she’d be an excellent fit. Admittedly, she did get into EVERY school to which she applied, including Columbia ED and UChicago EA so I guess the expectations weren’t unrealistic. We shall see how my admissions decisions come out.</p>
<p>* But when you stand back you realize it’s just business. It’s their job to get as many applicants as possible so they can reject as many as possible and climb in the rankings. *</p>
<p>True.</p>
<p>Someone posted that a college that is facing serious cutbacks because of past mistakes and huge drop in endowment recently told prospective families that they’re just doing fine…even though they have 20% less money in this year’s budget and have already cut classes. They outright lied to these parents. Yes, the school will be back on its feet in a few years, but mostly after these students will have graduated.</p>
<p>You can imagine the only money schools in that position are now spending is with PR firms. If their situation has the likely effect of cutting enrollment, they’re dead. I’m not so sure schools like this will be OK in a few years, many are fighting for their lives. Many will go the way of Antioch. Too many marginal colleges, with the number of college aged kids in decline, they can’t all survive.</p>
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<p>exactly. However, I’m not sure that’s a bad thing in the end. It is quite possible that in the absence of such “sales” efforts, uninformed HS students would make many fewer applications, and have fewer choices for attendance (and financial aid). If, because of these sales efforts, they are encouraged to apply to 10 instead of 7 schools, they may end up as net beneficiaries.</p>
<p>I can’t help but think that good old fashioned competition for students creates an environment in which each college and University must constantly ask themself: How can we improve today?</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Actually, that’s not my quote, altho I do agree with it. :)</p>
<p>The problem is when outright dishonesty and misleading information is used. Kids (and parents) get their hopes up based on what they’re told.</p>