<p>Hi, alh, re post #1127: I replied to it in post #1130. I still haven’t identified the context. At this point, I’m not sure whether I appear to be disagreeing with myself.</p>
<p>In terms of members of Admissions Committees making a mistake, could we agree that both Harvard and Stanford made mistakes about the admission of Adam Wheeler? That seemed like a definite mistake to me.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Funny part is among hardcore engineering/CS aspirants at my HS…especially those with parents in engineering/CS themselves…the tippy top schools would PSM along with Caltech, Berkeley, and CMU. </p>
<p>HY would be considered good, but not elite for those fields…especially since popularly perceived “lower schools” like UMich, UIUC, or UW-Seattle have much stronger engineering/CS programs in those areas compared to HY…or most of the Ivies with the exception of P, Cornell, or sometimes Columbia SEAS. </p>
<p>That’s one benefit of having many engineers/CS folks on one side of my family, working in the computer technology field myself, and from attending a HS populated with hardcore engineering/CS aspirants.</p>
<p>Hi Novimom, #1160: I have been using HYPSM+C a lot (and sometimes HYPSM+C+others), because I agree with you.</p>
<p>I just realized where viewer got this “sample of six” thing. I meant that I had known these particular kids since they were 6 years old. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I, for one NEVER SAID THAT. Viewer decided that I said that. S/he is simply wrong.</p>
<p>Carry on, as poetgrl would say.</p>
<p>And C stands for Chicago, Columbia, Caltech, Cornell based on what a person wants to believe. :D</p>
<p>Convenient, that, texaspg, #1165.</p>
<p>I didn’t say that either. How big is your sample size?</p>
<p>Admissionsproblems response to the original column: <a href=“Untitled on Tumblr”>http://admissionsproblems.■■■■■■■■■■/post/47423395310</a></p>
<p>Posted with comment.</p>
<p>Add Caltech? Few people find the prestige in a simian acronym such as CHYMPS.</p>
<p>lol, xiggi! #1169</p>
<p>Yes quite the wit!</p>
<p>Also QM, about whether an unusual EC gives one an edge in elite admissions- possibly, but I think you would have to show that you otherwise have the academic credentials and also that you achieved something in that EC. </p>
<p>I think the larger question is does it make any sense to try to “game the system” by pursuing an unusual EC for the sake of an elite admission? I would argue probably not. </p>
<p>I think at the end if the day if you end up empty handed in the realm of elite admissions, you need to believe that your EC was worthy as an end in itself.</p>
<p>At the end of life in general, you need to believe that your activities were worthy as ends to themselves. </p>
<p>What’s more important - you learned the material, or the teacher gave you the A?</p>
<p>That should have been “without comment.”</p>
<p>Yawn! Seems WSJ is really hurting for news. How and why was the “humorous” article even newsworthy? It was drivel and not all that well-written or “witty.” Amazing what is printed.</p>
<p>Lol @ the tag. </p>
<p>As a HS student, do you think the chances are lower if you apply from a high school that’s not really well known? I go to a school where a few kids apply yearly but these are usually kids who’ve focused solely on grades (most important for Uni admission here) and sometimes the standardized tests. (Not trying to judge my fellow students-- the only reason I know is cuz I moved from a town where many people are on CC)</p>
<p>Ok, who around here is making fun of QM?</p>
<h1>1161 Thanks for replying QM</h1>
<p>If we accept some sort of heirarchical grouping of colleges, and a special snowflake doesn’t get into the school with maximum resources for that particular student - how different is it to say: top 5 are all pretty much the same, top 10 are all pretty much the same, top 20, and so on…</p>
<p>it is just a difference of degree? </p>
<p>I agree. At least Harvard is proved to have made a mistake.</p>
<p>Isn’t the obvious answer that it is shades of gray? Why are people making this so difficult? There’s no meaningful difference between H and Y. There is some meaningful difference between H and Brandeis, but a smart, thoughtful kid will do fine there. There is a big, meaningful difference between H and East Directional State U. What is the issue here?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I get your point, but when I was a high school senior, intending to be a science major, I applied to Harvard (early action), Stanford, and MIT, thinking of them (but not Yale) as premier science schools. I think there are far more math contest winners at Harvard than Yale. The differences between Harvard and Yale are small but not completely meaningless. According to USNWR, Yale is ranked tied for 11th among physics grad school programs, whereas Harvard is ranked 2nd. In math Yale is tied for 10th, and Harvard is 2nd. The very best math and physics students are aware of these rankings, and if they have a choice between Harvard and Yale will probably go to the former. Knowing this, if you want to measure yourself against them, you go to Harvard, too, if you get in.</p>