"What Colleges Really Want": a video of a panel discussion of admissions deans

Applying to College
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<p>Here is a link to a video of a panel discussion with Admissions Deans and Directors from Boston University, Harvard, MIT, Tufts, and the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.</p>

<p>[TelVue</a> CloudCast Video Player](<a href=“http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01123&video=142220]TelVue”>http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01123&video=142220)</p>

<p>“AP Courses and Other Myths about What Colleges Really Want” A Panel Discussion with Community Question & Answer Period
LEXINGTON COMMUNITY FORUM CO-SPONSORED BY LPS PTOS</p>

<p>Date: Tuesday, January 29th, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM – 9 PM
Location: Cary Hall, Lexington, MA</p>

<p>Topic: “AP Courses and Other Myths about What Colleges Really Want” A Panel Discussion with Community Question & Answer Period</p>

<p>Admissions officers from five Massachusetts universities will tackle the stress over getting into college and talk about what they’re really seeking in a panel discussion for the Lexington community.</p>

<p>Getting into college is an obsession for many Lexington students and their parents – an obsession that starts as early as elementary school. For too many, it is assumed that college admissions offices admit students with the “most” – the most AP classes, the most extracurricular activities, the most summer internships and the like. The result is a lot of stressed out students and parents. But are they right – is this what college admissions directors are looking for?</p>

<p>Opened by Laura Lasa, Principal, Lexington High School</p>

<p>Panelists: Lee Coffin, Tufts University dean of undergraduate admissions; William Fitzsimmons, Harvard College dean of admissions; Kevin Kelly, UMass Amherst’s director of admissions; John McEachern, Boston University’s director of admissions, and Stuart Schmill, MIT’s director of admissions.</p>

<p>The event is co-sponsored by the LHS PTSA, Diamond PTA, Clarke PTA, Lexington School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), Youth Services Council/Lexington Human Services Department and the Collaborative to Reduce Student Stress.</p>

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<p>Some people on CC need to really ingrain in their minds what Stuart Schmill said. You can do all the rights things and still not get the results you wanted. That is just life. That is the nature of competition.</p>

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<p>Just watched the entire two hour video. Excellent information. Thanks for posting!</p>

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<p>Some very interesting points, but also you need to read between the lines a lot with what was said.</p>

<p>The individuals in this video were VERY political about staying on the fence with most questions.</p>

<p>I just wish one of them would have just came out and said “look you have to be able to do AP classes, EC activities and have a balanced life all extremely well to apply for our school” </p>

<p>They were good with pointing out not everyone is going to get into our school. You need to find a school that is best for you. </p>

<p>Funny how when the young girl said what is better if i get a B on an AP class or ace the easy one. They said without saying take the AP. “which one will give you a better education” To me that is implying the AP course.</p>

<p>However, they really backtalked about balance and finding yourself with need for showing: “Did you take the opportunity to challenge yourself, and get the most out of what was offered.”</p>

<p>I think the most important message was YOU NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN YOUR SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY.</p>

<p>They (college admissions) are looking for students that will be involved and make up a community inside the school. They don’t want robots, who sit in the dorm and study all day and night. Take the tests and then graduate to never be seen again.</p>

<p>They are looking for smart but outgoing and interesting people that will become leaders. They want people that will help others enjoy the time they went to college.
They want people who will thrive in our society, and be great representatives of the college they graduated from. </p>

<p>The gentlemen (Kevin Kelly) was the most honest by far. He seemed to be a straight shooter more then the others. I also loved the guy from Boston College (John McEachern).</p>

<p>I think this is a really good video to watch for the parents of freshmen and sophmores.</p>

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<p>I was disappointed when William Fitzsimmons explained how Harvard admits prospective math majors (starting at 58:58 in the video): it seems to be all about acceleration and high stakes math competitions. Excelling on either of those two measures requires access to resources that most K-12 students simply don’t have.</p>

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<p>That video honestly didn’t clarify anything. Mostly very neutral and vague answers about stuff that is already assumed. But still watched the whole thing heh</p>

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<p>He could afford to be different as the school he represents was an outlier in that presentation. His world of admissions is at the antipodes of Harvard’s or MIT’s. </p>

<p>Of course, a cynic could also think that all schools except UM-Amherst were outliers for the attendance at this school.</p>

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<p>Here’s something else from Harvard that might be enlightening:</p>

<p>[Helen</a> Vendler on admitting and nurturing creative undergraduates | Harvard Magazine Nov-Dec 2012](<a href=“http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/11/writers-and-artists-at-harvard]Helen”>http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/11/writers-and-artists-at-harvard)</p>