Acceptance Letter

[T-Dog]

My daughter was no slam-dunk case in my view. She had good credentials as far as school involvement, course load, and class rank but her SATs and ACT are not helping Apps average. We will leave it at that. And her high school is not the most competitive school, and I know that as I teach there. That is not to be negative where I work and send my kids to high school, but that is the reality, so her class rank, while good even great, does not relate to the same class rank of a high-flying school. I know that. I was a bit concerned. Which is one reason I am SO excited for her. Though I also knew if App had a chance to see the fine young lady that is a hard worker in the classroom they would want her as a student, but getting that point across is not always easy. Seeing test scores is easy and lots of fine students don't always show what they have with those types of tests.

IMO, high school does less than people think in preparing students for college. I've seen the 4.0 Miss Perfects with AP classes and Most Likely to Succeed go to college and completely bomb. Sometimes leaving the nest causes the bird to fall on their face and not get helped back up. Doing good in college has more to do with time management, GOING TO CLASS and being attentive than anything. If she works hard, keeps priorities in order and becomes social, she'll be fine.

Congrats on four(ish) years of student guest tickets.

Also, GO. TO. CLASS.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

My daughter was no slam-dunk case in my view. She had good credentials as far as school involvement, course load, and class rank but her SATs and ACT are not helping Apps average. We will leave it at that. And her high school is not the most competitive school, and I know that as I teach there. That is not to be negative where I work and send my kids to high school, but that is the reality, so her class rank, while good even great, does not relate to the same class rank of a high-flying school. I know that. I was a bit concerned. Which is one reason I am SO excited for her. Though I also knew if App had a chance to see the fine young lady that is a hard worker in the classroom they would want her as a student, but getting that point across is not always easy. Seeing test scores is easy and lots of fine students don't always show what they have with those types of tests.

IMO, high school does less than people think in preparing students for college. I've seen the 4.0 Miss Perfects with AP classes and Most Likely to Succeed go to college and completely bomb. Sometimes leaving the nest causes the bird to fall on their face and not get helped back up. Doing good in college has more to do with time management, GOING TO CLASS and being attentive than anything. If she works hard, keeps priorities in order and becomes social, she'll be fine.

Congrats on four(ish) years of student guest tickets.

Also, GO. TO. CLASS.

I agree on just about all of that. Especially the part about GOING TO CLASS. Some of my students think college is all about parties and doing what one wants and for some maybe it is and it depends on one's major.There is no way I could succeed in the sciences (mine was Physics) and spending lots of time drinking and such and skipping classes. I am not smart enough to waste the brain cells for one. I think I missed 3 classes in 4.5 years of college. I had some sort of award my freshman year my parents wanted to attend with me so I missed a Physics class, and I talked to the prof BEFORE class started. I studied right through my New Testament and screwed up the times my sophomore or junior year, but the professor was forgiving and let me retake the exam. I think I intentionally skipped one class. The prof was the one prof I ever had that really got on my nerves and was a bit full of himself. I took a day off from him. College is not SO hard if one goes to class most students will get through and be successful enough for a diploma. However that point is lost on many students each year at all colleges.

[Maddog1956]

I can understand that. App is my daughter's #1 choice but she did apply and get accepted at Western. I doubt she will be getting any money from Western in amounts that would not be available at App, but if that were to happen I would not be upset nor expect here to pass up lots of money just to be at App. I am just proud she was accepted but I do think I will be taking in more football games in Boone next year than I have in a long time.

Having had two daughters enter Western and APP the same year

I am assuming you have twin daughters?

Yes, both at App now.

[Maddog1956]

My daughter was no slam-dunk case in my view. She had good credentials as far as school involvement, course load, and class rank but her SATs and ACT are not helping Apps average. We will leave it at that. And her high school is not the most competitive school, and I know that as I teach there. That is not to be negative where I work and send my kids to high school, but that is the reality, so her class rank, while good even great, does not relate to the same class rank of a high-flying school. I know that. I was a bit concerned. Which is one reason I am SO excited for her. Though I also knew if App had a chance to see the fine young lady that is a hard worker in the classroom they would want her as a student, but getting that point across is not always easy. Seeing test scores is easy and lots of fine students don't always show what they have with those types of tests.

IMO, high school does less than people think in preparing students for college. I've seen the 4.0 Miss Perfects with AP classes and Most Likely to Succeed go to college and completely bomb. Sometimes leaving the nest causes the bird to fall on their face and not get helped back up. Doing good in college has more to do with time management, GOING TO CLASS and being attentive than anything. If she works hard, keeps priorities in order and becomes social, she'll be fine.

Congrats on four(ish) years of student guest tickets.

Also, GO. TO. CLASS.

I agree on just about all of that. Especially the part about GOING TO CLASS. Some of my students think college is all about parties and doing what one wants and for some maybe it is and it depends on one's major.There is no way I could succeed in the sciences (mine was Physics) and spending lots of time drinking and such and skipping classes. I am not smart enough to waste the brain cells for one. I think I missed 3 classes in 4.5 years of college. I had some sort of award my freshman year my parents wanted to attend with me so I missed a Physics class, and I talked to the prof BEFORE class started. I studied right through my New Testament and screwed up the times my sophomore or junior year, but the professor was forgiving and let me retake the exam. I think I intentionally skipped one class. The prof was the one prof I ever had that really got on my nerves and was a bit full of himself. I took a day off from him. College is not SO hard if one goes to class most students will get through and be successful enough for a diploma. However that point is lost on many students each year at all colleges.

I agree on the going to call, but I also think that going a little a day and not falling behind is very important. Some people can just read the book (I'm not very good at that), but what kept my grades up was working a little at a time on stuff. I told my girls that there is still time to party, but try and spend at least an hour a day on something. (no that they do it but at least I told them). They do their share of partying with their friends but they both made honor roll so something working.

I think too much is put on the SAT also, and I've found out with App it's about all SAT. As little as 50 points can make all the difference.

If someone wanted to transfer I'd have them do it early because you lose a lot of credits, even for the same class like Chem doesn't transfer as a science from Western to App, but as an elective.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I can understand that. App is my daughter's #1 choice but she did apply and get accepted at Western. I doubt she will be getting any money from Western in amounts that would not be available at App, but if that were to happen I would not be upset nor expect here to pass up lots of money just to be at App. I am just proud she was accepted but I do think I will be taking in more football games in Boone next year than I have in a long time.

Having had two daughters enter Western and APP the same year

I am assuming you have twin daughters?

Yes, both at App now.

Besides the oldest I have just mentioned about getting into App. I also have twin daughters as freshmen in high schools. My concern for the twins is to sell App to them. They want to do elite private schools. If they get the money I don't care, but that could be a big if. I have a few more years with them.

[AppSt94]

I can understand that. App is my daughter's #1 choice but she did apply and get accepted at Western. I doubt she will be getting any money from Western in amounts that would not be available at App, but if that were to happen I would not be upset nor expect here to pass up lots of money just to be at App. I am just proud she was accepted but I do think I will be taking in more football games in Boone next year than I have in a long time.

Having had two daughters enter Western and APP the same year

I am assuming you have twin daughters?

Yes, both at App now.

Besides the oldest I have just mentioned about getting into App. I also have twin daughters as freshmen in high schools. My concern for the twins is to sell App to them. They want to do elite private schools. If they get the money I don't care, but that could be a big if. I have a few more years with them.

I'm kind of in the same boat. My oldest is a Freshmen in high school and for her it's Ivy League or bust. If she can get the money I'm all for it but if not then she will go for quality and affordability.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I would not be upset if they looked at Davidson hard. Between work studies and grants they have some sort of program where you can leave debt-free. That is not bad for a prestigious school such as Davidson.

Short of that I have a hard time seeing the need to go to a private due to the expense. But that is practical me, and my mindset is not, shall we say, average, in many things about life.

[MAD Doctor]

Congrats to your daughter and family, Mc. I'll never forget the day my son got his letter, and the look on his face.
We were in Chic-Fil-A just a couple hours agio, and one of the girls working there saw my wife's App jacket and yelled out that she'd just gotten her acceptance letter. She was absolutely beaming. Of course, we welcomed her into the family.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I think too much is put on the SAT also, and I've found out with App it's about all SAT. As little as 50 points can make all the difference.

I don't know if being a double legacy makes a difference or not. If any searches to back in the fall one will see I was asking a bunch of questions trying to read the tea leaves. The consensus was both, yes it helped being a legacy and no it did not make a difference. I do give to the ASU Fdn every year. We are both teachers, so it is not a lot, but I do give. I have no idea if they tracked those dollar amounts down. And I don't even know if I want them to be aware of my donation amounts as I don't want someone getting accepted because they have a well-heeled family that can afford to out-give my family even if their potential student is less deserving than mine. What I can conclude from this is that it is not "App it's about all SAT."

I don't know what it is about to be honest. I just know it can't be SAT only. We will leave it at that.

What I can take away from it is that they look at the whole package. My daughter has a good maybe great class rank. (We need to define good/great). But her class rank is at a school were most of the kids really do not care. And admissions knows the good schools and, shall we say, the not so good schools. She was on the swim team for 4 years. Never made regionals but she was on the team. Involved in Student Council, which at my school means she volunteered and not just a popularity contest. Her SATs are not helping Apps average, but she has taken a rigorous course load and passed an AP test. She did ask for lots of references, and I know some of the teachers do think the world of my daughter, and I am sure wrote wonderful letters of recommendation for her. I also wrote her a reference and signed it as an App alumni as I always do for students that need a reference to App. At the end of my letter to admissions I stated the family connection and asked that they still consider my truthful words. I have no idea if they tossed what I wrote as being potentially too biased or took it for face value with the honesty I wrote it. I did feel I needed to be clear I was typing this as her Chemistry and AP Physics teacher, but yes I am also her father. I am sure those letters don't cross Admissions often, but there is no way I am unique in this.

At the end of the day I don't know what they want. I am glad it is not just SAT scores, both personally for my daughter and also professionally as a teacher. I think one reason I am beaming is that I was afraid the SAT was going to be her undoing for admissions. I think I have told more people at my school than she has. Even if something happens and she ends up at a different school (and that seems very unlikely at this point) I know she was accepted and that I am very proud of for her own sake.

(I did not mean to write so much. Sorry.)

[asutrnr81]

I think too much is put on the SAT also, and I've found out with App it's about all SAT. As little as 50 points can make all the difference.

I don't know if being a double legacy makes a difference or not.

At the end of the day I don't know what they want. I am glad it is not just SAT scores, both personally for my daughter and also professionally as a teacher.

Our experience too and for dozens of kids I know....it is NOT about SAT only for ASU!

Congrats on your daughters acceptance.

We have two letters and now one graduate! The best day since being accepted was the day he graduated. Dec. 2014 One more left and he has had a WONDERful experience!

[Maddog1956]

I think too much is put on the SAT also, and I've found out with App it's about all SAT. As little as 50 points can make all the difference.

I don't know if being a double legacy makes a difference or not.

At the end of the day I don't know what they want. I am glad it is not just SAT scores, both personally for my daughter and also professionally as a teacher.

Our experience too and for dozens of kids I know....it is NOT about SAT only for ASU!

Congrats on your daughters acceptance.

We have two letters and now one graduate! The best day since being accepted was the day he graduated. Dec. 2014 One more left and he has had a WONDERful experience!

My daughters both had about the same grades, played the same sports (basketball and soccer), did a teaching internship at the same school, both had after jobs and naturally had the same double legacy (four degree) parents.

The only difference, 80 points on the SAT! There is nothing that anyone can say that will convince me or anyone else that knows both of them, that it wasn't the 80 points. I'm open to other theories, but I would bet that the Admissions Office enters the # of females they need (for example) and the computer spits out the top 1000 based on SAT scores and that who gets the acceptance letter.

So how well does the SAT predicts success. Well both work at "real" jobs, and still made honor roll. I'm glad they are both at App now, and it's all "water under the bridge" (life goes on). Still I have pretty solid evidence (based on them) that the SAT all that matters, which is their right to pick anyway they want to, but just do everyone a favor and say it up front.

[Maddog1956]

My oldest daughter just got a nice large envelope from App State in the mail today. She has been accepted into App State!

And none of the above is meant to take away anything from your daughter acceptance letter! I know you're rightfully proud. Best wishes to her and all your family.

[gibsonvilleapp]

Congrats to your daughter and to you coach! I know all to well about that school not preparing well for college and not helping in the admissions process either.

[wataugan03]

Its not all about SAT, but it is a big factor. Grades are also a big factor. If either one is below a certain cutoff its going to be very hard to get in. If both are above a certain ceiling you aren't getting rejected unless there are red flags. If you're in the middle they look harder at class rank, activities, etc. If you have exceptional grades but low SAT, or vice versa, you're effectively in the middle. So 50 SAT points can absolutely make or break a marginal candidate. So can a .2 jump in GPA.

[Maddog1956]

Its not all about SAT, but it is a big factor. Grades are also a big factor. If either one is below a certain cutoff its going to be very hard to get in. If both are above a certain ceiling you aren't getting rejected unless there are red flags. If you're in the middle they look harder at class rank, activities, etc. If you have exceptional grades but low SAT, or vice versa, you're effectively in the middle. So 50 SAT points can absolutely make or break a marginal candidate. So can a .2 jump in GPA.

This chart may say it best. the only reason that all the accepted aren't over 1710 is mainly diversity (ie, men are taken with a less higher SAT score on average) which I'm personally for, even if it did work against me. I'm not saying it's impossible, but if I was telling someone where to spend their time to help make sure they got in, I'd say SAT prep hands down.

And when that question is asked does the SAT matter, I'm convinced that it "mostly" what matters and if piled all the other stuff on the other side of the scale it would be far outweighed by the SAT. (Excepting scholarships sports and other rare cases)

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT ... at-act.htm

[Maddog1956]

Its not all about SAT, but it is a big factor. Grades are also a big factor. If either one is below a certain cutoff its going to be very hard to get in. If both are above a certain ceiling you aren't getting rejected unless there are red flags. If you're in the middle they look harder at class rank, activities, etc. If you have exceptional grades but low SAT, or vice versa, you're effectively in the middle. So 50 SAT points can absolutely make or break a marginal candidate. So can a .2 jump in GPA.

This chart may say it best. the only reason that all the accepted aren't over 1710 is mainly diversity (ie, men are taken with a less higher SAT score on average) which I'm personally for, even if it did work against me. I'm not saying it's impossible, but if I was telling someone where to spend their time to help make sure they got in, I'd say SAT prep hands down.

But when the question is asked does the SAT matter, I'm convinced that it "mostly" what matters and if piled everything else was piled up on the other side of the scale it would be far outweighed by the SAT. (Excepting scholarships sports and other rare cases)

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT ... at-act.htm

[Black Saturday]

Its not all about SAT, but it is a big factor. Grades are also a big factor. If either one is below a certain cutoff its going to be very hard to get in. If both are above a certain ceiling you aren't getting rejected unless there are red flags. If you're in the middle they look harder at class rank, activities, etc. If you have exceptional grades but low SAT, or vice versa, you're effectively in the middle. So 50 SAT points can absolutely make or break a marginal candidate. So can a .2 jump in GPA.

This chart may say it best. the only reason that all the accepted aren't over 1710 is mainly diversity (ie, men are taken with a less higher SAT score on average) which I'm personally for, even if it did work against me. I'm not saying it's impossible, but if I was telling someone where to spend their time to help make sure they got in, I'd say SAT prep hands down.

But when the question is asked does the SAT matter, I'm convinced that it "mostly" what matters and if piled everything else was piled up on the other side of the scale it would be far outweighed by the SAT. (Excepting scholarships sports and other rare cases)

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT ... at-act.htm

Rigor and challenge vary by class, by instructor, by each high school, and etc. How do colleges equally measure among candidates?

Everyone must take an academic equalizer in an entrance exam be it the ACT and SAT.

Entrance exams matter and good advice to aspiring college bound parents: prepare early.

[asutrnr81]

Rigor and challenge vary by class, by instructor, by each high school, and etc. How do colleges equally measure among candidates?

"they" unweight the GPA!

[Black Saturday]

Rigor and challenge vary by class, by instructor, by each high school, and etc. How do colleges equally measure among candidates?

"they" unweight the GPA!

How do "they" compare kids with unweighted 4.0s? or less?

I'll stand by my original statement of leveling the playing field with the entrance exams when comparing students. Not all high schools are created equally.

why are involved students with top grades along with entrance exam scores above a certain number invited to apply for the prestigious scholarships and those students with only the top grades not invited?

[Maddog1956]

Rigor and challenge vary by class, by instructor, by each high school, and etc. How do colleges equally measure among candidates?

"they" unweight the GPA!

How do "they" compare kids with unweighted 4.0s? or less?

I'll stand by my original statement of leveling the playing field with the entrance exams when comparing students. Not all high schools are created equally.

why are involved students with top grades along with entrance exam scores above a certain number invited to apply for the prestigious scholarships and those students with only the top grades not invited?

Even within certain schools there are different "classes" many urban schools have a "school within a school". One economic group takes mostly college prep and the other takes easy classes. The school can be rated very high but for an individual student the grades mean really nothing.

I'm not against using the SAT even if it doesn't tell if a student is necessarily going to attend classes, party all night or is a hard worker, but I would just like it stated as such. What's wrong in stating 90% of our criteria is SAT (for example). The only problem (and the reason for keeping it cloudy) is that it would eliminate most of the admissions office and then they would have to explain the exceptions.