Thread: So, about college for you older guys...

A good essay as well as high SAT scores will definitely help your case. So will any past job and extracurricular experience, especially if it's diverse.

Originally Posted by jack burden

especially if it's diverse.

Speaking of diverse, if you can pass yourself off as a biracial half black lesbian M to F trangendered person, your chances will skyrocket.

Also, sailor jack, I was going to put something in there about how "British universities may be an exception," but I thought better of it...

Originally Posted by jack burden

A good essay as well as high SAT scores will definitely help your case. So will any past job and extracurricular experience, especially if it's diverse.

The essay is probably one of the last aspects that are considered in your application. They want numbers first and foremost. It's the best judge for where to place you on the gradient, SAT(ACT)/GPA are the numbers they look to first. If you aren't in the median you're not even in the considered pile.

Average GPA of a student entering my school last year was a 3.8. Sad fact is, they were probably, mostly, rejected from many of the UC's they applied to.

Originally Posted by sycld

Speaking of diverse, if you can pass yourself off as a biracial half black lesbian M to F trangendered person, your chances will skyrocket..

Don't forget disabled.

Originally Posted by TheOriginalGrumpySpy

The essay is probably one of the last aspects that are considered in your application. They want numbers first and foremost. It's the best judge for where to place you on the gradient, SAT(ACT)/GPA are the numbers they look to first. If you aren't in the median you're not even in the considered pile.

Then again, this depends on the school. Some of the schools that are only moderately competative will
consider your numerical indicators in light of your essay, provided that you at least showed, for example, marked improvement, or, say, if there were an anomolous dip in your performane that could have corresponded to a difficult event in your persoanl life. You also better have a damn good explanation that you explain well in your essay.

Originally Posted by TheOriginalGrumpySpy

The essay is probably one of the last aspects that are considered in your application. They want numbers first and foremost. It's the best judge for where to place you on the gradient, SAT(ACT)/GPA are the numbers they look to first. If you aren't in the median you're not even in the considered pile.

Average GPA of a student entering my school last year was a 3.8. Sad fact is, they were probably, mostly, rejected from many of the UC's they applied to.

It depends entirely on the college. Obviously you go to one that values grades and is selective, but obviously most colleges are less demanding. Some consider essays because they demonstrate the applicant's writing ability. They do put more weight on SAT scores, though. Those are really important. It's a good idea to take it multiple times if you don't do well the first time.

Originally Posted by sycld

Then again, this depends on the school. Some of the schools that are only moderately competative will
consider your numerical indicators in light of your essay, provided that you at least showed, for example, marked improvement, or, say, if there were an anomolous dip in your performane that could have corresponded to a difficult event in your persoanl life. You also better have a damn good explanation that you explain well in your essay.

Oh yeah. Some do consider personal life problems like that if you bring them up as a reasonable explanation for why you didn't do as well as you could have.

Originally Posted by Syme

I can't speak in general terms, but I know that I and a number of my friends/peers had to write theses to get our bachelor's degrees. Though it's probably fair to say that they weren't always evaluated as rigorously as a masters thesis would be, let alone a doctoral.

Yeah. I mean in Italy, for example, the thesis for a bachelor's-equivalent degree has to be defended at the same level as a Master's thesis in the US, and it is printed and kept in the university's library just as a Master's thesis would be.