By
Amy Korst,
Hanady Kader,
Sarah Jeglum
May 23, 2007
Next year's incoming freshmen at the UW will likely be the highest academic achievers the school has ever seen — or so one would think, based on high school transcripts.
According to preliminary data released by the UW Admissions, the average SAT score for next fall's freshmen class will be over 1,200, with an average GPA approaching 3.7.
As The Seattle Times reported Tuesday, these are the highest averages the school has ever seen.
In effect, the UW admissions process is becoming much more competitive. To this, we say: good.
Parents and high school counselors have expressed concern that their children are not being admitted as easily as applicants have been in the past. That may be true, but this should only bring about greater motivation to help the applicants become more qualified.
The truth is, the UW has strived to improve its reputation by hiring more qualified professors; admitting more qualified students is a logical next step.
The holistic admissions process offers all applicants a chance to be admitted, but admissions officers have likely found the obvious — that the students who have tried the hardest and deserve to get in the most are already the ones with the best grades.
Other UW campuses and other state institutions offer students not admitted to the UW Seattle numerous other opportunities at affordable public higher education.
It is not the job of the UW Seattle to lower admissions standards. Rather, it is the job of parents and K-12 educators to raise students to the high standard that's been set.
2 Comments
#1 Lee Robison
on May 23, 2007 at 9:40 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
With these new standards, I wouldn't have been admitted to the UW. My grades in High School weren't top of the line. What I noticed was that I was taking classes in High School that were harder than what was required. While some were taking woodshop, I was taking research procedures. I'm glad there will still be some people reading over applications to give everyone a chance, because not all great students get high SAT scores or 4.0 GPAs.
#2 jh
on May 23, 2007 at 11:36 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I look around me every day and wonder how some people gained admission here. Not only do you have to have the grades but you better be able to write an essay. Frankly, after learning what a thesis statement is for probably the 10th time in 4 years, I wonder who is really writing those admissions essays for the kids who took woodshop all day to get 4.0s. I applaud the the administration for taking the right steps towards being more selective. It'll make the lives of people who really try hard a lot less frustrating.
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