Random Thoughts Thread

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Yep, my kids are going to have to go the summer enrollment route (is that still a thing?)

My oldest is 7. Interesting to try and project what the statistics will be ten years from now.

Also Mr. Lebowski, that was one hell of a humble brag. Maybe the best executed on this site in some time.

[San Juan Sun]

Head colds are the worst.

[Uncle Ted]

This year's stats for incoming freshmen at BYU:

Median ACT score: 28.8
Median GPA: 3.9
22% were in the top 5 in their graduating class in HS. Not top 5%, top 5 in class rank.

Isn't BYU's acceptance rate still like 55%? That wouldn't even make the top 100... http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandre...cceptance-rate

[Donuthole]

Isn't BYU's acceptance rate still like 55%? That wouldn't even make the top 100... http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandre...cceptance-rate

Yield is the new acceptance rate.

[Applejack]

Isn't BYU's acceptance rate still like 55%? That wouldn't even make the top 100... http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandre...cceptance-rate

I've wondered about this too. Even though BYU's credentials are way higher than a typical University of its caliber, its acceptance rate is also much higher than expected. Are all the dumb mormons just not applying? (No jokes about other Universities, please. Be civil).

If BYU really wanted to shoot up the rankings, they would instruct bishops across the U.S. to "urge" every college age senior to apply to BYU-Provo.

[smokymountainrain]

I've wondered about this too. Even though BYU's credentials are way higher than a typical University of its caliber, its acceptance rate is also much higher than expected. Are all the dumb mormons just not applying? (No jokes about other Universities, please. Be civil).

If BYU really wanted to shoot up the rankings, they would instruct bishops across the U.S. to "urge" every college age senior to apply to BYU-Provo.

In all seriousness, I think that is indeed the answer. Mormons pretty much know you have to get near a 30 ACT and 3.9 GPA to have a shot and if they aren't near those numbers, they simply don't apply.

[byu71]

In all seriousness, I think that is indeed the answer. Mormons pretty much know you have to get near a 30 ACT and 3.9 GPA to have a shot and if they aren't near those numbers, they simply don't apply.

Don't you also have to get the ecclesiastical endorsement before you apply?

Also I will bet those numbers (ACT, GPA) don't take into account all the RM's who get in who couldn't have before they went on their mission.

[Paperback Writer]

This year's stats for incoming freshmen at BYU:

Median ACT score: 28.8
Median GPA: 3.9
22% were in the top 5 in their graduating class in HS. Not top 5%, top 5 in class rank.

That 22% Top 5 number has to be Utah heavy. In many areas outside the Mormon west, the % LDS HS students is < 5% and the top 10 students are heavily represented by Asians (Indians, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, etc.) that have very low % of LDS. In my kids' HS, it would be very impressive if any LDS HS student made the top 10 in class rank.

I actually think this is a good trend for LDS HS students as it will mean more LDS families will be sending their kids to quality public universities since fewer will be accepted to BYU. However, there are many families in my area that steer their kids to BYU-Idaho rather than Univ. Texas or Texas A&M if they don't get admitted to BYU. I think that this will change but might take a generation or so. IMO, LDS students (and their families) would be more willing to consider quality public universities as an alternative to BYU if there were more LDS students at public universities.

[The_Douger]

That 22% Top 5 number has to be Utah heavy. In many areas outside the Mormon west, the % LDS HS students is < 5% and the top 10 students are heavily represented by Asians (Indians, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, etc.) that have very low % of LDS. In my kids' HS, it would be very impressive if any LDS HS student made the top 10 in class rank.

I actually think this is a good trend for LDS HS students as it will mean more LDS families will be sending their kids to quality public universities since fewer will be accepted to BYU. However, there are many families in my area that steer their kids to BYU-Idaho rather than Univ. Texas or Texas A&M if they don't get admitted to BYU. I think that this will change but might take a generation or so. IMO, LDS students (and their families) would be more willing to consider quality public universities as an alternative to BYU if there were more LDS students at public universities.

How much do you think cost factors in? The way tuition rates have increased over the last decade would make me look long and hard at BYU-Idaho if they didn't get in to BYU.

[Paperback Writer]

In all seriousness, I think that is indeed the answer. Mormons pretty much know you have to get near a 30 ACT and 3.9 GPA to have a shot and if they aren't near those numbers, they simply don't apply.

I agree but only somewhat. One thing to consider though is that students use the same application to apply to both BYU-Idaho and BYU. If a student is applying to BYU-Idaho, why not check the box and apply to BYU even if he/she is a longshot? My conspiracy theory is that BYU is fudging their acceptance numbers somewhat and not counting students who get denied admission to BYU but get accepted to BYU-Idaho. Or not counting applications that have no chance of getting accepted to BYU. There's a lot of HS graduates in my area attending BYU and BYU-Idaho; but the ratio is something like 3-1 with the majority attending BYU-Idaho. These students almost always apply to both schools since its the same application even if the odds are slim of them getting accepted to BYU.

[Applejack]

I agree but only somewhat. One thing to consider though is that students use the same application to apply to both BYU-Idaho and BYU. If a student is applying to BYU-Idaho, why not check the box and apply to BYU even if he/she is a longshot? My conspiracy theory is that BYU is fudging their acceptance numbers somewhat and not counting students who get denied admission to BYU but get accepted to BYU-Idaho. Or not counting applications that have no chance of getting accepted to BYU. There's a lot of HS graduates in my area attending BYU and BYU-Idaho; but the ratio is something like 3-1 with the majority attending BYU-Idaho. These students almost always apply to both schools since its the same application even if the odds are slim of them getting accepted to BYU.

If some administrator at BYU is "fudging" like that, he/she should be fired. Rising acceptance rates hurt a school's ranking.

[byu71]

If you have so many kids applying and only 55% get in, why not raise the tuition? Once tithing leaves my grubby little fingers, I am fine with whatever the church leaders decide to do with it.

However, I do know of some very rich people whose kids are getting a fine education as a subsidized price.

[Donuthole]

I agree but only somewhat. One thing to consider though is that students use the same application to apply to both BYU-Idaho and BYU. If a student is applying to BYU-Idaho, why not check the box and apply to BYU even if he/she is a longshot? My conspiracy theory is that BYU is fudging their acceptance numbers somewhat and not counting students who get denied admission to BYU but get accepted to BYU-Idaho. Or not counting applications that have no chance of getting accepted to BYU. There's a lot of HS graduates in my area attending BYU and BYU-Idaho; but the ratio is something like 3-1 with the majority attending BYU-Idaho. These students almost always apply to both schools since its the same application even if the odds are slim of them getting accepted to BYU.

That conspiracy theory makes no sense.

[Paperback Writer]

How much do you think cost factors in? The way tuition rates have increased over the last decade would make me look long and hard at BYU-Idaho if they didn't get in to BYU.

Public universities usually are in the same ball park as BYU/BYU-Idaho. But my non-LDS associates do have their "mind blown" when we discuss college costs and find out that private university BYU is more affordable than public Texas A&M (I've got kids at both universities). In the discussions I've had with my LDS associates, cost is not the issue with not applying to UT or aTm. It's the lack of LDS students at those universities and concern that they will marry a non-Mormon. I'm not meaning to diss BYU-Idaho. It certainly is a good value when compared to other universities in their class/tier and may be the best college value for a family.

[Paperback Writer]

That conspiracy theory makes no sense.

I think there will be a stronger backlash with rank-and-file Mormons for the church subsidizing BYU when fewer and fewer talented, accomplished students get accepted to BYU. IMO, it's one thing to publish that BYU is accepting over half of applicants and another to publish that the majority are being denied. If the trend continues, at some point BYU will be a school for the kids and grandkids of GAs and the Mormon rich who can afford private schools and tutoring. Problem is that BYU is heavily subsidized by Mormons who have little chance of getting admitted.