[BostonCard]

One add... once upon a time there was a simple index that included GPA and SAT score, named, I believe, after Steve Durrett (who occasionally shares his photography with us here).  The simple index was a reasonably reliable predictor of admission; above a certain threshold admission was very likely absent some sort of problem (for example, a disciplinary issue); below a certain threshold, admissions was unlikely absent some mitigating circumstances.  In between was a grey zone where things like letters of recommendation were very important.  My recollection was that during the Mamlett era, those thresholds markedly increased and the rejection of some applicants above the "safe" threshold is how we knew that the admissions had indeed gotten tougher.  I believe a few prominent alumni armed with the information brought it to the attention of the two Johns (Hennessey and Etchemendy), looked into it and confirmed the findings. With Richard Shaw as admissions director, things have returned to how they were pre-Mamlett.

Steve (or others who remember the formula), can you post it?

BC

[BostonCard]

One add... once upon a time there was a simple index that included GPA and SAT score, named, I believe, after Steve Durrett (who occasionally shares his photography with us here).  The simple index was a reasonably reliable predictor of admission; above a certain threshold admission was very likely absent some sort of problem (for example, a disciplinary issue); below a certain threshold, admissions was unlikely absent some mitigating circumstances.  In between was a grey zone where things like letters of recommendation were very important.  My recollection was that during the Mamlett era, those thresholds markedly increased and the rejection of some applicants above the "safe" threshold is how we knew that the admissions had indeed gotten tougher.  I believe a few prominent alumni armed with the information brought it to the attention of the two Johns (Hennessey and Etchemendy), looked into it and confirmed the findings. With Richard Shaw as admissions director, things have returned to how they were pre-Mamlett.

Steve (or others who remember the formula), can you post it?

BC