Look I fully realize my views of making MORE exceptions is not supported by a lot of people here. Especially Alums. I am not sure if you are really confused or just disagree. I absolutely believe that the program graduates players. More importantly, the players typically become productive members of society. Admissions denies applicants every single day for dozens of people that would have no problem being successful at NU. None!
What you're asking for isn't "more" exceptions, it's "even larger" exceptions.
I respectfully disagree with your contention about Fitz and his staff as it relates to admissions. He's a swell dude, but he's a football coach.
No, it’s larger. Nearly every football player in the team is already given a very large exception, a totally different set of admissions criteria compared to any other applicant. They don’t reject an athlete because their quota is already met on exceptions, they reject an athlete because he doesn’t meet the exception standard either. So what you’re looking for is a larger exception, not more of them.
Every D1 school in the country in the country has exceptions. NU wouldn’t be able to field a D1 team without exceptions. Exactly what is NU’s sales pitch to a recruit? Is the history of winning, great game day atmosphere, student support etc? No it’s the education. The pitch should resonate with those athletes that use their football skills to get admitted that would have no chance n hell of getting admitted. Guess what, they graduate and become productive citizens.
"Virtually zero" isn't accurate. There are several players who qualified academically for admissions to NU.
Point is, among the students who were accepted only because they were football players with a Fitzdorsement, there is a near-100% graduation rate. (We can’t know this for sure — we can only guess.)
True, but we have a starter who is in medical school and one who scored in the 98th percentile on the M-Cats, as well as many other academic high achievers.
Yes
True, but we have a starter who is in medical school and one who scored in the 98th percentile on the M-Cats, as well as many other academic high achievers.
True, but we have a starter who is in medical school and one who scored in the 98th percentile on the M-Cats, as well as many other academic high achievers.
NU football continues its deliberate, relationship-based approach to giving offers. Early contact to prepare recruits on the requirements, active discussions with people beyond just coaches and parents who know the student. Offers continue to be infrequent.
I am very confident in that, too, but that's not a system and I'm sure you know that.
Why does there need to be a system for why students are accepted to a university? Really?
Fitz has clearly shown he knows what it takes to graduate players. Literally no other coach in the country is better. He has earned the right to have more latitude. If graduation rate goes down, then that latitude should be removed. It’s really not that hard.
Appreciate that clarification, curdog. I do think criteria would generally be a large part of a successful system. And I have to imagine that it would involve cooperative efforts between admissions and the football program. There are already criteria in place and admissions and football already work together to make judgement calls on prospective student-athletes, so what some are seeking is changes to that in some way.
Okay, but you seem to take an approach that whatever is being done is working so why change it? You also have zero idea whether lowering the GPA scale a tenth of a point or reducing minimum test scores some small number will result in less academic sucess. None of us do. You can’t be wrong in your position because it has never been tested!
I’m a double alum so put me down as supporting greater exceptions twice.
It's hard to discuss this with you seriously when you don't read what people actually type and assign positions to them that they don't actually take.
You're so obsessed with arguing that you can't see that I also would like Northwestern to rely less on GPA and testing requirements for admissions for athletes who demonstrate otherwise the ability to succeed in the classroom at Northwestern.
You talk about a system and even the guy that was in the recruiting office couldn’t interpret your concern. Maybe you talk in circles?