Select language, opens an overlay

Comment

Community comment are the opinions of contributing users. These comment do not represent the opinions of the Edmonton Public Library.
Sep 25, 2013mariednguyen rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Perhaps the most interesting admissions conversation is between Portia and Helen, a snooty visiting scholar from Oxford, where the professors actually interview applicants. Helen seems surprised that the extracurricular activities of students are considered at all in the admissions process in the States, and she sympathizes with American faculty members for wishing the emphasis were less on Olympic athletes and Broadway stars. "The faculty are right," Helen says. "A university is first and foremost a place of learning. Not table tennis or refugee work, however noble that may be." Looks like somebody's kids won't be getting into Princeton. -By NAOMI SCHAEFER RILEY Ms. Riley is the WSJ's deputy Taste page editor.