Truth about private HS matriculation

[Anonymous]

For those of you looking at matriculation from top private high schools, here is the truth: if you have a high stats kid with no hook, the chances of your kid going to ivy is slim to none. The ivy bound kids are mostly - athletes, development ($$$$), arts, and URM. Example - Harvard - 2 athletes, 2 high stats w symphony level world competition wind instrument, and 3 kids w connected and $$$$ parents. Your high stats kid w no hook would be guided towards UVA, Michigan, Wash U, U Chicago even though he may be a better student than the ivy bound kids.

[Anonymous]

I feel like we need a pinned message that says we know expensive private schools don't guarantee admission to top colleges.

[Anonymous]

Are you implying that UChicago is in a second tier with WashU, UVA, and Michigan, after all the Ivies? This year USN&WR ranks it 3d, tied with Yale and behind only Princeton and Harvard. Brown and Cornell trail at 14 and 15, respectively, followed by WashU (19), UVA (24), and Michigan (27). Acceptance rate in 2015 at Chicago was 8%, comparable to the top four Ivies, vs. 15% at Cornell and 30% at UVA.

However, I think you're right that UChicago's admissions are much more meritocratic than the Ivies. It has one of the highest average accepted SAT scores in the country (sometimes the highest, depending on who's counting), does not offer athletic scholarships, and gives little to no legacy preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you implying that UChicago is in a second tier with WashU, UVA, and Michigan, after all the Ivies? This year USN&WR ranks it 3d, tied with Yale and behind only Princeton and Harvard. Brown and Cornell trail at 14 and 15, respectively, followed by WashU (19), UVA (24), and Michigan (27). Acceptance rate in 2015 at Chicago was 8%, comparable to the top four Ivies, vs. 15% at Cornell and 30% at UVA.

However, I think you're right that UChicago's admissions are much more meritocratic than the Ivies. It has one of the highest average accepted SAT scores in the country (sometimes the highest, depending on who's counting), does not offer athletic scholarships, and gives little to no legacy preference.

While you are correct that UChicago does not award athletic scholarships, they absolutely recruit athletes and award very nice "financial aid packages" to this group. - UChicago parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you looking at matriculation from top private high schools, here is the truth: if you have a high stats kid with no hook, the chances of your kid going to ivy is slim to none. The ivy bound kids are mostly - athletes, development ($$$$), arts, and URM. Example - Harvard - 2 athletes, 2 high stats w symphony level world competition wind instrument, and 3 kids w connected and $$$$ parents. Your high stats kid w no hook would be guided towards UVA, Michigan, Wash U, U Chicago even though he may be a better student than the ivy bound kids.

Not true. Went through the process recently. Lots of "average excellent" unhooked kids end up at most of the the Ivies and Chicago. HYPS seems to be where that's harder for the unhooked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you looking at matriculation from top private high schools, here is the truth: if you have a high stats kid with no hook, the chances of your kid going to ivy is slim to none. The ivy bound kids are mostly - athletes, development ($$$$), arts, and URM. Example - Harvard - 2 athletes, 2 high stats w symphony level world competition wind instrument, and 3 kids w connected and $$$$ parents. Your high stats kid w no hook would be guided towards UVA, Michigan, Wash U, U Chicago even though he may be a better student than the ivy bound kids.

Certainly been the case for my DC. This year, even for some top 20 SLACs that already recruited lower stat athletes and waitlisted my DS.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would I care about that? I always knew my private-school DS wasn't going to an ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you looking at matriculation from top private high schools, here is the truth: if you have a high stats kid with no hook, the chances of your kid going to ivy is slim to none. The ivy bound kids are mostly - athletes, development ($$$$), arts, and URM. Example - Harvard - 2 athletes, 2 high stats w symphony level world competition wind instrument, and 3 kids w connected and $$$$ parents. Your high stats kid w no hook would be guided towards UVA, Michigan, Wash U, U Chicago even though he may be a better student than the ivy bound kids.

Not true. Went through the process recently. Lots of "average excellent" unhooked kids end up at most of the the Ivies and Chicago. HYPS seems to be where that's harder for the unhooked.

It is true ....we are going through this now. School is quiet about the "hooks". Usually those who believe this need to dig a bit deeper.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you implying that UChicago is in a second tier with WashU, UVA, and Michigan, after all the Ivies? This year USN&WR ranks it 3d, tied with Yale and behind only Princeton and Harvard. Brown and Cornell trail at 14 and 15, respectively, followed by WashU (19), UVA (24), and Michigan (27). Acceptance rate in 2015 at Chicago was 8%, comparable to the top four Ivies, vs. 15% at Cornell and 30% at UVA.

However, I think you're right that UChicago's admissions are much more meritocratic than the Ivies. It has one of the highest average accepted SAT scores in the country (sometimes the highest, depending on who's counting), does not offer athletic scholarships, and gives little to no legacy preference.

While you are correct that UChicago does not award athletic scholarships, they absolutely recruit athletes and award very nice "financial aid packages" to this group. - UChicago parent

Need-based financial aid or merit scholarships based on athletic achievements?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you implying that UChicago is in a second tier with WashU, UVA, and Michigan, after all the Ivies? This year USN&WR ranks it 3d, tied with Yale and behind only Princeton and Harvard. Brown and Cornell trail at 14 and 15, respectively, followed by WashU (19), UVA (24), and Michigan (27). Acceptance rate in 2015 at Chicago was 8%, comparable to the top four Ivies, vs. 15% at Cornell and 30% at UVA.

However, I think you're right that UChicago's admissions are much more meritocratic than the Ivies. It has one of the highest average accepted SAT scores in the country (sometimes the highest, depending on who's counting), does not offer athletic scholarships, and gives little to no legacy preference.

While you are correct that UChicago does not award athletic scholarships, they absolutely recruit athletes and award very nice "financial aid packages" to this group. - UChicago parent

Need-based financial aid or merit scholarships based on athletic achievements?

There's no merit based for the sport. However, the package is a mix of FA, merit, and for highly recruited athletes the package will include mostly grants.

[Anonymous]

Chicago is absolutely top 5 most prestigious college in the country - peer to HYPS.

[Anonymous]

As the parent of a recent unhooked graduate, I can assure you that unhooked kids do sometimes get admitted to the top schools. I am not relying on what my school says, but rather what I and my friends have experienced. But you can believe otherwise if it makes you feel better.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like OP has sour grapes over classmates who are, in her opinion, less qualified than her kid, getting an Ivy slot that her child deserved.

[Anonymous]

I dont understand this constant need to make blanket statements about hooked or unhooked applicants and what their chances are at an Ivy.

Its nuts.

Most of you on this board are insane.

[Anonymous]

Hate to agree but what OP says is true. DD into ivy and on the outside looks unhooked but what people don't know is my family (different last name) has ancestors that funded a professorship. Same with friend - SIL sits on board. DD grades are As and Few Bs but definitely not top 10% of class. Without this hook, doubt DD could have gotten in.