WSJ article on your child's chances of getting into an IVY are slim

[Anonymous]

UT Austin isn’t exactly cheap even instate. I know it’s considered better than ASU but I would end up taking the full ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if her essays were a red flag? To write essays about one’s mental health battles to justify Bs seems strange. She should have written about something that lights her up. Maybe one of the theater productions or why accounting is not dry to her/what she wants to do with it.

And I am sad that her takeaway was the Bs did her in.

I hope she kills it at ASU!

Me too. But, although she was undoubtedly a great student, she was only ranked 23rd in her class. These schools could select only top SATs pus valedictorian, if they wanted. So really it isn't surprising that this student or any other high performing student would be rejected. HYPs can't take all of the students with her level of qualifications. And for those who think this means the HYPs aren't getting the best students, as the article says, 50% of the acceptances aren't hooked at all. So what that means is HYP get applications from thousands of kids like her, and they get to pick and choose their absolute favorites from among those. Those that they choose have something that this student didn't have - including sometimes even better academic credentials, better essays, more interesting accomplishments outside of school, and/or likelihood of interest and success in less popular majors. What I take away from this isn't that the Ivy league is a farce, but that they must really have some amazing students if they decided to pass on this one (and so many other stellar applicants).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if her essays were a red flag? To write essays about one’s mental health battles to justify Bs seems strange. She should have written about something that lights her up. Maybe one of the theater productions or why accounting is not dry to her/what she wants to do with it.

And I am sad that her takeaway was the Bs did her in.

I hope she kills it at ASU!

Me too. But, although she was undoubtedly a great student, she was only ranked 23rd in her class. These schools could select only top SATs pus valedictorian, if they wanted. So really it isn't surprising that this student or any other high performing student would be rejected. HYPs can't take all of the students with her level of qualifications. And for those who think this means the HYPs aren't getting the best students, as the article says, 50% of the acceptances aren't hooked at all. So what that means is HYP get applications from thousands of kids like her, and they get to pick and choose their absolute favorites from among those. Those that they choose have something that this student didn't have - including sometimes even better academic credentials, better essays, more interesting accomplishments outside of school, and/or likelihood of interest and success in less popular majors. What I take away from this isn't that the Ivy league is a farce, but that they must really have some amazing students if they decided to pass on this one (and so many other stellar applicants).

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three paragraphs summarily explain her rejections. Twenty years ago, she wouldn't have applied to these top-tier colleges and accumulated a hoard of rejections. Twenty years ago, she would have been happy to matriculate at UT or ASU.

1. Ms. Younger wrote in the applications about her history of depression and anxiety to explain the two B’s she earned during her sophomore year.

2. Ms. Younger’s father attended the University of Oklahoma and her mother went to Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has no connection to the faculty or alumni at any elite school, nor did she hire a test-preparation coach or a private college counselor.

3. Her school serves McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing suburb 30 miles outside of Dallas. In a given year, about half of the school’s graduates enroll at four-year colleges; most attend public universities in Texas, Dr. Cranmore said. He recalls two McKinney graduates enrolling at Yale and one at Princeton over the past decade.

"She is now ranked 23rd out of 668" at a high school where only half the graduates go to a 4-year college doesn't make her a "star."
I'm sorry if someone told her otherwise. She was poorly counseled, and should've applied to more colleges that occupy the wide space between USC and ASU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three paragraphs summarily explain her rejections. Twenty years ago, she wouldn't have applied to these top-tier colleges and accumulated a hoard of rejections. Twenty years ago, she would have been happy to matriculate at UT or ASU.

1. Ms. Younger wrote in the applications about her history of depression and anxiety to explain the two B’s she earned during her sophomore year.

2. Ms. Younger’s father attended the University of Oklahoma and her mother went to Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has no connection to the faculty or alumni at any elite school, nor did she hire a test-preparation coach or a private college counselor.

3. Her school serves McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing suburb 30 miles outside of Dallas. In a given year, about half of the school’s graduates enroll at four-year colleges; most attend public universities in Texas, Dr. Cranmore said. He recalls two McKinney graduates enrolling at Yale and one at Princeton over the past decade.

"She is now ranked 23rd out of 668" at a high school where only half the graduates go to a 4-year college doesn't make her a "star."
I'm sorry if someone told her otherwise. She was poorly counseled, and should've applied to more colleges that occupy the wide space between USC and ASU.

That puts her in the top 3% of the class, and she got a 1550 on the SAT. A student like that is applying to Ivies even if they won’t get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three paragraphs summarily explain her rejections. Twenty years ago, she wouldn't have applied to these top-tier colleges and accumulated a hoard of rejections. Twenty years ago, she would have been happy to matriculate at UT or ASU.

1. Ms. Younger wrote in the applications about her history of depression and anxiety to explain the two B’s she earned during her sophomore year.

2. Ms. Younger’s father attended the University of Oklahoma and her mother went to Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has no connection to the faculty or alumni at any elite school, nor did she hire a test-preparation coach or a private college counselor.

3. Her school serves McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing suburb 30 miles outside of Dallas. In a given year, about half of the school’s graduates enroll at four-year colleges; most attend public universities in Texas, Dr. Cranmore said. He recalls two McKinney graduates enrolling at Yale and one at Princeton over the past decade.

"She is now ranked 23rd out of 668" at a high school where only half the graduates go to a 4-year college doesn't make her a "star."
I'm sorry if someone told her otherwise. She was poorly counseled, and should've applied to more colleges that occupy the wide space between USC and ASU.

That puts her in the top 3% of the class, and she got a 1550 on the SAT. A student like that is applying to Ivies even if they won’t get in.

Not at a second-rate high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three paragraphs summarily explain her rejections. Twenty years ago, she wouldn't have applied to these top-tier colleges and accumulated a hoard of rejections. Twenty years ago, she would have been happy to matriculate at UT or ASU.

1. Ms. Younger wrote in the applications about her history of depression and anxiety to explain the two B’s she earned during her sophomore year.

2. Ms. Younger’s father attended the University of Oklahoma and her mother went to Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has no connection to the faculty or alumni at any elite school, nor did she hire a test-preparation coach or a private college counselor.

3. Her school serves McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing suburb 30 miles outside of Dallas. In a given year, about half of the school’s graduates enroll at four-year colleges; most attend public universities in Texas, Dr. Cranmore said. He recalls two McKinney graduates enrolling at Yale and one at Princeton over the past decade.

"She is now ranked 23rd out of 668" at a high school where only half the graduates go to a 4-year college doesn't make her a "star."
I'm sorry if someone told her otherwise. She was poorly counseled, and should've applied to more colleges that occupy the wide space between USC and ASU.

That puts her in the top 3% of the class, and she got a 1550 on the SAT. A student like that is applying to Ivies even if they won’t get in.

Not at a second-rate high school.

What part of what I said are you disputing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three paragraphs summarily explain her rejections. Twenty years ago, she wouldn't have applied to these top-tier colleges and accumulated a hoard of rejections. Twenty years ago, she would have been happy to matriculate at UT or ASU.

1. Ms. Younger wrote in the applications about her history of depression and anxiety to explain the two B’s she earned during her sophomore year.

2. Ms. Younger’s father attended the University of Oklahoma and her mother went to Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has no connection to the faculty or alumni at any elite school, nor did she hire a test-preparation coach or a private college counselor.

3. Her school serves McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing suburb 30 miles outside of Dallas. In a given year, about half of the school’s graduates enroll at four-year colleges; most attend public universities in Texas, Dr. Cranmore said. He recalls two McKinney graduates enrolling at Yale and one at Princeton over the past decade.

"She is now ranked 23rd out of 668" at a high school where only half the graduates go to a 4-year college doesn't make her a "star."
I'm sorry if someone told her otherwise. She was poorly counseled, and should've applied to more colleges that occupy the wide space between USC and ASU.

That puts her in the top 3% of the class, and she got a 1550 on the SAT. A student like that is applying to Ivies even if they won’t get in.

Not at a second-rate high school.

Hopefully this will change soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three paragraphs summarily explain her rejections. Twenty years ago, she wouldn't have applied to these top-tier colleges and accumulated a hoard of rejections. Twenty years ago, she would have been happy to matriculate at UT or ASU.

1. Ms. Younger wrote in the applications about her history of depression and anxiety to explain the two B’s she earned during her sophomore year.

2. Ms. Younger’s father attended the University of Oklahoma and her mother went to Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has no connection to the faculty or alumni at any elite school, nor did she hire a test-preparation coach or a private college counselor.

3. Her school serves McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing suburb 30 miles outside of Dallas. In a given year, about half of the school’s graduates enroll at four-year colleges; most attend public universities in Texas, Dr. Cranmore said. He recalls two McKinney graduates enrolling at Yale and one at Princeton over the past decade.

"She is now ranked 23rd out of 668" at a high school where only half the graduates go to a 4-year college doesn't make her a "star."
I'm sorry if someone told her otherwise. She was poorly counseled, and should've applied to more colleges that occupy the wide space between USC and ASU.

That puts her in the top 3% of the class, and she got a 1550 on the SAT. A student like that is applying to Ivies even if they won’t get in.

Weird that she got only 2 B's in all of high school and that puts her at 23rd in the class at 3.95 UW. There must be some very easy grading at that school, IMHO. I wouldn't be surprised if some kids in the top 10 didn't take tough courseloads and instead easily coasted in regular classes.

A kid with a 1550 at a middling HS in a Texas suburb should be ranked higher than 23rd in her class. Something isn't adding up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three paragraphs summarily explain her rejections. Twenty years ago, she wouldn't have applied to these top-tier colleges and accumulated a hoard of rejections. Twenty years ago, she would have been happy to matriculate at UT or ASU.

1. Ms. Younger wrote in the applications about her history of depression and anxiety to explain the two B’s she earned during her sophomore year.

2. Ms. Younger’s father attended the University of Oklahoma and her mother went to Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has no connection to the faculty or alumni at any elite school, nor did she hire a test-preparation coach or a private college counselor.

3. Her school serves McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing suburb 30 miles outside of Dallas. In a given year, about half of the school’s graduates enroll at four-year colleges; most attend public universities in Texas, Dr. Cranmore said. He recalls two McKinney graduates enrolling at Yale and one at Princeton over the past decade.

"She is now ranked 23rd out of 668" at a high school where only half the graduates go to a 4-year college doesn't make her a "star."
I'm sorry if someone told her otherwise. She was poorly counseled, and should've applied to more colleges that occupy the wide space between USC and ASU.

That puts her in the top 3% of the class, and she got a 1550 on the SAT. A student like that is applying to Ivies even if they won’t get in.

Weird that she got only 2 B's in all of high school and that puts her at 23rd in the class at 3.95 UW. There must be some very easy grading at that school, IMHO. I wouldn't be surprised if some kids in the top 10 didn't take tough courseloads and instead easily coasted in regular classes.

A kid with a 1550 at a middling HS in a Texas suburb should be ranked higher than 23rd in her class. Something isn't adding up.

Of course you think that. Your post reeks of classism. The SAT is not an IQ test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three paragraphs summarily explain her rejections. Twenty years ago, she wouldn't have applied to these top-tier colleges and accumulated a hoard of rejections. Twenty years ago, she would have been happy to matriculate at UT or ASU.

1. Ms. Younger wrote in the applications about her history of depression and anxiety to explain the two B’s she earned during her sophomore year.

2. Ms. Younger’s father attended the University of Oklahoma and her mother went to Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has no connection to the faculty or alumni at any elite school, nor did she hire a test-preparation coach or a private college counselor.

3. Her school serves McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing suburb 30 miles outside of Dallas. In a given year, about half of the school’s graduates enroll at four-year colleges; most attend public universities in Texas, Dr. Cranmore said. He recalls two McKinney graduates enrolling at Yale and one at Princeton over the past decade.

"She is now ranked 23rd out of 668" at a high school where only half the graduates go to a 4-year college doesn't make her a "star."
I'm sorry if someone told her otherwise. She was poorly counseled, and should've applied to more colleges that occupy the wide space between USC and ASU.

Two Bs will kill a GPA if you want to apply to the schools she did

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three paragraphs summarily explain her rejections. Twenty years ago, she wouldn't have applied to these top-tier colleges and accumulated a hoard of rejections. Twenty years ago, she would have been happy to matriculate at UT or ASU.

1. Ms. Younger wrote in the applications about her history of depression and anxiety to explain the two B’s she earned during her sophomore year.

2. Ms. Younger’s father attended the University of Oklahoma and her mother went to Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has no connection to the faculty or alumni at any elite school, nor did she hire a test-preparation coach or a private college counselor.

3. Her school serves McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing suburb 30 miles outside of Dallas. In a given year, about half of the school’s graduates enroll at four-year colleges; most attend public universities in Texas, Dr. Cranmore said. He recalls two McKinney graduates enrolling at Yale and one at Princeton over the past decade.

"She is now ranked 23rd out of 668" at a high school where only half the graduates go to a 4-year college doesn't make her a "star."
I'm sorry if someone told her otherwise. She was poorly counseled, and should've applied to more colleges that occupy the wide space between USC and ASU.

That puts her in the top 3% of the class, and she got a 1550 on the SAT. A student like that is applying to Ivies even if they won’t get in.

Weird that she got only 2 B's in all of high school and that puts her at 23rd in the class at 3.95 UW. There must be some very easy grading at that school, IMHO. I wouldn't be surprised if some kids in the top 10 didn't take tough courseloads and instead easily coasted in regular classes.

A kid with a 1550 at a middling HS in a Texas suburb should be ranked higher than 23rd in her class. Something isn't adding up.

She said she got 2 Bs as a freshman due to mental health issues. That's more than enough to drop you to 23rd in a class that big

[Anonymous]

Huge red flag to mention mental health issues in your essay.
And to talk about anxiety over a B? What if she failed a class in college?
Colleges worry about kids committing suicide or having a breakdown over grades.
Some kids cannot handle the transition of going from super star status at their high school to being average or worse at a top college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huge red flag to mention mental health issues in your essay.
And to talk about anxiety over a B? What if she failed a class in college?
Colleges worry about kids committing suicide or having a breakdown over grades.
Some kids cannot handle the transition of going from super star status at their high school to being average or worse at a top college.

Ironically, she was right. Those Bs dropper her to 23rd in her class and removed her from contention for the schools she wanted to attend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huge red flag to mention mental health issues in your essay.
And to talk about anxiety over a B? What if she failed a class in college?
Colleges worry about kids committing suicide or having a breakdown over grades.
Some kids cannot handle the transition of going from super star status at their high school to being average or worse at a top college.

I don’t disagree, but I have to point out that I find the insistence on here that there are “easy” colleges. I’m going to be really hard pressed to believe that Chemistry or Physics classes are “easy” anywhere.