Success with Ivy-level admissions

[Anonymous]

If you are familiar with college admissions from 2021 and 2022, do you think that more kids who aimed for Ivy-level admissions this year were successful than last year? To me, it seems like 2021 was chaos because of first year of widespread test optional, but something (maybe colleges valued test scores more) changed this year and more well-qualified students got the Ivy-level admits they expected. What is your impression?

[Anonymous]

It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

[Anonymous]

The very top kids at my child's high school (valedictorian, salutatorian and a couple others) got into Ivy-level colleges. The kids (like my DD), who would have had a good shot at some of these schools even 5 years ago, didn't have a chance, and every one is going to a second-tier college or in-state school because of cost.

The top-ranked schools attract a lot of hyper-qualified applicants, so they can pick whomever they want from their applicant pool. These days you need a hook, a 4.0 and at least 1550 on your SAT to even be considered at the top schools.

Kids who aren't interested in working that hard in high school should be realistic about college admissions, even if they are extremely bright. Sure, they'd do fine at Harvard and Yale, but without stats, they don't have the admissions ticket, unless they are a top athlete or have some other unique skill or talent.

I know two superb athletes who went to Princeton and Harvard who are not at the top of their classes academically. But their athletic skill got them admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

1) Demographically this year is the largest graduating HS population ever.
2) last year COVID caused many (like 50k) lto take a gap and are showing up this year.

Bottom line terrible year for trying to get into top school; too much demand not enough seats. Record low acceptance rates across the board.

[Anonymous]

At my kids’ MCPS high school, the seniors sef report where they are matriculating for publication in the school newspaper. I was surprised at this year’s results. A lot are headed to Cornell, but otherwise zero or just 1-2 students are headed to each of the ivies plus Stanford, MIT, JHU, Rice, etc.

[Anonymous]

The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

But the unis may have changed their goals for admission - two easy examples, maybe they are admitting more international students or wanted more geo diversity within the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The very top kids at my child's high school (valedictorian, salutatorian and a couple others) got into Ivy-level colleges. The kids (like my DD), who would have had a good shot at some of these schools even 5 years ago, didn't have a chance, and every one is going to a second-tier college or in-state school because of cost.

The top-ranked schools attract a lot of hyper-qualified applicants, so they can pick whomever they want from their applicant pool. These days you need a hook, a 4.0 and at least 1550 on your SAT to even be considered at the top schools.

Kids who aren't interested in working that hard in high school should be realistic about college admissions, even if they are extremely bright. Sure, they'd do fine at Harvard and Yale, but without stats, they don't have the admissions ticket, unless they are a top athlete or have some other unique skill or talent.

I know two superb athletes who went to Princeton and Harvard who are not at the top of their classes academically. But their athletic skill got them admitted.

This sounds about right. And add to the “hook” the relative success of the progeny of legacies and bold faced names (particularly rich bold faced names)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The very top kids at my child's high school (valedictorian, salutatorian and a couple others) got into Ivy-level colleges. The kids (like my DD), who would have had a good shot at some of these schools even 5 years ago, didn't have a chance, and every one is going to a second-tier college or in-state school because of cost.

The top-ranked schools attract a lot of hyper-qualified applicants, so they can pick whomever they want from their applicant pool. These days you need a hook, a 4.0 and at least 1550 on your SAT to even be considered at the top schools.

Kids who aren't interested in working that hard in high school should be realistic about college admissions, even if they are extremely bright. Sure, they'd do fine at Harvard and Yale, but without stats, they don't have the admissions ticket, unless they are a top athlete or have some other unique skill or talent.

I know two superb athletes who went to Princeton and Harvard who are not at the top of their classes academically. But their athletic skill got them admitted.

Yes agree with this, and maybe this is part of what you are saying, but now the unhooked kids (which is really most kids) with 4.0s and 1550 SATs are not even candidates for colleges a step down from ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very top kids at my child's high school (valedictorian, salutatorian and a couple others) got into Ivy-level colleges. The kids (like my DD), who would have had a good shot at some of these schools even 5 years ago, didn't have a chance, and every one is going to a second-tier college or in-state school because of cost.

The top-ranked schools attract a lot of hyper-qualified applicants, so they can pick whomever they want from their applicant pool. These days you need a hook, a 4.0 and at least 1550 on your SAT to even be considered at the top schools.

Kids who aren't interested in working that hard in high school should be realistic about college admissions, even if they are extremely bright. Sure, they'd do fine at Harvard and Yale, but without stats, they don't have the admissions ticket, unless they are a top athlete or have some other unique skill or talent.

I know two superb athletes who went to Princeton and Harvard who are not at the top of their classes academically. But their athletic skill got them admitted.

Yes agree with this, and maybe this is part of what you are saying, but now the unhooked kids (which is really most kids) with 4.0s and 1550 SATs are not even candidates for colleges a step down from ivies.

Private school parent. There is no one with a 4.0 at my kid’s school but I thought most kids with “high stats” got into top 25-ish type places, regardless of hook. Ivies seem to be reserved for cum laude society and kids don’t have a plethora of choices but it seems like most kids get at least into somewhere where they are happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very top kids at my child's high school (valedictorian, salutatorian and a couple others) got into Ivy-level colleges. The kids (like my DD), who would have had a good shot at some of these schools even 5 years ago, didn't have a chance, and every one is going to a second-tier college or in-state school because of cost.

The top-ranked schools attract a lot of hyper-qualified applicants, so they can pick whomever they want from their applicant pool. These days you need a hook, a 4.0 and at least 1550 on your SAT to even be considered at the top schools.

Kids who aren't interested in working that hard in high school should be realistic about college admissions, even if they are extremely bright. Sure, they'd do fine at Harvard and Yale, but without stats, they don't have the admissions ticket, unless they are a top athlete or have some other unique skill or talent.

I know two superb athletes who went to Princeton and Harvard who are not at the top of their classes academically. But their athletic skill got them admitted.

Yes agree with this, and maybe this is part of what you are saying, but now the unhooked kids (which is really most kids) with 4.0s and 1550 SATs are not even candidates for colleges a step down from ivies.

Private school parent. There is no one with a 4.0 at my kid’s school but I thought most kids with “high stats” got into top 25-ish type places, regardless of hook. Ivies seem to be reserved for cum laude society and kids don’t have a plethora of choices but it seems like most kids get at least into somewhere where they are happy.

I have a rising senior in public school with close to a 4.0uw, 4.7w and 1560 SAT. We’ve been told by his school counselor and private college counselor that T20 colleges are all extremely high reaches for him, to the point that they suggest he focus on the next rung “down” (eg, Wake Forest instead of Emory; Case Western instead of WUSTL).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very top kids at my child's high school (valedictorian, salutatorian and a couple others) got into Ivy-level colleges. The kids (like my DD), who would have had a good shot at some of these schools even 5 years ago, didn't have a chance, and every one is going to a second-tier college or in-state school because of cost.

The top-ranked schools attract a lot of hyper-qualified applicants, so they can pick whomever they want from their applicant pool. These days you need a hook, a 4.0 and at least 1550 on your SAT to even be considered at the top schools.

Kids who aren't interested in working that hard in high school should be realistic about college admissions, even if they are extremely bright. Sure, they'd do fine at Harvard and Yale, but without stats, they don't have the admissions ticket, unless they are a top athlete or have some other unique skill or talent.

I know two superb athletes who went to Princeton and Harvard who are not at the top of their classes academically. But their athletic skill got them admitted.

Yes agree with this, and maybe this is part of what you are saying, but now the unhooked kids (which is really most kids) with 4.0s and 1550 SATs are not even candidates for colleges a step down from ivies.

Private school parent. There is no one with a 4.0 at my kid’s school but I thought most kids with “high stats” got into top 25-ish type places, regardless of hook. Ivies seem to be reserved for cum laude society and kids don’t have a plethora of choices but it seems like most kids get at least into somewhere where they are happy.

I have a rising senior in public school with close to a 4.0uw, 4.7w and 1560 SAT. We’ve been told by his school counselor and private college counselor that T20 colleges are all extremely high reaches for him, to the point that they suggest he focus on the next rung “down” (eg, Wake Forest instead of Emory; Case Western instead of WUSTL).

Top privates are different. There are generally no kids with 4.0s. There is no weighting of grades. Kids with high stats reliably got into top 20 this year. Things may continue to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

But the unis may have changed their goals for admission - two easy examples, maybe they are admitting more international students or wanted more geo diversity within the US.

Those are big "may" and "maybe" 's.

You'd need to cite evidence or it is easy to dismiss your post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

But the unis may have changed their goals for admission - two easy examples, maybe they are admitting more international students or wanted more geo diversity within the US.

Those are big "may" and "maybe" 's.

You'd need to cite evidence or it is easy to dismiss your post.

I wasn’t trying to assert these are true statement. I was using as examples to say that it isn’t as simple as saying that numbers admitted haven’t changed, so same kids are getting admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

But the unis may have changed their goals for admission - two easy examples, maybe they are admitting more international students or wanted more geo diversity within the US.

Those are big "may" and "maybe" 's.

You'd need to cite evidence or it is easy to dismiss your post.

I wasn’t trying to assert these are true statement. I was using as examples to say that it isn’t as simple as saying that numbers admitted haven’t changed, so same kids are getting admitted.

NP who thinks that you are onto something. We were shocked when we toured BU and they said that 25% of their students (I don’t remember if it was admitted or enrolled) are international.