Top Stats students that had difficult admissions last year

[Anonymous]

If your DC had top stats and great ECs last year, but had a lot of rejections, what were the schools they did get into?

[Anonymous]

I understand the sentiment behind your question. I can't provide insight into rejections for a high stats kid, but I can give you my impression of the class of 2027 admissions cycle.
A few thoughts:
Test scores are very relevant, even at test optional schools.
Interviews can make a big difference, particularly in demonstrating interest.
Essays are critical and the best place to focus one's energy during senior year. After all, it's impossible to meaningfully raise one's GPA or alter one's ECs in 12th grade, but your student can absolutely write killer essays that tie his/her achievements into benefiting a particular institution. Personalization to each school is key.
Bottom line... top stats, great ECs, demonstrated interest and amazing essays lead to admission success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand the sentiment behind your question. I can't provide insight into rejections for a high stats kid, but I can give you my impression of the class of 2027 admissions cycle.
A few thoughts:
Test scores are very relevant, even at test optional schools.
Interviews can make a big difference, particularly in demonstrating interest.
Essays are critical and the best place to focus one's energy during senior year. After all, it's impossible to meaningfully raise one's GPA or alter one's ECs in 12th grade, but your student can absolutely write killer essays that tie his/her achievements into benefiting a particular institution. Personalization to each school is key.
Bottom line... top stats, great ECs, demonstrated interest and amazing essays lead to admission success.

An often overlooked factor.

[Anonymous]

HS Teacher

My top students with multiple waitlists/rejections were all asian males. They ended up at (good) state schools but by and large were rejected by privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS Teacher

My top students with multiple waitlists/rejections were all asian males. They ended up at (good) state schools but by and large were rejected by privates.

Were they all CS or engineering majors?

I wonder because I have seen it pretty much the same with Caucasian males in those fields.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand the sentiment behind your question. I can't provide insight into rejections for a high stats kid, but I can give you my impression of the class of 2027 admissions cycle.
A few thoughts:
Test scores are very relevant, even at test optional schools.
Interviews can make a big difference, particularly in demonstrating interest.
Essays are critical and the best place to focus one's energy during senior year. After all, it's impossible to meaningfully raise one's GPA or alter one's ECs in 12th grade, but your student can absolutely write killer essays that tie his/her achievements into benefiting a particular institution. Personalization to each school is key.
Bottom line... top stats, great ECs, demonstrated interest and amazing essays lead to admission success.

Can we talk about the bolded? Several top schools offer interviews, where the student puts in a request for one and may or may not get one, though the schools say something to the effect that that not having an interview doesn't matter for admissions. While it seems obvious that the interview request is a display of interest, is that it? Merely a test of one's will? My high-stats kid is rather shy and I'm sure will not want to request an interview. I wouldn't want one either. Do they request and just cross their fingers that they're not selected?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS Teacher

My top students with multiple waitlists/rejections were all asian males. They ended up at (good) state schools but by and large were rejected by privates.

Were they all CS or engineering majors?

I wonder because I have seen it pretty much the same with Caucasian males in those fields.

Off the top of my head last year: 1 CS, 1 MechE, 1 PolySci

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand the sentiment behind your question. I can't provide insight into rejections for a high stats kid, but I can give you my impression of the class of 2027 admissions cycle.
A few thoughts:
Test scores are very relevant, even at test optional schools.
Interviews can make a big difference, particularly in demonstrating interest.
Essays are critical and the best place to focus one's energy during senior year. After all, it's impossible to meaningfully raise one's GPA or alter one's ECs in 12th grade, but your student can absolutely write killer essays that tie his/her achievements into benefiting a particular institution. Personalization to each school is key.
Bottom line... top stats, great ECs, demonstrated interest and amazing essays lead to admission success.

Can we talk about the bolded? Several top schools offer interviews, where the student puts in a request for one and may or may not get one, though the schools say something to the effect that that not having an interview doesn't matter for admissions. While it seems obvious that the interview request is a display of interest, is that it? Merely a test of one's will? My high-stats kid is rather shy and I'm sure will not want to request an interview. I wouldn't want one either. Do they request and just cross their fingers that they're not selected?

I would not request an interview if your DC is uncomfortable with said interview. Instead, visit the campus and sign up for a tour/information session, go to a presentation, reach out to the assigned AO, or find some other way to clearly show interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS Teacher

My top students with multiple waitlists/rejections were all asian males. They ended up at (good) state schools but by and large were rejected by privates.

raise hand.. that was my CS Asian male. Very high stats. Now at a state flagship with merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS Teacher

My top students with multiple waitlists/rejections were all asian males. They ended up at (good) state schools but by and large were rejected by privates.

I know Asian males who got into Stanford, Harvard, Yale, CMU, Cornell, Northwestern, Duke.
A lot of high stat kids don’t get into top privates. And some do. From all backgrounds. What I noticed is that many kids either were shut out of top privates or had multiple offers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS Teacher

My top students with multiple waitlists/rejections were all asian males. They ended up at (good) state schools but by and large were rejected by privates.

I know Asian males who got into Stanford, Harvard, Yale, CMU, Cornell, Northwestern, Duke.
A lot of high stat kids don’t get into top privates. And some do. From all backgrounds. What I noticed is that many kids either were shut out of top privates or had multiple offers.

NP. This is something I worry about, the uncertainty of which group my kid would fall into. Either seems possible.

[Anonymous]

My white female high stat kid was waitlisted by all privates. Got a ton on merit aid at a very good public.

[Anonymous]

Among by dd’s friends, kids with top stats that were shut out wound up at Georgetown and Boston College. Another with incredible extracurriculars (won the school service award) and great grades shut out everywhere but Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS Teacher

My top students with multiple waitlists/rejections were all asian males. They ended up at (good) state schools but by and large were rejected by privates.

I know Asian males who got into Stanford, Harvard, Yale, CMU, Cornell, Northwestern, Duke.
A lot of high stat kids don’t get into top privates. And some do. From all backgrounds. What I noticed is that many kids either were shut out of top privates or had multiple offers.

NP. This is something I worry about, the uncertainty of which group my kid would fall into. Either seems possible.

You need something to differentiate yourself from others. Activities, essays, etc

[Anonymous]

A lot of guys don’t focus enough on the essays… and it typically shows. They think the essays are fluffy, non essential and they could not be more wrong. If you have a high stats, strong candidate, make sure they put huge effort into authentic, persuasive essays. Oh, and have someone proof them.