Junior w 3.9/1550 - Big3 - College tour recommendations
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Anonymous
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DC is at 3.9+ (closer to 3.9 than 3.95). Based on Junior year performance/quarter grades, expect to continue on this GPA path through senior year. Will be in Calc BC in senior year. Mix of rigor in science classes (some highest science and some not). Solid ECs, but not at national level. Well rounded (for what that is worth). No strong legacy connections. Not URM. Will not be recruited athlete.
Are any schools more or less ruled out with this record? Taking MIT/Caltech off the list. I know all T20 are low probability, but want to understand from current/recent Big 3 parents with experience what a kid with these stats should be aiming for as reasonable reaches. Is it simply not worth bothering with HYPSM? Asking now as we are planning college visits in the spring. |
Anonymous
| Any major or career in mind ? |
Anonymous
| BC |
Anonymous
Economics/Environmental studies |
Anonymous
| Male/female? Preferences on size, location, or campus culture? |
Anonymous
Female. a bit undecided on campus culture, but probably not interested in super remote campuses. |
Anonymous
| If at GDS, just apply to Harvard only. Bound to get in. |
Anonymous
Especially if you are a famous mom/dad |
Anonymous
| OP again. We don't have access to Naviance/SCOIR data yet. Assuming that HYPSM's are generally super top (close to 4.0 kids) and folks with solid academics and legacy/donor and/or URM type status? If so, is it best for DC to just forget about HYPSM? |
Anonymous
| Look at Wellesley, but only apply if she likes it. |
Anonymous
Probably. I get that many kids will want to apply anyway but it’s hard without a hook. I think Chicago or Northwestern or a SLAC ED would be more likely. |
Anonymous
| HYPSM generally needs extraordinary kids (read national math olympiad winner) or very strong kids with truly excellent hooks. The next tier of schools: Remaining Ivies + others in the top 20 should all be good targets with this record. Nothing is a given, of course. For college tours, I would recommend a mix for junior year. Check out some cold locations (Chicago/Michigan/Cornell/Dartmouth), some small campuses (Swarthmore/Brown) and some city campuses (Columbia?Penn). Maybe one each. Go deeper in the summer. |
Anonymous
| The extracurriculars are what separate the T20 kids from kids with similar stats. What are hers? |
Anonymous
Can't say more without outing identity. But, they do are not top state/national honors or ECs. Nevertheless, organic and original and mark high (not highest) achievement. |
Anonymous
Would not waste time with HYPSM. MIT is not happening. And without a significant hook, neither is HYPS. But the stats are good enough for anywhere else. Make sure those ECs also demonstrate leadership. Sounds like she is more inclined to go to a university rather than a LAC. Spend spring break visiting campuses to get a better sense of fit and what she might like. Maybe go South - Duke, Vanderbilt, WashU. Or to the Midwest - Northwestern, Chicago, Michigan, Notre Dame. Schools in PA - Penn - and NY - Columbia, NYU - can be done over weekends. I think schools in NE like Dartmouth and Cornell should only be visited in winter. The April visits are very deceptive. It does tend to be advantageous to apply ED. But only do so to a school where you really want to go. Often it just clicks when you visit. And look at where this year's seniors are getting in. That will give you sense of patterns and possibilities. |