Advice needed after ED rejection

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid got rejected from Cornell. Excellent private school that sends 40% of kids to top 30 schools. They are top 30% of class. SAT of 1550. Humanities major. Any ideas on strategy for ED2? Going forward? TIA. Please be nice.

Curious to know what your school CC is recommending? When we were in a similar situation (different ED rejection), they were extremely helpful in helping DC reframe and come up with a new strategy. Also, and maybe I missed it—does your DC have any EA acceptances in their pocket?

[Anonymous]

Apply RD to biggest LACs Colgate and Holy Cross both have enrollments is 3300 kids. HC has January 15 RD deadline. Both schools graduate kids with long term great outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Rejection is a red flag - they weren’t in range. Top 30% of class is a ding for t20, even if coming from Sidwell or NCS. If there is a school dd is interested in that’s a step down - maybe a tufts, BC, BU, bates etc. and she’d be happy there I would apply ED2 and be done. Or try for like a less popular school due to geography like a grinell or one with a big ED boost. This whole process is so miserable for smart unhooked kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rejection is a red flag - they weren’t in range. Top 30% of class is a ding for t20, even if coming from Sidwell or NCS. If there is a school dd is interested in that’s a step down - maybe a tufts, BC, BU, bates etc. and she’d be happy there I would apply ED2 and be done. Or try for like a less popular school due to geography like a grinell or one with a big ED boost. This whole process is so miserable for smart unhooked kids.

I agree with this. You really need top20% for a Cornell level school even from these high schools. If it appears that there are lower kids who get in it's generally because there are other factors at play: legacies, board member recs, other VIP recs, strings pulled, etc. There is so much that goes on under the surface. If you are applying on kid's resume alone then you need to be top20%. Agree that it sucks. Royally sucks. Because all the kids work so hard and those who are top30% are super smart kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid got rejected from Cornell. Excellent private school that sends 40% of kids to top 30 schools. They are top 30% of class. SAT of 1550. Humanities major. Any ideas on strategy for ED2? Going forward? TIA. Please be nice.

Will your kid hear from any desirable EAs in January? If so an ED2 application can be withdrawn if admitted to EA and then can see what else pans out in RD.

[Anonymous]

Dc top 10%, high stats, rejected ED1. Panicked to ED2 and happy attending ED2 school. Business major, so maybe more competitive outside of engineering

[Anonymous]

OP here - Yes waiting on some good EA's. Canadian and UK colleges also in play. Thanks for all of the feedback.

[Anonymous]

Rejection from one T20 doesn’t mean rejection from all T20. From now on, it’s a numbers game. They are not completely independent, but also not completely correlated. Figure out a couple T20 that fit your DC best. GL