T25 colleges focused heavily on EC rating?

[Anonymous]

Which T25 selective colleges are most highly focused on EC achievement - impact, depth, national recognition?

Kid has tremendous (non-Stem) achievement in one humanities area + congressional internship + co-founder of school club + leadership in student govt + national level awards in a non-recruitable sport. And one more impact-driven local humanitarian activity w/news coverage (dont want to reveal too much).

Along with unique volunteer work for underprivileged population, aligned w/sport.
And another internship.

Which schools score highly for ECs in the review process?

Stanford, I think?
Anyone else?

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone has cracked the code to what Stanford wants. All the kids there are insanely talented though.

[Anonymous]

That will all of course help anywhere, but even such stellar ECs need good grades and tests scores as well. Does your kid have that?

[Anonymous]

None of that will make up for a weak transcript (or scores for schools that now require test scores).

At least start there to see if you at least make it pay the first “cut”.

Unless you are Olympic caliber, I don’t know why any school cares about a non college sport. Doesn’t sound like that is the case for your kid or I assume you say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of that will make up for a weak transcript (or scores for schools that now require test scores).

At least start there to see if you at least make it pay the first “cut”.

Unless you are Olympic caliber, I don’t know why any school cares about a non college sport. Doesn’t sound like that is the case for your kid or I assume you say that.

Yes, to rigor/grades.
Rigorous private high school.
Test scores are still work in process - 1500

My understanding is that schools like the discipline, grit, & ambition associated with national awards in sports, even if not recruited? Most schools don’t have this sport (though it may be a club sport at some T25 schools).

[Anonymous]

If you are thinking about REA/ED strategy, some schools do use certain ECs to balance a class, but that comes into play more in RD.

[Anonymous]

Stanford
Duke
Northwestern
Vanderbilt

[Anonymous]

The numbers have to be there first - GPA, rigor, test scores, comparative class rank. But if they cross that threshold, the schools that seem to really value ECs from what I've seen:

Stanford
Vanderbilt
Princeton
Rice
Northwestern
Brown
Duke


I have kids at two of the above. And it was definitely the ECs that helped the most.

[Anonymous]

The names mentioned here are the right ones!

[Anonymous]

Stanford and NU value the most.
Then Vanderbilt and Princeton.
Then Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The numbers have to be there first - GPA, rigor, test scores, comparative class rank. But if they cross that threshold, the schools that seem to really value ECs from what I've seen:

Stanford
Vanderbilt
Princeton
Rice
Northwestern
Brown
Duke


I have kids at two of the above. And it was definitely the ECs that helped the most.

Did your kids ask to see their application file? How would you possibly know this?

I don’t think you can claim an EC is the difference unless it’s truly special (like Nathan Chen at Yale).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of that will make up for a weak transcript (or scores for schools that now require test scores).

At least start there to see if you at least make it pay the first “cut”.

Unless you are Olympic caliber, I don’t know why any school cares about a non college sport. Doesn’t sound like that is the case for your kid or I assume you say that.

Yes, to rigor/grades.
Rigorous private high school.
Test scores are still work in process - 1500

My understanding is that schools like the discipline, grit, & ambition associated with national awards in sports, even if not recruited? Most schools don’t have this sport (though it may be a club sport at some T25 schools).

What is the sport? I think your reading too much into the value of that sport…but the other ECs seem impressive.

[Anonymous]

EC and intellectual vitality are key for Stanford admission.

Research or independent studies and internships/jobs plus national awards in something are key for Stanford.

Most important essay for Stanford is roommate essay.

Make sure you have a clear stand-out passion, and that it is clearly demonstrated for Stanford. There should be a key identifiable trait among your achievements and extracurriculars to set you apart from the rest of the applicants.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/s/OXgAkSL6mk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of that will make up for a weak transcript (or scores for schools that now require test scores).

At least start there to see if you at least make it pay the first “cut”.

Unless you are Olympic caliber, I don’t know why any school cares about a non college sport. Doesn’t sound like that is the case for your kid or I assume you say that.

Yes, to rigor/grades.
Rigorous private high school.
Test scores are still work in process - 1500

My understanding is that schools like the discipline, grit, & ambition associated with national awards in sports, even if not recruited? Most schools don’t have this sport (though it may be a club sport at some T25 schools).

What is the sport? I think your reading too much into the value of that sport…but the other ECs seem impressive.

If the sport comes with a national level ranking or national award, it is very important. If there are no national awards, it’s irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which T25 selective colleges are most highly focused on EC achievement - impact, depth, national recognition?

Kid has tremendous (non-Stem) achievement in one humanities area + congressional internship + co-founder of school club + leadership in student govt + national level awards in a non-recruitable sport. And one more impact-driven local humanitarian activity w/news coverage (dont want to reveal too much).

Along with unique volunteer work for underprivileged population, aligned w/sport.
And another internship.

Which schools score highly for ECs in the review process?

Stanford, I think?
Anyone else?

All T25 care about ECs, but for unhooked students they will not get far without top rigor and top grades/rank(top 10% from public, top 20-25% from private or a magnet like TJ). ECs will not make up for deficiencies elsewhere, but ECs can help you stand out from the tens of thousands of other 3.9uw/1500+ students who are all applying to an overlapping subset of T25.