have you known top 20% kids at the Big3 who have gotten shut out of top40 schools? ED Strategy help needed....

[Anonymous]

Have you known a kid who was top 20% at a big3 (like 3.85+/1550) who got shut out of top40 schools?
I feel like this is such a crap shoot and we are getting no direction from college counseling. I don't know if my kid should aim for a lesser Ivy or Ivy adjacent top 20 (the recent data from this school DOES support a number of ED applications at this level for an unhooked kid) OR should he/she go directly to a school ranked 30+ (a school ranked around Boston College or Tufts).
I'm worried the kid is not going to get the ED and then fall way down through the ranks of schools.


Yes, in the end a 50+ school will be completely ok. But honestly, the kid has killed himself/herself for this damn 3.85 (highest rigor).
It's kind of going to be a let down if he/she ends up at Pittsburgh or Georgia or similar. NOT the end of the world but I'm being honest here.

Sigh, Please just don't jump all over me. We did not choose private for college admissions.
Just wondering what you would do in this situation.

[Anonymous]

They haven't chatted with you about applying ED or ED2 to UChicago yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They haven't chatted with you about applying ED or ED2 to UChicago yet?

lol. yes. this has been mentioned. Any my kid had no interest in it following a tour last year but lately was like, "maybe I'll do Chicago ED2."

I don't see this kid at Chicago. And we would get to pay $90k/year for it. UGH.
Besides Chicago, any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you known a kid who was top 20% at a big3 (like 3.85+/1550) who got shut out of top40 schools?
I feel like this is such a crap shoot and we are getting no direction from college counseling. I don't know if my kid should aim for a lesser Ivy or Ivy adjacent top 20 (the recent data from this school DOES support a number of ED applications at this level for an unhooked kid) OR should he/she go directly to a school ranked 30+ (a school ranked around Boston College or Tufts).
I'm worried the kid is not going to get the ED and then fall way down through the ranks of schools.


Yes, in the end a 50+ school will be completely ok. But honestly, the kid has killed himself/herself for this damn 3.85 (highest rigor).
It's kind of going to be a let down if he/she ends up at Pittsburgh or Georgia or similar. NOT the end of the world but I'm being honest here.

Sigh, Please just don't jump all over me. We did not choose private for college admissions.
Just wondering what you would do in this situation.

No. Not with that GPA. Your options should be great. We had a kid at a Big 3 and have one at one now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you known a kid who was top 20% at a big3 (like 3.85+/1550) who got shut out of top40 schools?
I feel like this is such a crap shoot and we are getting no direction from college counseling. I don't know if my kid should aim for a lesser Ivy or Ivy adjacent top 20 (the recent data from this school DOES support a number of ED applications at this level for an unhooked kid) OR should he/she go directly to a school ranked 30+ (a school ranked around Boston College or Tufts).
I'm worried the kid is not going to get the ED and then fall way down through the ranks of schools.


Yes, in the end a 50+ school will be completely ok. But honestly, the kid has killed himself/herself for this damn 3.85 (highest rigor).
It's kind of going to be a let down if he/she ends up at Pittsburgh or Georgia or similar. NOT the end of the world but I'm being honest here.

Sigh, Please just don't jump all over me. We did not choose private for college admissions.
Just wondering what you would do in this situation.

No. Not with that GPA. Your options should be great. We had a kid at a Big 3 and have one at one now.

PP here. Your options should be good. Your kid may not get in ED but that is not because of GPA etc... but have a good chance to get into a top school for sure. Definitely top 40 university or top 10 liberal arts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you known a kid who was top 20% at a big3 (like 3.85+/1550) who got shut out of top40 schools?
I feel like this is such a crap shoot and we are getting no direction from college counseling. I don't know if my kid should aim for a lesser Ivy or Ivy adjacent top 20 (the recent data from this school DOES support a number of ED applications at this level for an unhooked kid) OR should he/she go directly to a school ranked 30+ (a school ranked around Boston College or Tufts).
I'm worried the kid is not going to get the ED and then fall way down through the ranks of schools.


Yes, in the end a 50+ school will be completely ok. But honestly, the kid has killed himself/herself for this damn 3.85 (highest rigor).
It's kind of going to be a let down if he/she ends up at Pittsburgh or Georgia or similar. NOT the end of the world but I'm being honest here.

Sigh, Please just don't jump all over me. We did not choose private for college admissions.
Just wondering what you would do in this situation.

No. Not with that GPA. Your options should be great. We had a kid at a Big 3 and have one at one now.

but what kind of strategy? ED to a top20 and EA and RD to other top 30s?

So if ED did not work out, one of the top30 EAs or RDs did?

[Anonymous]

It's a crapshoot for all at the top schools, but you should be right in the mix for many of the top 40 schools from a top private. Worse case scenario would be something like a Wake Forest/Bucknell/BC/Middlebury placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you known a kid who was top 20% at a big3 (like 3.85+/1550) who got shut out of top40 schools?
I feel like this is such a crap shoot and we are getting no direction from college counseling. I don't know if my kid should aim for a lesser Ivy or Ivy adjacent top 20 (the recent data from this school DOES support a number of ED applications at this level for an unhooked kid) OR should he/she go directly to a school ranked 30+ (a school ranked around Boston College or Tufts).
I'm worried the kid is not going to get the ED and then fall way down through the ranks of schools.


Yes, in the end a 50+ school will be completely ok. But honestly, the kid has killed himself/herself for this damn 3.85 (highest rigor).
It's kind of going to be a let down if he/she ends up at Pittsburgh or Georgia or similar. NOT the end of the world but I'm being honest here.

Sigh, Please just don't jump all over me. We did not choose private for college admissions.
Just wondering what you would do in this situation.

No. Not with that GPA. Your options should be great. We had a kid at a Big 3 and have one at one now.

but what kind of strategy? ED to a top20 and EA and RD to other top 30s?

So if ED did not work out, one of the top30 EAs or RDs did?

yes something like that absolutely

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a crapshoot for all at the top schools, but you should be right in the mix for many of the top 40 schools from a top private. Worse case scenario would be something like a Wake Forest/Bucknell/BC/Middlebury placement.

Bucknell is not in same as BC and Middlebury.

Middlebury is top 20 liberal arts and should be an easy in for your student.

BC is tough tough to get into. Very tough admit.

[Anonymous]

I would ask you kid what their top choice is and why?
Where do they see themselves?
What do they think is the reason why a school should select them? (Put themselves in the shoes of the college reading lots of applications - why will they put the application in the yes pile?) what do they bring to campus?
This conversation becomes less about GPA and more about the person.

Good luck through this journey

[Anonymous]

Ugh this sucks for you and also for your kid. Can you really not try to find school that your kid would like or is it just the highest ranked possible?

Your kid is going to be disappointed because there is no strategy other than ranking....

[Anonymous]

You've got to pick an ED lottery and see what happens, but EA at a bunch of others. So basically your kid should be drowning in essays right now. You'll only be in trouble if you do ED and use RD as your back up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh this sucks for you and also for your kid. Can you really not try to find school that your kid would like or is it just the highest ranked possible?

Your kid is going to be disappointed because there is no strategy other than ranking....

DP. OP your kid has great stats and should be fine. I agree a bit with this poster though. Fit is really everything and I know that sounds cliche but so true. My son has similar stats and would not look at so many schools in the top 20. He was right. They were not a good fit socially or in so many other ways. Your kid coming from a Big 3 with those stats is very well positioned and should place in a great place. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Your kid should ED to their top choice. Period. Not gamesmanship. If no top choice, just apply EA and RD and evaluate options later. Also hope you realize how privileged you are to consider ED as many families need to compare financial aid packages and can’t do ED. Oops, forgot this was the private board and financial limitations don’t apply to this cohort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you known a kid who was top 20% at a big3 (like 3.85+/1550) who got shut out of top40 schools?
I feel like this is such a crap shoot and we are getting no direction from college counseling. I don't know if my kid should aim for a lesser Ivy or Ivy adjacent top 20 (the recent data from this school DOES support a number of ED applications at this level for an unhooked kid) OR should he/she go directly to a school ranked 30+ (a school ranked around Boston College or Tufts).
I'm worried the kid is not going to get the ED and then fall way down through the ranks of schools.


Yes, in the end a 50+ school will be completely ok. But honestly, the kid has killed himself/herself for this damn 3.85 (highest rigor).
It's kind of going to be a let down if he/she ends up at Pittsburgh or Georgia or similar. NOT the end of the world but I'm being honest here.

Sigh, Please just don't jump all over me. We did not choose private for college admissions.
Just wondering what you would do in this situation.

OP: It is a crap shoot to an extent and no college counselor can tell you otherwise. I know you are looking for reassurance, but they can't give it. The only thing they can do is tell you whether or not they think your kid is a solid candidate given past results. If you have data that supports ivy or ivy adjacent, then you have the answer but not a guarantee. What more are you looking for the counselor to say? Am I missing something?