Do you know a kid who was screwed in the college process in last few years?

[Anonymous]

Thinking valedictorian (or similar) / 35-36 or 1550+/ top awards or ECs?
If so, what happened?
Where did the kid end up? Did the kid transfer?

[Anonymous]

I don't think any kids get "screwed" in the college application process. What a peculiar way of looking at things.

[Anonymous]

No. My kid had a top GPA and scores, but was lacking in ECs, and he went to GWU for International Affairs. I do not consider that a fail. He's happy there. Some top students from MCPS are going to UMD, and saving a mint of money. Not a fail either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think any kids get "screwed" in the college application process. What a peculiar way of looking at things.

If you are the #1 kid in your school, aiming for T10/T20, and you end up at the flagship or worse (and not for financial reasons), then yeah, I think you were screwed since kids ranked FAR below you got into the schools you were aiming for?
Maybe it was your application? Your major? Your story?

[Anonymous]

our top kid this year is going to Bocconi. But he applied to Harvard and Yale and Bocconi only .. so this was his own choice. He feels screwed -- but he's that kinda guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think any kids get "screwed" in the college application process. What a peculiar way of looking at things.

If you are the #1 kid in your school, aiming for T10/T20, and you end up at the flagship or worse (and not for financial reasons), then yeah, I think you were screwed since kids ranked FAR below you got into the schools you were aiming for?
Maybe it was your application? Your major? Your story?

Yes if your place was taken by Don jr or Eric Trump then yes your assessment is correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think any kids get "screwed" in the college application process. What a peculiar way of looking at things.

If you are the #1 kid in your school, aiming for T10/T20, and you end up at the flagship or worse (and not for financial reasons), then yeah, I think you were screwed since kids ranked FAR below you got into the schools you were aiming for?
Maybe it was your application? Your major? Your story?

You didn't get screwed, you overestimated your competitiveness and planned poorly. That's on you.

[Anonymous]

Ending up at a state flagship is far from being screwed.

Being a kid growing up in Ukraine is getting screwed.

Get some perspective.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Ha Ha🤣

My kid was a top student, top grades, magnet rigor, cracked SAT, very good EC, research work, tons of accolades etc. Doing CS in flagship public university for free. Getting top internships and opportunities. Earning money and growing investment portfolio.

Not going to the top private school for full pay has saved us 400K which has enriched his inheritance significantly. At worst, he does not have to look after us for retirement.

Getting into a prestigious college is not the end game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:our top kid this year is going to Bocconi. But he applied to Harvard and Yale and Bocconi only .. so this was his own choice. He feels screwed -- but he's that kinda guy.

Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:our top kid this year is going to Bocconi. But he applied to Harvard and Yale and Bocconi only .. so this was his own choice. He feels screwed -- but he's that kinda guy.

He applied to H and Y and Bocconi was his safety?

Che palle!

[Anonymous]

If someone feels "screwed" by the process, it's probably because they let their sense of entitlement overshadow a basic understanding of probability. They didn't build a list that was appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Immediately after Floyd’s murder many schools increased their diversity efforts. That combined with the sudden test optional/blind practices (mostly due to Covid but also partly because of diversity pushes) created some new obstacles for the unhooked but academically strong. That period contributed to the anti DEI sentiment of today.

With many things, when the pendulum swings too far one way, it often overcorrects in the other.

Admissions were particularly brutal for the HS class of ‘21, since there were fewer slots following many deferred admissions from the year before, due to Covid.

[Anonymous]

Top of class, 1590 sat, 36 ACT, great EC's, national awards, 15 AP's, denied everywhere, even UChicago EDII and now at Michigan. Could have been that the letter of recommendations were not the greatest. That's the problem with holisitic admissions. Everything could be perfect but the schools are just looking for something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Immediately after Floyd’s murder many schools increased their diversity efforts. That combined with the sudden test optional/blind practices (mostly due to Covid but also partly because of diversity pushes) created some new obstacles for the unhooked but academically strong. That period contributed to the anti DEI sentiment of today.

With many things, when the pendulum swings too far one way, it often overcorrects in the other.

Admissions were particularly brutal for the HS class of ‘21, since there were fewer slots following many deferred admissions from the year before, due to Covid.

I’ve been hearing this claim.. but would love to see actual data back it up.

My guess is that test optional impacted admissions which led to a surge in apps to top schools. Admissions offices were overwhelmed. More schools are weighing test scores heavily now, even if still test optional.