2024 Washington DC area College commits

[Anonymous]

This is our experience with student groups at a big3 and where they fall and their admits:
I think it sums it up pretty darn well.

-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --no top 30 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 college admits if hooked

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students -no top 20 college admits without hooks
-9th grade admits who are the very top students in the class --some top 20 college admits without hooks and some are shut out of top 20 schools if no hooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is our experience with student groups at a big3 and where they fall and their admits:
I think it sums it up pretty darn well.

-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --no top 30 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 college admits if hooked

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students -no top 20 college admits without hooks
-9th grade admits who are the very top students in the class --some top 20 college admits without hooks and some are shut out of top 20 schools if no hooks.

This seems directionally reasonable, though how do you define "hook" exactly?

[Anonymous]

Actually this is more clear:



-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits--too far out of the running for hooks to even help
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --some top 30 admits if heavily hooked
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 admits if hooked, very occasional lucky kid unhooked kid gets in top 20

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students --some top 20 admits if hooked, very occasional lucky unhooked kid gets in top 20
-9th grade admits who are the very top students --the strongest academic cohort in the grade. The hooked kids get in to top 20 schools. The unhooked kids are split about 50/50, some get into top20, some do not. It's all luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is our experience with student groups at a big3 and where they fall and their admits:
I think it sums it up pretty darn well.

-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --no top 30 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 college admits if hooked

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students -no top 20 college admits without hooks
-9th grade admits who are the very top students in the class --some top 20 college admits without hooks and some are shut out of top 20 schools if no hooks.

This seems directionally reasonable, though how do you define "hook" exactly?

Hook at the Big schools are athletic recruits, legacy (at Big3 this often requires both parents or several generations or parent who is legacy and still has active, current day connection to the university), VIP (nationally known figure OR someone who called in a favor of their friend/contact who is a VIP)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is our experience with student groups at a big3 and where they fall and their admits:
I think it sums it up pretty darn well.

-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --no top 30 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 college admits if hooked

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students -no top 20 college admits without hooks
-9th grade admits who are the very top students in the class --some top 20 college admits without hooks and some are shut out of top 20 schools if no hooks.

This seems directionally reasonable, though how do you define "hook" exactly?

Hook at the Big schools are athletic recruits, legacy (at Big3 this often requires both parents or several generations or parent who is legacy and still has active, current day connection to the university), VIP (nationally known figure OR someone who called in a favor of their friend/contact who is a VIP)

Oh, and URM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is our experience with student groups at a big3 and where they fall and their admits:
I think it sums it up pretty darn well.

-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --no top 30 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 college admits if hooked

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students -no top 20 college admits without hooks
-9th grade admits who are the very top students in the class --some top 20 college admits without hooks and some are shut out of top 20 schools if no hooks.

This seems directionally reasonable, though how do you define "hook" exactly?

Hook at the Big schools are athletic recruits, legacy (at Big3 this often requires both parents or several generations or parent who is legacy and still has active, current day connection to the university), VIP (nationally known figure OR someone who called in a favor of their friend/contact who is a VIP)

Is full pay a hook? What kind of connection/donation level is necessary for legacy status to matter? Which hooks are stronger than others?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is our experience with student groups at a big3 and where they fall and their admits:
I think it sums it up pretty darn well.

-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --no top 30 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 college admits if hooked

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students -no top 20 college admits without hooks
-9th grade admits who are the very top students in the class --some top 20 college admits without hooks and some are shut out of top 20 schools if no hooks.

This seems directionally reasonable, though how do you define "hook" exactly?

Hook at the Big schools are athletic recruits, legacy (at Big3 this often requires both parents or several generations or parent who is legacy and still has active, current day connection to the university), VIP (nationally known figure OR someone who called in a favor of their friend/contact who is a VIP)

Oh, and URM.

I thought with the Varsity Blues scandal these things were not happening anymore as much???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

In Sidwell's 2023 graduating class, Hooks also included parents with beaucoup bucks whose surnames appear on buildings and "centers" at assorted Ivies. Maybe this is a subset of "VIP Parent" but it was disheartening for this naive writer. Kid was on academic life support and now...

What does this mean?

It means that the child (parent happens to be on the Board) was barely getting by academically. And now they are at a Top 5 college.

Board of Trustees kids often go to Ivies or their first choice top 25. The two boards I am familiar with - at one in the past 5 years - families who were on the board at the time of applying to college: 5 sent to Princeton over the course of 5 years, two to Dartmouth and a few to UVA. The other Board this year sending at least 2 to Ivies. All strong students - not saying they should not be but I am saying this is not a new phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

In Sidwell's 2023 graduating class, Hooks also included parents with beaucoup bucks whose surnames appear on buildings and "centers" at assorted Ivies. Maybe this is a subset of "VIP Parent" but it was disheartening for this naive writer. Kid was on academic life support and now...

What does this mean?

It means that the child (parent happens to be on the Board) was barely getting by academically. And now they are at a Top 5 college.

Board of Trustees kids often go to Ivies or their first choice top 25. The two boards I am familiar with - at one in the past 5 years - families who were on the board at the time of applying to college: 5 sent to Princeton over the course of 5 years, two to Dartmouth and a few to UVA. The other Board this year sending at least 2 to Ivies. All strong students - not saying they should not be but I am saying this is not a new phenomenon.

Clarification - one was a previous board member but still involved in the community different role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is our experience with student groups at a big3 and where they fall and their admits:
I think it sums it up pretty darn well.

-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --no top 30 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 college admits if hooked

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students -no top 20 college admits without hooks
-9th grade admits who are the very top students in the class --some top 20 college admits without hooks and some are shut out of top 20 schools if no hooks.

This seems directionally reasonable, though how do you define "hook" exactly?

Hook at the Big schools are athletic recruits, legacy (at Big3 this often requires both parents or several generations or parent who is legacy and still has active, current day connection to the university), VIP (nationally known figure OR someone who called in a favor of their friend/contact who is a VIP)

Is full pay a hook? What kind of connection/donation level is necessary for legacy status to matter? Which hooks are stronger than others?

what about unique and remarkable ECs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

In Sidwell's 2023 graduating class, Hooks also included parents with beaucoup bucks whose surnames appear on buildings and "centers" at assorted Ivies. Maybe this is a subset of "VIP Parent" but it was disheartening for this naive writer. Kid was on academic life support and now...

What does this mean?

It means that the child (parent happens to be on the Board) was barely getting by academically. And now they are at a Top 5 college.

Board of Trustees kids often go to Ivies or their first choice top 25. The two boards I am familiar with - at one in the past 5 years - families who were on the board at the time of applying to college: 5 sent to Princeton over the course of 5 years, two to Dartmouth and a few to UVA. The other Board this year sending at least 2 to Ivies. All strong students - not saying they should not be but I am saying this is not a new phenomenon.

Clarification - one was a previous board member but still involved in the community different role.

Sorry - Do you mean parents are on the high school board of trustees? Or on the board at Princeton etc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is our experience with student groups at a big3 and where they fall and their admits:
I think it sums it up pretty darn well.

-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --no top 30 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 college admits if hooked

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students -no top 20 college admits without hooks
-9th grade admits who are the very top students in the class --some top 20 college admits without hooks and some are shut out of top 20 schools if no hooks.

This seems directionally reasonable, though how do you define "hook" exactly?

Hook at the Big schools are athletic recruits, legacy (at Big3 this often requires both parents or several generations or parent who is legacy and still has active, current day connection to the university), VIP (nationally known figure OR someone who called in a favor of their friend/contact who is a VIP)

Is full pay a hook? What kind of connection/donation level is necessary for legacy status to matter? Which hooks are stronger than others?

full pay hook - Not for T20
donation levels - named buildings, funded scholarships *
legacy for very strong student will help without donation
legacy parent + VIP parent *
stronger - who knows - my guess is if you don't already know what to do to game the system, you're not in the category of someone who has this option (and this in not meant in a snarky way.... I also am not in this category.)

* these two can even lift a very average student

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

In Sidwell's 2023 graduating class, Hooks also included parents with beaucoup bucks whose surnames appear on buildings and "centers" at assorted Ivies. Maybe this is a subset of "VIP Parent" but it was disheartening for this naive writer. Kid was on academic life support and now...

What does this mean?

It means that the child (parent happens to be on the Board) was barely getting by academically. And now they are at a Top 5 college.

Board of Trustees kids often go to Ivies or their first choice top 25. The two boards I am familiar with - at one in the past 5 years - families who were on the board at the time of applying to college: 5 sent to Princeton over the course of 5 years, two to Dartmouth and a few to UVA. The other Board this year sending at least 2 to Ivies. All strong students - not saying they should not be but I am saying this is not a new phenomenon.

Clarification - one was a previous board member but still involved in the community different role.

Sorry - Do you mean parents are on the high school board of trustees? Or on the board at Princeton etc?

Private school board not college board but they may be on of their boards as well for the college? Do not know? Never looked. They are also legacies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is our experience with student groups at a big3 and where they fall and their admits:
I think it sums it up pretty darn well.

-lifers who are weak students -- no top 50 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are average students --no top 30 college admits regardless of hooks
-lifers or middle school acceptances who are strong students --some top 20 college admits if hooked

-9th grade athletic recruits --college admits are mostly independent of grades and these students are all over the map academically
-9th grade admits who are strong students -no top 20 college admits without hooks
-9th grade admits who are the very top students in the class --some top 20 college admits without hooks and some are shut out of top 20 schools if no hooks.

This seems directionally reasonable, though how do you define "hook" exactly?

Hook at the Big schools are athletic recruits, legacy (at Big3 this often requires both parents or several generations or parent who is legacy and still has active, current day connection to the university), VIP (nationally known figure OR someone who called in a favor of their friend/contact who is a VIP)

Is full pay a hook? What kind of connection/donation level is necessary for legacy status to matter? Which hooks are stronger than others?

what about unique and remarkable ECs?

Full pay is not a hook.
The people I know who got a substantial donation bump gave at the 7 figure level. I know a couple of families like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College admissions probably is the number one consideration of families sending a kid to a big 3 school whether they admit it or not.

The stark reality of admissions is your kid basically needs to be hooked or in the top 10-15% of their class to get in a T25 college.

Hooks defined as URM, 1st gen, legacy, recruited athlete, coming from a geographically underserved area, VIP parent.

In Sidwell's 2023 graduating class, Hooks also included parents with beaucoup bucks whose surnames appear on buildings and "centers" at assorted Ivies. Maybe this is a subset of "VIP Parent" but it was disheartening for this naive writer. Kid was on academic life support and now...

What does this mean?

It means that the child (parent happens to be on the Board) was barely getting by academically. And now they are at a Top 5 college.

Board of Trustees kids often go to Ivies or their first choice top 25. The two boards I am familiar with - at one in the past 5 years - families who were on the board at the time of applying to college: 5 sent to Princeton over the course of 5 years, two to Dartmouth and a few to UVA. The other Board this year sending at least 2 to Ivies. All strong students - not saying they should not be but I am saying this is not a new phenomenon.

On bold above
- we have seen students squeeze through who were not strong, though
- and strong can be broadly viewed - in addition to what generally would be considered the top trifecta (highest GPA/testing/rigor) - it also includes high GPA with low rigor, and decent GPA/testing/rigor - so that it is stark when such students leapfrog the unhooked trifecta students by leaps and bounds.