If your kid got into their “reach” school…

[Anonymous]

How have they done in college? I’m a little nervous that if DD gets in, she may struggle more there academically. High school grades, resume etc are good but it has taken her a lot of work to get there. I don’t know if she can sustain that, in an even more competitive environment. I wonder if it’s better not to go to the “best” college one gets into - big fish small pond etc.

On the other hand, I hear a lot about grade inflation so maybe I should not worry about this.

[Anonymous]

LOL talk about putting the cart before the horse.

[Anonymous]

Cornell....it was a reach.

Doing really really well... and its notorious for deflation.

Don't worry about this.

[Anonymous]

It's fine. It's a reach because they have so many qualified applicants that it's pretty random. It's not like they're letting in all of the qualified kids and anyone who gets rejected couldn't have handled it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How have they done in college? I’m a little nervous that if DD gets in, she may struggle more there academically. High school grades, resume etc are good but it has taken her a lot of work to get there. I don’t know if she can sustain that, in an even more competitive environment. I wonder if it’s better not to go to the “best” college one gets into - big fish small pond etc.

On the other hand, I hear a lot about grade inflation so maybe I should not worry about this.

What is her SAT score? If she has 1550+ I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I am not saying kids don't have a high test score necessarily wouldn't do well.

I am saying if she has a high score, the predictive power is high in general.

[Anonymous]

I actually somewhat disagree and think it's wise to consider. My very top student from rigorous private is at an Ivy in a hard major and they are working hard to stay on top. My middle had 99% test scores but not the gpa, they would not be able to handle this environment at all. Way too intense and way too fast moving.

[Anonymous]

DC rigorous private high, high score. In at an ivy (a tough one according to DCUM). Feedback is that college is much less stressful than high school. Rigorous high school really really paid off. DC’s friends feedback similar. Most friends got straight As in college.

Don’t worry too much about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC rigorous private high, high score. In at an ivy (a tough one according to DCUM). Feedback is that college is much less stressful than high school. Rigorous high school really really paid off. DC’s friends feedback similar. Most friends got straight As in college.

Don’t worry too much about.

None of them is straight A student in high school. 3.7-3.9 range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC rigorous private high, high score. In at an ivy (a tough one according to DCUM). Feedback is that college is much less stressful than high school. Rigorous high school really really paid off. DC’s friends feedback similar. Most friends got straight As in college.

Don’t worry too much about.

Agree with this. Attended a Big3 DC private high school and worked their tail off. I was so much work.
Currently has a 4.0 after 2 years in a STEM major at Cornell. Continually says how much easier college is than high school was.

I guess this is a good thing?

[Anonymous]

OP you're suffering from imposter syndrome on behalf of your kid. Don't let her know this. It will pass.

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore. She’s killing it. Reach is often less about the applicant’s abilities than it is about the sheer number of qualified applicants applying for limited spots. If your DD was accepted, trust that the admissions officers feel strongly that she will succeed.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you asking about high stats students at colleges that are reaches for all applicants? Or a student whose stats - specifically, scores - are toward the bottom, or below, the range for the college? Those are very different questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How have they done in college? I’m a little nervous that if DD gets in, she may struggle more there academically. High school grades, resume etc are good but it has taken her a lot of work to get there. I don’t know if she can sustain that, in an even more competitive environment. I wonder if it’s better not to go to the “best” college one gets into - big fish small pond etc.

On the other hand, I hear a lot about grade inflation so maybe I should not worry about this.

What is her SAT score? If she has 1550+ I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I am not saying kids don't have a high test score necessarily wouldn't do well.

I am saying if she has a high score, the predictive power is high in general.

This is so incorrect it’s crazy. I’m a professor and I can tell you that standardized test scores don’t have much predictive value in how kids do in college- nor do the number of APs

It’s the rigor of courses in high school that really matters

[Anonymous]

It's a shock for the best and brightest to just be average or even below average. BTDT.

[Anonymous]

It fully depends on the high school. DS had a 3.7 out of high school and was one of the worst students in his stem courses (by grades), but he’s killing it in a rigorous double major (math/physics) at a top LAC.

Don’t get me wrong, he works to the bone like every other STEM student, but he’s soared in terms of research and gpa (4.0). Reach schools are difficult but also have more resources. One of his best friends graduated early and now is off for their Rhodes.