Are college admissions harder for DC kids?

[Anonymous]

I don't live near DC but I love this site and this discussion board in particular, much as it stresses me out. I'm wondering if you feel that kids from your area face tougher acceptance rates because the competition is so steep where you are, with so many high achieving kids and elite private (and even public) schools. We live in a rural area where if kids are going to college, the vast majority attend local schools with high (80%+) acceptance rates. Reading about the rejections of superstar-sounding students here makes college admissions just feels so hopeless to me if you want to attend a great school, which my DC does. I'm just wondering if odds are better if you live in a less competitive area. Or maybe not - I'm sure our education isn't as strong as where you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't live near DC but I love this site and this discussion board in particular, much as it stresses me out. I'm wondering if you feel that kids from your area face tougher acceptance rates because the competition is so steep where you are, with so many high achieving kids and elite private (and even public) schools. We live in a rural area where if kids are going to college, the vast majority attend local schools with high (80%+) acceptance rates. Reading about the rejections of superstar-sounding students here makes college admissions just feels so hopeless to me if you want to attend a great school, which my DC does. I'm just wondering if odds are better if you live in a less competitive area. Or maybe not - I'm sure our education isn't as strong as where you are.

This is an interesting question OP and you have an interesting perspective! We are DC residents. One thing that is automatically more difficult is that our kids are out of state for any state school. We do get a small tuition off-set for state schools around the country, but we are at a disadvantage in that our kids can't claim in-state residence anywhere.

For the top schools that your DC is looking at, yes, s/he will be at an advantage coming from a rural area.

Interestingly, my DC wants to go to a service academy. I think that being from DC is an advantage in that admission, possibly as compared to where you are.

[Anonymous]

OP stay right there in Arkansas.
-DP

[Anonymous]

They are harder for high stats kids from major metropolitan areas in general, especially the northeast..

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is harder when from DC (and probably NYC, other big cities). It’s harder bc there is so much competition both from within your own school (hard to be in the top 10% of your graduating class when everyone is a super star) and when there are so many applications to the same top schools from your general area. Colleges like to diversify where students are from.

A kid graduating in top 5% of a large, poor public high school, outside of major urban area that also has a high GPA, high test schools, and manages to take hard classes (maybe AP maybe DE at local colleges)- will have better chance than someone with similar stats from DC than maybe isn’t in top 5% of class school is filled with overachievers, so maybe they are top 20%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't live near DC but I love this site and this discussion board in particular, much as it stresses me out. I'm wondering if you feel that kids from your area face tougher acceptance rates because the competition is so steep where you are, with so many high achieving kids and elite private (and even public) schools. We live in a rural area where if kids are going to college, the vast majority attend local schools with high (80%+) acceptance rates. Reading about the rejections of superstar-sounding students here makes college admissions just feels so hopeless to me if you want to attend a great school, which my DC does. I'm just wondering if odds are better if you live in a less competitive area. Or maybe not - I'm sure our education isn't as strong as where you are.

Yes, I absolutely think you have an advantage.

But I'll also tell you your kid also likely had an enjoyable, fun and memorable high school experience. I think that's the thing missing for so many of the kids in this area. There's so much pressure on them, I think the idea they should be kids and actually enjoy their 4 years of high school is lost.

[Anonymous]

But our kids (in DC) have had to jump through hoops to get into activities since elementary school.
Our public elementary school had try outs (and cuts) for 4th and 5th grade basketball as well as XC.
You need to apply to be on the high school yearbook and other clubs.
It is a really distorted experience

[Anonymous]

DC kdis have an advantage when they look outside of the usual suspect schools becasue colleges like to have kids from all 50 states + DC. So if you look outside of New England and the top 20 private colleges, you have a better shot.

[Anonymous]

It’s harder to stand out in a more competitive environment line that in and around DC. Kids are expected to achieve in everything, at a high level, just to be typical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But our kids (in DC) have had to jump through hoops to get into activities since elementary school.
Our public elementary school had try outs (and cuts) for 4th and 5th grade basketball as well as XC.
You need to apply to be on the high school yearbook and other clubs.
It is a really distorted experience

DP.

We (reluctantly) moved away from DC when our kid was 12.

One of the unexpected benefits was the amazing access to EC’s in our new area (a small city in a region not known for education). Allowed our kid to explore their interests and dive deep in certain activities. Huge win.

[Anonymous]

One advantage for DC college applicants is that many are full-pay students. Although most elite colleges & universities claim to be need-blind, they know the zip codes of the wealthiest areas in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are harder for high stats kids from major metropolitan areas in general, especially the northeast..

Bay area is probably the hardest for kids looking at STEM. The Northeast is might be harder for non-STEM kids. For the top SLACs the east coast is harder than the West Coast though there are many CA kids at top SLACs and the number seems to be rising.

[Anonymous]

NYC, suburban NY/NJ, Bay Area all worse. North shore of chicago, DCUM area (some esp), LA, Dallas, Boston all competitive. gets easier from there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYC, suburban NY/NJ, Bay Area all worse. North shore of chicago, DCUM area (some esp), LA, Dallas, Boston all competitive. gets easier from there

I’ve lived in several competitive metro areas and attended an SLAC and T-10 for professional school. So glad my kid got to grow up in a smaller city outside the Northeast/mid-Atlantic region. Public schools aren’t as good overall (some exceptions), but the college admissions process was a lot less stressful. Most people here did not attend Ivies or SLAC’s or the top publics, and are doing just fine as doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. It helps when kids can see that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't live near DC but I love this site and this discussion board in particular, much as it stresses me out. I'm wondering if you feel that kids from your area face tougher acceptance rates because the competition is so steep where you are, with so many high achieving kids and elite private (and even public) schools. We live in a rural area where if kids are going to college, the vast majority attend local schools with high (80%+) acceptance rates. Reading about the rejections of superstar-sounding students here makes college admissions just feels so hopeless to me if you want to attend a great school, which my DC does. I'm just wondering if odds are better if you live in a less competitive area. Or maybe not - I'm sure our education isn't as strong as where you are.

This is an interesting question OP and you have an interesting perspective! We are DC residents. One thing that is automatically more difficult is that our kids are out of state for any state school. We do get a small tuition off-set for state schools around the country, but we are at a disadvantage in that our kids can't claim in-state residence anywhere.

For the top schools that your DC is looking at, yes, s/he will be at an advantage coming from a rural area.

Interestingly, my DC wants to go to a service academy. I think that being from DC is an advantage in that admission, possibly as compared to where you are.

Actually, huge disadvantage, given the requirement for congressional sponsorship.