Lessons learned so far: 2024-2025

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SAT score really matters.

To a certain extent yes. But once you hit at certain level, nope getting higher does not matter.

The touchy-feely admissions officer thinking “I really like this kid” based on their essays, activities and background matters more than everyone thinks. It is a rational decision to a point but more emotion involved than there should be.

Yes but it must feel authentic and not made up.
Like you want to root for this kid. The kid makes you laugh. Has uncommon experiences or take on something. You see something familiar in him/her? Something you haven’t seen in a bunch of other applications.

Good essays, LOR and activities can absolutely do this.

Many of these are exaggerated, crafted, and carefully written to hook readers and sell the applicant.

Exaggerated bragging will backfire. Listen to today's YCBK.....

They say that the essays that brag about ECs are the WORST. It's about showing values, and academic "love of learning" in all you do. Not bragging. "Essays are not the place to flex....they're the place for you to reflect".

In reading through reddit/A2C, this is what all the international/CS/engineering kids get wrong. They think "bigger is better". That is NOT what they are looking for. They are looking for your values. You can convey values through EC descriptions in a way that whispers and doesn't shout.

More from the podcast on what AO are looking for in essays - its not about "impressing them":
"They really like you and they're excited about having you in the class"
"fostering an emotional connection" with the AO
But "they can sniff it out so fast when someone is trying to pound their chest and say, I hope you notice subtly..."
So - don't put your ECs in your essays - unless the prompt asks for it....they don't want you to brag.

Interesting episode btw. He blamed the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have rich and connected parents. Go to a school that regularly accepts kids. Or be poor and apply via questbridge. Middle class need not apply. This is for top 10.

How about just let go of the idea that Top 10 really means anything in the real world?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SAT score really matters.

To a certain extent yes. But once you hit at certain level, nope getting higher does not matter.

The touchy-feely admissions officer thinking “I really like this kid” based on their essays, activities and background matters more than everyone thinks. It is a rational decision to a point but more emotion involved than there should be.

Yes but it must feel authentic and not made up.
Like you want to root for this kid. The kid makes you laugh. Has uncommon experiences or take on something. You see something familiar in him/her? Something you haven’t seen in a bunch of other applications.

Good essays, LOR and activities can absolutely do this.

Many of these are exaggerated, crafted, and carefully written to hook readers and sell the applicant.

Exaggerated bragging will backfire. Listen to today's YCBK.....

They say that the essays that brag about ECs are the WORST. It's about showing values, and academic "love of learning" in all you do. Not bragging. "Essays are not the place to flex....they're the place for you to reflect".

In reading through reddit/A2C, this is what all the international/CS/engineering kids get wrong. They think "bigger is better". That is NOT what they are looking for. They are looking for your values. You can convey values through EC descriptions in a way that whispers and doesn't shout.

More from the podcast on what AO are looking for in essays - its not about "impressing them":
"They really like you and they're excited about having you in the class"
"fostering an emotional connection" with the AO
But "they can sniff it out so fast when someone is trying to pound their chest and say, I hope you notice subtly..."
So - don't put your ECs in your essays - unless the prompt asks for it....they don't want you to brag.

Interesting episode btw. He blamed the parents.

People who are bragging in common app essay or supps are not carefully crafting anything. But yeah, telling a story in essays, making sure there's plenty of PQs in there, and showing leadership and impact in activities are all important.

[Anonymous]

For T20, how much academic love of learning should permeate the application? I mean you are after all applying to college to be a student.

I'd assume that this should be the main thrust. With a generally positive (bubbly) demeanor and stories showing kindness, humility, and grit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SAT score really matters.

To a certain extent yes. But once you hit at certain level, nope getting higher does not matter.

The touchy-feely admissions officer thinking “I really like this kid” based on their essays, activities and background matters more than everyone thinks. It is a rational decision to a point but more emotion involved than there should be.

Yes but it must feel authentic and not made up.
Like you want to root for this kid. The kid makes you laugh. Has uncommon experiences or take on something. You see something familiar in him/her? Something you haven’t seen in a bunch of other applications.

Good essays, LOR and activities can absolutely do this.

Many of these are exaggerated, crafted, and carefully written to hook readers and sell the applicant.

Exaggerated bragging will backfire. Listen to today's YCBK.....

They say that the essays that brag about ECs are the WORST. It's about showing values, and academic "love of learning" in all you do. Not bragging. "Essays are not the place to flex....they're the place for you to reflect".

In reading through reddit/A2C, this is what all the international/CS/engineering kids get wrong. They think "bigger is better". That is NOT what they are looking for. They are looking for your values. You can convey values through EC descriptions in a way that whispers and doesn't shout.

More from the podcast on what AO are looking for in essays - its not about "impressing them":
"They really like you and they're excited about having you in the class"
"fostering an emotional connection" with the AO
But "they can sniff it out so fast when someone is trying to pound their chest and say, I hope you notice subtly..."
So - don't put your ECs in your essays - unless the prompt asks for it....they don't want you to brag.

Interesting episode btw. He blamed the parents.

People who are bragging in common app essay or supps are not carefully crafting anything. But yeah, telling a story in essays, making sure there's plenty of PQs in there, and showing leadership and impact in activities are all important.

Makes sense. This explains what Sara H always poo-poos anyone who wants to write an essay about an EC listed on 10 activities list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have rich and connected parents. Go to a school that regularly accepts kids. Or be poor and apply via questbridge. Middle class need not apply. This is for top 10.

So true!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- your school’s data or history is probably more important than you think.

THIS. Going through the process first time with older dc. Applied to school which Naviance showed had high rejection rate, but applied anyway bc we considered it a target and had program DC wanted. DC has high GPA and SAT scores. Got rejected. Many of dc's classmates also got rejected. FWIW Applying from Catholic hs to Catholic college. DC said for younger DC we might want to avoid schools like that which reject many of their school's applicants.

How do you get access to this information as a parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- your school’s data or history is probably more important than you think.

THIS. Going through the process first time with older dc. Applied to school which Naviance showed had high rejection rate, but applied anyway bc we considered it a target and had program DC wanted. DC has high GPA and SAT scores. Got rejected. Many of dc's classmates also got rejected. FWIW Applying from Catholic hs to Catholic college. DC said for younger DC we might want to avoid schools like that which reject many of their school's applicants.

How do you get access to this information as a parent?

Through Naviance or Scoir, or whatever platform your kid’s HS uses. HS gives kids access at different times, but usually 2nd semester of 10th or early in 11th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- your school’s data or history is probably more important than you think.

THIS. Going through the process first time with older dc. Applied to school which Naviance showed had high rejection rate, but applied anyway bc we considered it a target and had program DC wanted. DC has high GPA and SAT scores. Got rejected. Many of dc's classmates also got rejected. FWIW Applying from Catholic hs to Catholic college. DC said for younger DC we might want to avoid schools like that which reject many of their school's applicants.

How do you get access to this information as a parent?

Usually get naviance, Scoir or Maia access junior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- your school’s data or history is probably more important than you think.

THIS. Going through the process first time with older dc. Applied to school which Naviance showed had high rejection rate, but applied anyway bc we considered it a target and had program DC wanted. DC has high GPA and SAT scores. Got rejected. Many of dc's classmates also got rejected. FWIW Applying from Catholic hs to Catholic college. DC said for younger DC we might want to avoid schools like that which reject many of their school's applicants.

Which Catholic school routinely rejects all applicants from a Catholic HS? Only Notre Dame, Georgetown, BC, maybe Villanova seem like they'd be selective enough to do this. V weird -- maybe they've had a bad history with the HS students who attended? The guidance office?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have rich and connected parents. Go to a school that regularly accepts kids. Or be poor and apply via questbridge. Middle class need not apply. This is for top 10.

So true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- your school’s data or history is probably more important than you think.

THIS. Going through the process first time with older dc. Applied to school which Naviance showed had high rejection rate, but applied anyway bc we considered it a target and had program DC wanted. DC has high GPA and SAT scores. Got rejected. Many of dc's classmates also got rejected. FWIW Applying from Catholic hs to Catholic college. DC said for younger DC we might want to avoid schools like that which reject many of their school's applicants.

Which Catholic school routinely rejects all applicants from a Catholic HS? Only Notre Dame, Georgetown, BC, maybe Villanova seem like they'd be selective enough to do this. V weird -- maybe they've had a bad history with the HS students who attended? The guidance office?

Villanova rejected my high stats full pay kid ED1 last year. The only kids they took from our school were legacy. (Not a Catholic school though.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- your school’s data or history is probably more important than you think.

THIS. Going through the process first time with older dc. Applied to school which Naviance showed had high rejection rate, but applied anyway bc we considered it a target and had program DC wanted. DC has high GPA and SAT scores. Got rejected. Many of dc's classmates also got rejected. FWIW Applying from Catholic hs to Catholic college. DC said for younger DC we might want to avoid schools like that which reject many of their school's applicants.

Which Catholic school routinely rejects all applicants from a Catholic HS? Only Notre Dame, Georgetown, BC, maybe Villanova seem like they'd be selective enough to do this. V weird -- maybe they've had a bad history with the HS students who attended? The guidance office?

Villanova rejected my high stats full pay kid ED1 last year. The only kids they took from our school were legacy. (Not a Catholic school though.)

That's surprising -- sorry your kid was dissappointed. Hope they ended up happy somewhere else!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid has big dreams, you must apply widely. Start early. Be smart and strategic.

Applied to 22 schools:
5 safeties (admitted to 4; waiting on 1)
6 targets (admitted to 1; waiting on 5)
11 reaches (deferred ED1; waiting on all)

That strategy is neither smart nor strategic. In fact, it’s the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- your school’s data or history is probably more important than you think.

THIS. Going through the process first time with older dc. Applied to school which Naviance showed had high rejection rate, but applied anyway bc we considered it a target and had program DC wanted. DC has high GPA and SAT scores. Got rejected. Many of dc's classmates also got rejected. FWIW Applying from Catholic hs to Catholic college. DC said for younger DC we might want to avoid schools like that which reject many of their school's applicants.

How do you get access to this information as a parent?

As your student to ask their HS counselor. Your student's HS should provide it - maia learning, scoir or naviance are the three most popular formats. It's very helpful!