How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at Naviance or SCOIR …DCs go to a well regarded private and had zero APs (not offered). DC1 had a 3.7 and 1440 SAT and got into Michigan, UVA, USC and Vanderbilt. DC2 was a recruited athlete and with a 3.7 GPA, 32 ACT got into several top 25 schools.

Vandy RD possible? Everyone here says ED Vandy...

[Anonymous]

There's some good insight in this thread.

It is critical to understand that the most important impact on your kid's chances at any particular school is what the other kids in your school are doing.

This year, in our graduating class of around 600, we had no idea when formulating the application list. We did not even know who all the high achievers were! It is really a crap shoot when 40 kids are applying to Penn.

If you really want to get into a top 20 school, use your ED option wisely (if you want), and try to focus on a school that is relatively undersubscribed from your school.

The HYPS SCEA pool is filled with high achievers just like OP's kid, with national awards or very specific specialty talents, so a tough go. If not doing ED, maybe better to try for an REA at Georgetown to keep RD options open. Although Georgetown at our school was into the 4.0 UW GPA above other applicants with other strengths.

Also, people hate this on DCUM, but you do increase your odds in the reach category by applying to more schools It only takes 1 and at that level, results can be a little more random.

[Anonymous]

I think the proposed major is huge. But most people are aware of that, and the admissions folks are aware that some applicants are going to pick an unpopular major just for the possibility that it will boost their acceptance process chances.

So it would be helpful to have some tangible evidence that the kid has a sincere interest in the subject. Like if the proposed major is philosophy, it would give legitimacy for the kid to have taken a philosophy class at a community college. Or if the major is an unusual foreign language, it would help if the connection to that language was established through travel, work, or volunteering. And so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, based on our experience, be aware of the OOS Top Publics with single digit OOS acceptance rates with 60,000 and more applications. In addition to Ivies and other T20s, these are some of the most difficult gets. We found that out this last cycle.

I really fail to see why those are so attractive to people.

My kids applied to instate public schools but no out of state publics. I'm not paying private $ for public quality. Nope.

Still clinging to the certainty that privates are necessarily better than publics? All the crap exposed at Columbia, Harvard, Stanford etc.: Plagiarism, antisemitism, protests, crappy dorms, Operation Varsity Blues….their stuff stinks too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1550 is not considered high.

No, that only puts the student in the top 1%. Not high at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is just a regular smart boy (private school) with a 35 ACT and high gpa/rigor. I never even thought he might have a chance at a top 20 because he is a classic 1990s-style well rounded kid. Athlete, involved in school clubs, part-time job. Nothing national level. Are these type of kids actually applying to top 20s? He would like a school like Dartmouth, Vandy, Duke or Brown, but I told him he would never get in. Should he throw in a few super reach apps?

My kid went to Northwestern, & it seemed like this kind of kid had a good shot there if applying ED. Northwestern & some other non-Ivies seem to really appreciate it when someone puts them at the top of their list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It appears that it is harder to get into college than when we all applied. But what about for the very high stats kids?

Can some of you please share how it went for your child who went through the process if your kid was max rigor, 1550 plus, top grades, great but not national award winning extracurricular.

My child is having trouble finishing up their college lists and part of the reason is we really just have no idea how it will all go with the reach schools. We also don't know what school is "worth" taking your shot early. This child will be happiest with an intense, highly academic crowd.

This was my kid. He’s attending UMDCP. No luck at any of the highly ranked privates but in the end I think he wound up right where he’s supposed to be. Good luck!

Same for my super high stats DC (higher than OP's kid). They are pretty happy there. Bonus for going to UMD in state is that UMD took most of their credits - 56 total, and got merit. They will have two bachelors and +1 masters in 4 years for under $130K.

Got a great internship, having a blast, and making decent money.

It was an ego hit when they were rejected to T15, but in the end, they said they are at where they are meant to be, and they are happy. I have seen DC grow in the past 2 years while in college, and it's been an amazing journey for DC.

Great story. It’s wonderful when smart kids can dust themselves off and get back to business after getting steamrolled by the T15-type schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
1560 SAT
4.0 Unweighted, 4.57 weighted
14 APs with all fives on the 9 tests taken before applying
Took Calc 3 junior summer, got an A (he LOVES math and will major in it)
Merit Finalist
Captain and MVP of his rowing team (4 years on the team)
3 years juried music with awards
Helped run the family business (with demonstrated financial impact!)

Applied to Yale (legacy AND rowing official visit with pre-read), Princeton, Penn, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Cornell, Uchicago. Waitlisted at Northwestern and Cornell and rejected at the rest.

He going to Penn State, which he was actually happy with from the beginning of the process, thankfully, which is why he only applied to a few top schools.

He is starting out with 66 credits and can graduate in three years with a double major OR in four with an integrated masters (applied math and applied statistic).

Sidebar: We invested the additional money we saved for college which will have a dramatic impact on his financial future. He is thrilled! And he joked about hoping it happened because he is pretty sure the social life is going to be so much better and is convinced he can get a great education pretty much anywhere.

Our CCO could never approve a college list like this. Very head heavy, no ED, no EA.
T15-T40 schools are completely missing from the list. It's either super reach or safeties.

PP said her kid would be/ is happy with Penn State (perhaps in state for them?). If you apply early, Penn State sends out early acceptances.

Why would it make sense to apply to any T10-T30 schools, which would all be more expensive? Not everyone is determined to go to the highest prestige place at all costs.

yes. I am the poster with the son going to Penn State. He loved Penn State and was happy to go there over any other "target" schools. He knew his APs would transfer and that he would have so much flexibility with his degrees including a 4 year masters. He took his shot with some top schools, but it wasn't something that he needed. I often wonder if he wouldn't have chosen Penn State over one of the others if he had gotten in?

This story demonstrates the value of finding schools the the kid will likely get into that they actually like. Even if it’s well below where they might have gotten in, & even if it’s not a perfect fit, there is at least one characteristic that will truly console them & make them proud to go there.

It could be that they really like the school’s campus/architecture. Or their football team. Or the weather is great. SOMETHING that they can sink their teeth into to erase doubts.

Too many kids just go down the rankings & add a few schools only because they are ranked in the top 20 or 30 or whatever…but there is nothing in particular that really grabs them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NOVA 2023, 3.98/4.5, 1560, NMSF, CS major
Rejected: Penn, Harvard
Waitlist: NEU, UVA
Accepted w/merit: UMD (attending), BU, Lehigh, CWRU, Ohio St., Minnesota
Accepted no merit: WM, Pitt

My kid will be in Cambridge. Yours in Pyon-Chen? Good for your kid and hope they love it. My kid got a very positive impression after attending orientation recently.

PP. My kid is now a rising junior. He was in the honors program but not a nice one like Pyon Chen. Are you NOVA too? Really likes it there. Just an hour away, but only comes home at major breaks. Having too good of a time!

That is really good to hear. Fingers crossed I hope my kid will be having too good a time too! No longer in NoVA but still in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

LCPS 2024
4.0/4.7 - 1530
5s on 12 AP exams and one 3 APUSH
AFROTC type 1 scholarship
No sports, no volunteering, no clubs
Applied to engineering
Rejected: Rice, Princeton, Brown, Columbia
WL: CMU, Brown, Vanderbilt, UMich
Accepted: GT, UIUC, UVA, VT, Case Western, Northwestern, Cornell (attending)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is just a regular smart boy (private school) with a 35 ACT and high gpa/rigor. I never even thought he might have a chance at a top 20 because he is a classic 1990s-style well rounded kid. Athlete, involved in school clubs, part-time job. Nothing national level. Are these type of kids actually applying to top 20s? He would like a school like Dartmouth, Vandy, Duke or Brown, but I told him he would never get in. Should he throw in a few super reach apps?

My kid went to Northwestern, & it seemed like this kind of kid had a good shot there if applying ED. Northwestern & some other non-Ivies seem to really appreciate it when someone puts them at the top of their list.

Ha. Full-pay is king.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It appears that it is harder to get into college than when we all applied. But what about for the very high stats kids?

Can some of you please share how it went for your child who went through the process if your kid was max rigor, 1550 plus, top grades, great but not national award winning extracurricular.

My child is having trouble finishing up their college lists and part of the reason is we really just have no idea how it will all go with the reach schools. We also don't know what school is "worth" taking your shot early. This child will be happiest with an intense, highly academic crowd.

This was my kid. He’s attending UMDCP. No luck at any of the highly ranked privates but in the end I think he wound up right where he’s supposed to be. Good luck!

Same for my super high stats DC (higher than OP's kid). They are pretty happy there. Bonus for going to UMD in state is that UMD took most of their credits - 56 total, and got merit. They will have two bachelors and +1 masters in 4 years for under $130K.

Got a great internship, having a blast, and making decent money.

It was an ego hit when they were rejected to T15, but in the end, they said they are at where they are meant to be, and they are happy. I have seen DC grow in the past 2 years while in college, and it's been an amazing journey for DC.

Do you ever feel that as a parent you could have done more ? Or, feel like you have failed..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LCPS 2024
4.0/4.7 - 1530
5s on 12 AP exams and one 3 APUSH
AFROTC type 1 scholarship
No sports, no volunteering, no clubs
Applied to engineering
Rejected: Rice, Princeton, Brown, Columbia
WL: CMU, Brown, Vanderbilt, UMich
Accepted: GT, UIUC, UVA, VT, Case Western, Northwestern, Cornell (attending)

Amazing results!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LCPS 2024
4.0/4.7 - 1530
5s on 12 AP exams and one 3 APUSH
AFROTC type 1 scholarship
No sports, no volunteering, no clubs
Applied to engineering
Rejected: Rice, Princeton, Brown, Columbia
WL: CMU, Brown, Vanderbilt, UMich
Accepted: GT, UIUC, UVA, VT, Case Western, Northwestern, Cornell (attending)

Amazing results!

ROTC is a big boost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It appears that it is harder to get into college than when we all applied. But what about for the very high stats kids?

Can some of you please share how it went for your child who went through the process if your kid was max rigor, 1550 plus, top grades, great but not national award winning extracurricular.

My child is having trouble finishing up their college lists and part of the reason is we really just have no idea how it will all go with the reach schools. We also don't know what school is "worth" taking your shot early. This child will be happiest with an intense, highly academic crowd.

This was my kid. He’s attending UMDCP. No luck at any of the highly ranked privates but in the end I think he wound up right where he’s supposed to be. Good luck!

Same for my super high stats DC (higher than OP's kid). They are pretty happy there. Bonus for going to UMD in state is that UMD took most of their credits - 56 total, and got merit. They will have two bachelors and +1 masters in 4 years for under $130K.

Got a great internship, having a blast, and making decent money.

It was an ego hit when they were rejected to T15, but in the end, they said they are at where they are meant to be, and they are happy. I have seen DC grow in the past 2 years while in college, and it's been an amazing journey for DC.

Do you ever feel that as a parent you could have done more ? Or, feel like you have failed..

DP, but if the kid is happy it is a success. We aren't creating high maintenance machines here, but are raising children.