What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I wanted to be a nurse, I'd probably go to Emory. Everything else screams UCLA to me.

Just shows how ignorant you are, you would go to UCLA for finance.

Over Emory absolutely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I wanted to be a nurse, I'd probably go to Emory. Everything else screams UCLA to me.

Just shows how ignorant you are, you would go to UCLA for finance.

UNSWR 2026 Rankings

Finance
Emory is ranked #46

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Selective state flagships seem to value well rounded kids who are in the top 10 percent of their high school class with leadership in traditional extracurricular activities (i.e. varsity sport captain, SGA president, etc.). Most kids at T20s are either hooked (recruited athlete, legacy, donor, first generation low income) or very pointy (exceptional grades and test scores with national/international recognition in a less common extracurricular activity).

💯

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Selective state flagships seem to value well rounded kids who are in the top 10 percent of their high school class with leadership in traditional extracurricular activities (i.e. varsity sport captain, SGA president, etc.). Most kids at T20s are either hooked (recruited athlete, legacy, donor, first generation low income) or very pointy (exceptional grades and test scores with national/international recognition in a less common extracurricular activity).

Actually many of the "T20's" are Test optional so there is that ....plus the most selective publics for OOS students..I'm talking about single digit OOS acceptance rate publics..all students admitted to these publics all have exceptional grades and definitely have top test scores because many of these publics require them. But, I agree that the publics do value kids in varsity sports, captains and SGA presidents etc. Really socially well adjusted kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I wanted to be a nurse, I'd probably go to Emory. Everything else screams UCLA to me.

Just shows how ignorant you are, you would go to UCLA for finance.

Over Emory absolutely.

Oh okay lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Selective state flagships seem to value well rounded kids who are in the top 10 percent of their high school class with leadership in traditional extracurricular activities (i.e. varsity sport captain, SGA president, etc.). Most kids at T20s are either hooked (recruited athlete, legacy, donor, first generation low income) or very pointy (exceptional grades and test scores with national/international recognition in a less common extracurricular activity).

Actually many of the "T20's" are Test optional so there is that ....plus the most selective publics for OOS students..I'm talking about single digit OOS acceptance rate publics..all students admitted to these publics all have exceptional grades and definitely have top test scores because many of these publics require them. But, I agree that the publics do value kids in varsity sports, captains and SGA presidents etc. Really socially well adjusted kids.

You are not getting into a top 20 test optional unless you are hooked or applying to Vanderbilt, UCLA, or Cal. Test optional is for hooked applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Selective state flagships seem to value well rounded kids who are in the top 10 percent of their high school class with leadership in traditional extracurricular activities (i.e. varsity sport captain, SGA president, etc.). Most kids at T20s are either hooked (recruited athlete, legacy, donor, first generation low income) or very pointy (exceptional grades and test scores with national/international recognition in a less common extracurricular activity).

Actually many of the "T20's" are Test optional so there is that ....plus the most selective publics for OOS students..I'm talking about single digit OOS acceptance rate publics..all students admitted to these publics all have exceptional grades and definitely have top test scores because many of these publics require them. But, I agree that the publics do value kids in varsity sports, captains and SGA presidents etc. Really socially well adjusted kids.

You are not getting into a top 20 test optional unless you are hooked or applying to Vanderbilt, UCLA, or Cal. Test optional is for hooked applicants.

Wrong again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids at T20s also get into state flagships. Some choose the latter.

My firstborn is at an Ivy. My second born had the same choices and chose the state flagship.

Same for my two. First is at an ivy. Second had 4.0, 1580 SAT, 14 APS with a 5 on all of the tests (8 at application time) and was a national merit scholar finalist. He saw what my first went through and also was not into the social life at my older son's school. He chose our state flagship over Cornell (he was rejected everywhere else) and was pretty convinced he would have chosen it anyway. Because of his APs that transferred he is getting two degrees in three years and loves his school!

[Anonymous]

These days the smart kids realize that they can get the same if not better education at their flagship. The ivy brand is tarnished if you look outside this forum. And not worth the $$$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids at T20s also get into state flagships. Some choose the latter.

My firstborn is at an Ivy. My second born had the same choices and chose the state flagship.

Same for my two. First is at an ivy. Second had 4.0, 1580 SAT, 14 APS with a 5 on all of the tests (8 at application time) and was a national merit scholar finalist. He saw what my first went through and also was not into the social life at my older son's school. He chose our state flagship over Cornell (he was rejected everywhere else) and was pretty convinced he would have chosen it anyway. Because of his APs that transferred he is getting two degrees in three years and loves his school!

Cornell is borderline state flagship, it's actually 25% public. Probably best to save your money and go to state college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What makes you think anything does? You are under the delusion that on group is better than the other.

+1. For top flagships, there is also a lot of overlap with students who get into both.

+2. There are some state flagships in the T20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Selective state flagships seem to value well rounded kids who are in the top 10 percent of their high school class with leadership in traditional extracurricular activities (i.e. varsity sport captain, SGA president, etc.). Most kids at T20s are either hooked (recruited athlete, legacy, donor, first generation low income) or very pointy (exceptional grades and test scores with national/international recognition in a less common extracurricular activity).

Actually many of the "T20's" are Test optional so there is that ....plus the most selective publics for OOS students..I'm talking about single digit OOS acceptance rate publics..all students admitted to these publics all have exceptional grades and definitely have top test scores because many of these publics require them. But, I agree that the publics do value kids in varsity sports, captains and SGA presidents etc. Really socially well adjusted kids.

You are not getting into a top 20 test optional unless you are hooked or applying to Vanderbilt, UCLA, or Cal. Test optional is for hooked applicants.

Not really true anymore - here is the USNWR top 20 Universities and top ten colleges that require testing. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/top-colleges-that-still-require-test-scores

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nearly every competitive student at T20s also applies to their state schools. And increasingly often, those top students will choose their public option, especially if it's Berkeley, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Michigan, UVA, and many others. And the reason is cost. A student getting into Princeton likely is getting a full ride at their state flagship. That's a $300-$400,000 savings right there. Lots of families are making that choice today.

As for difference in admissions, public schools remain very stat driven. A high GPA and high test scores pretty much guarantees admission. Whereas at the T20 schools, high stats are just the beginning. A student's ECs, essays, and LORs is what sets them apart.

The best value in higher education is in-state in California, Michigan, Georgia, Texas, or Virginia. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nearly every competitive student at T20s also applies to their state schools. And increasingly often, those top students will choose their public option, especially if it's Berkeley, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Michigan, UVA, and many others. And the reason is cost. A student getting into Princeton likely is getting a full ride at their state flagship. That's a $300-$400,000 savings right there. Lots of families are making that choice today.

As for difference in admissions, public schools remain very stat driven. A high GPA and high test scores pretty much guarantees admission. Whereas at the T20 schools, high stats are just the beginning. A student's ECs, essays, and LORs is what sets them apart.

The best value in higher education is in-state in California, Michigan, Georgia, Texas, or Virginia. End of story.

Not true at all at UVA unless they are a Jefferson Scholar. But they do get the reduced tuition of $41,000K compared to $96K-$100K of the private, which is a $240K savings over four years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nearly every competitive student at T20s also applies to their state schools. And increasingly often, those top students will choose their public option, especially if it's Berkeley, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Michigan, UVA, and many others. And the reason is cost. A student getting into Princeton likely is getting a full ride at their state flagship. That's a $300-$400,000 savings right there. Lots of families are making that choice today.

As for difference in admissions, public schools remain very stat driven. A high GPA and high test scores pretty much guarantees admission. Whereas at the T20 schools, high stats are just the beginning. A student's ECs, essays, and LORs is what sets them apart.

The best value in higher education is in-state in California, Michigan, Georgia, Texas, or Virginia. End of story.

How about North Carolina (unc, bc state), Illinois (uiuc), Indiana (if, Purdue), etc