What does DCUM think are “high” stats?

[Anonymous]

Rigorous courseload -- Magnet student or lots of APs, 3.9+UW/4.5+W, 1530+SAT, NMSF, Some combo of: nat'l awards science/math/essay/debate, all state orch or chorus or state art award, sports capt, outside notable ECs , service stuff

[Anonymous]

There has to be some big spike, it can be race, geography, legacy, poverty, math competition wins, music science research, sport, leadership, anything which makes you stand out among others. Whichever top school is looking for that thing to balance their cohort, will admit you. If count for that is done, it’s not of any use to them.

[Anonymous]

These poor kids. Seriously, it’s no wonder mental health issues among teens are so rampant. I say this as a parent of a kid who I would describe as high stats based on PPs definitions who I wish would just spend the next year doing what makes him happy instead of worrying about competing on this level.

[Anonymous]

Run the 4:40
Swim 19.9
Dunk by 8th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These poor kids. Seriously, it’s no wonder mental health issues among teens are so rampant. I say this as a parent of a kid who I would describe as high stats based on PPs definitions who I wish would just spend the next year doing what makes him happy instead of worrying about competing on this level.

Then why is he? You are the parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These poor kids. Seriously, it’s no wonder mental health issues among teens are so rampant. I say this as a parent of a kid who I would describe as high stats based on PPs definitions who I wish would just spend the next year doing what makes him happy instead of worrying about competing on this level.

Then why is he? You are the parent.

Because it’s what he wants. This has nothing to do with pressure from parents. He has his sights set on a couple of schools (not ivies, but T20) and we have made it clear that he doesn’t need to put that kind of pressure on himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Run the 4:40
Swim 19.9
Dunk by 8th grade

Haha. Thank you for the laugh, PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rigorous courseload -- Magnet student or lots of APs, 3.9+UW/4.5+W, 1530+SAT, NMSF, Some combo of: nat'l awards science/math/essay/debate, all state orch or chorus or state art award, sports capt, outside notable ECs , service stuff

yea, unfortunately high SAT, GPA, AP, magnet alone won't get you in the top schools. You need the e.c.s.

My magnet kid is high stats (4.0 unweighted, magnet, 5 on all APs so far, 1580 SAT), but lower on e.c.s, has some but not outstanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:unweighted GPA 4.0 weighted 4.8 or higher
SAT 1500+
At least 10 AP classes, preferably 15

This kid is still likely to be Ivy rejected and T20 if lucky

Mine had lower weight but higher test score (1600) and more AP (16) and got rejected by top tier schools. Why are you asking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, perfect or nearly perfect SAT/ACT, National merit, 12-15 AP courses with 5’s, 3.95-4.0 out of 4.0 unweighted GPA, 4.6-5.0 out of 5.0 weighted GPA makes it high stats for anywhere.

On top of that top 1% in school and good extracurriculars. None of this is going to get you into any Ivy unless “character traits” like race, geography etc can make admitted class as “diverse” as they are aiming for.

Cynic

[Anonymous]

15 APs isn't even possible at kid's school...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our mcps high school 15 APs would be exceptional, but an SAT of 1500 would not.

+ 1
Around 11 -13 APs, starting from 9th grade is more on trend. 15 would be exceptional. Before senior year, an AP from each of the 5 core areas and at least one from the major you want to go to.

SAT of 1550 at least.

Most aim to get NMSF for signaling purposes to colleges instead of scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These poor kids. Seriously, it’s no wonder mental health issues among teens are so rampant. I say this as a parent of a kid who I would describe as high stats based on PPs definitions who I wish would just spend the next year doing what makes him happy instead of worrying about competing on this level.

Then why is he? You are the parent.

Because it’s what he wants. This has nothing to do with pressure from parents. He has his sights set on a couple of schools (not ivies, but T20) and we have made it clear that he doesn’t need to put that kind of pressure on himself.

I see more mental health issues with low performing kids. It has less to do with academics though and more to do with parental indifference, home environment and a feeling of low self esteem. High performing kids tend to have high self-esteem because they know that they are excelling and school is a good place to be for them. It is their place of success. Also, their parents are very involved with them so they get a lot of attention. Most of these kids also have a support system of tutors, coaches, counselors etc and so they have a team of adults guiding them.

Most of the time the high performing kids are also too busy with academics and ECs to have time for things that can lead them to path of depression - drugs, vaping, dating, social media etc. They also tend to hang around with other high performers and so they do not have the FOMO that other non-high stats kids may have. The attitude of the school administrators, teachers and counselors towards these kids is also different and they are taken seriously and allowed a lot of leeway in things that low performing students are not allowed, because they are viewed as good kids with involved parents. Classroom is thus not a source of stress for them. They are treated with respect by adults.

Regardless of the fact that most of these students do not get into ivies, they know that they will succeed and become UMC, because they end up going to highly coveted STEM fields and are employed. They are usually also coming from high SES families and very often intact families (not always, but very often). They also get lots of leg up in college tuition. Either merit scholarships, need based scholarships or parents pay for it. Very rarely do these students take out student loans.

- DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15 APs isn't even possible at kid's school...

My senior at MCPS HS will have taken exactly 15 at graduation, including double period bio and chem. Extremely uncommon, but still attainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These poor kids. Seriously, it’s no wonder mental health issues among teens are so rampant. I say this as a parent of a kid who I would describe as high stats based on PPs definitions who I wish would just spend the next year doing what makes him happy instead of worrying about competing on this level.

+1000

Poor kids. I get tired just looking at their list of accomplishments.