Those who did not get into any college - what did you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, an applicant who was denied admission to his first choice school (Yale University), pitched a tent outside of the admissions office demanding that he be admitted. Garnered student support & national publicity & he was admitted to Yale.

I heard of a janitor at MIT that solved highly complex math problems that none of the students could solve. Believe he was admitted directly into their graduate program.

I think he skipped all that and went straight to the movie adaptation. It can happen!

[Anonymous]

My nephew started Googling colleges with rolling admissions and applying to 5 or 6 of those. He ended up getting accepted at all of them and picked the University of Iowa. He attended for 1 year and transferred to VA Tech.

He had excellent stats but according to his guidance counselor, he was just as above average as everyone else applying in his "bracket" and too above average for the safety schools to take him seriously.

His experience made me terrified for my own DS's process. We made sure to select a wide variety of schools just in case. We also did in-person visits/tours to the safety schools he really liked so it showed real interest on DS part. I'm not sure if that helped or not, but he got in at all his safety schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, an applicant who was denied admission to his first choice school (Yale University), pitched a tent outside of the admissions office demanding that he be admitted. Garnered student support & national publicity & he was admitted to Yale.

How many years ago? 70? 80? This is urban legend. Please correct me with a link to the source.

https://nypost.com/2016/02/07/former-yale-admissions-officer-reveals-secrets-of-who-gets-in/

FYI, that was a ridiculously easy Google search.

Confused...he didn't get in:

Being too clever could backfire.

A self-saboteur from Chicago wrote her essay about her fear of going to the dentist — in backward letters, colored pen, and a spiral “Yellow Brick Road” pattern; not the kind of thing you want to tackle in a mirror at midnight.

‘An over­eager Eagle Scout on the wait list pitched a tent on the lawn of the Admissions Office to show how ardently he was interested. I am sure he enjoyed Haverford.’

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, an applicant who was denied admission to his first choice school (Yale University), pitched a tent outside of the admissions office demanding that he be admitted. Garnered student support & national publicity & he was admitted to Yale.

I heard of a janitor at MIT that solved highly complex math problems that none of the students could solve. Believe he was admitted directly into their graduate program.

Interesting. Please tell us more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nephew started Googling colleges with rolling admissions and applying to 5 or 6 of those. He ended up getting accepted at all of them and picked the University of Iowa. He attended for 1 year and transferred to VA Tech.

He had excellent stats but according to his guidance counselor, he was just as above average as everyone else applying in his "bracket" and too above average for the safety schools to take him seriously.

His experience made me terrified for my own DS's process. We made sure to select a wide variety of schools just in case. We also did in-person visits/tours to the safety schools he really liked so it showed real interest on DS part. I'm not sure if that helped or not, but he got in at all his safety schools.

The key concept that's missing here is customized essays. All other things being equal, admissions officers have a harder time refusing someone who can express enthusiasm with particular courses/professors, or something specific about that college. It's cheaper than a visit and a lot more powerful. Also, keep in mind that the Common App allows this: since you click submit for each college separately, you can tweak your personal statement each time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nephew started Googling colleges with rolling admissions and applying to 5 or 6 of those. He ended up getting accepted at all of them and picked the University of Iowa. He attended for 1 year and transferred to VA Tech.

He had excellent stats but according to his guidance counselor, he was just as above average as everyone else applying in his "bracket" and too above average for the safety schools to take him seriously.

His experience made me terrified for my own DS's process. We made sure to select a wide variety of schools just in case. We also did in-person visits/tours to the safety schools he really liked so it showed real interest on DS part. I'm not sure if that helped or not, but he got in at all his safety schools.

My DC in a magnet with high stats was rejected by 2 universities that are ranked high but lower than the 2 DC was deferred at. Got into the competitive in state.

Yea , it's a nail biter, and no guarantees. I was starting to worry even for the in state public which is highly competitive for the program DC applied to.

Definitely apply to more safeties. I have a younger DC, and we've learned our lesson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, an applicant who was denied admission to his first choice school (Yale University), pitched a tent outside of the admissions office demanding that he be admitted. Garnered student support & national publicity & he was admitted to Yale.

I heard of a janitor at MIT that solved highly complex math problems that none of the students could solve. Believe he was admitted directly into their graduate program.

Interesting. Please tell us more.

You are not serious...are you?

These kinds of things happen all the time. I also know a homeless man that was pulled off the streets by one of the top Philadelphia trading firms and ended up becoming one of their star employees. He made a fortune in commodities trading...specifically, frozen orange juice contracts (and pork bellies to some extent).

[Anonymous]

Here's the list of colleges with late application deadlines: https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-with-late-application-deadlines-complete-list
There are a lot with dates in March and beyond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, an applicant who was denied admission to his first choice school (Yale University), pitched a tent outside of the admissions office demanding that he be admitted. Garnered student support & national publicity & he was admitted to Yale.

I heard of a janitor at MIT that solved highly complex math problems that none of the students could solve. Believe he was admitted directly into their graduate program.

Interesting. Please tell us more.

Do you like apples?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, an applicant who was denied admission to his first choice school (Yale University), pitched a tent outside of the admissions office demanding that he be admitted. Garnered student support & national publicity & he was admitted to Yale.

I heard of a janitor at MIT that solved highly complex math problems that none of the students could solve. Believe he was admitted directly into their graduate program.

Interesting. Please tell us more.

You are not serious...are you?

These kinds of things happen all the time. I also know a homeless man that was pulled off the streets by one of the top Philadelphia trading firms and ended up becoming one of their star employees. He made a fortune in commodities trading...specifically, frozen orange juice contracts (and pork bellies to some extent).

[Anonymous]

If your DC is a senior and is concerned about this, I would apply now to some rolling admissions schools
If a junior, be sure to do that as soon as Common App opens in August

[Anonymous]

My dd is still getting emails to apply to colleges. If you are worried, start looking at those emails since I’m pretty sure most students get them. Pick a few and see what happens, then hopefully the student likes where they end up or they do really well and transfer later.

If this is a junior parent worried about next year, apply early, apply widely and have an open mind.

[Anonymous]

Look for colleges with rolling admissions, there are plenty out there, including many private colleges.

[Anonymous]

The key concept that's missing here is customized essays. All other things being equal, admissions officers have a harder time refusing someone who can express enthusiasm with particular courses/professors, or something specific about that college. It's cheaper than a visit and a lot more powerful. Also, keep in mind that the Common App allows this: since you click submit for each college separately, you can tweak your personal statement each time.

Please stop posting about this - you show up on every thread recommending standardized essays. Many, many people have told you it's not necessary and virtually every kid gets into schools without doing this. Your kids are probably the only ones in the entire DMV that DID do this. It's a waste of time. If schools want customized essays, they include supplemental essays as part of their applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, an applicant who was denied admission to his first choice school (Yale University), pitched a tent outside of the admissions office demanding that he be admitted. Garnered student support & national publicity & he was admitted to Yale.

I heard of a janitor at MIT that solved highly complex math problems that none of the students could solve. Believe he was admitted directly into their graduate program.

No, he went after the girl..that SOB.