If accepted to HYPSM

[Anonymous]

Non-DMV HS
H: Valedictorian with a 1550+ SAT (not sure of the exact score but it was 1550-1590). Was student council president and head of a funded club giving grants to non-profits. Also a team captain but was not a college-level athlete.
Y: Salutatorian with a 33 ACT. Worked a significant amount of time for a small family business and was still on student council and the leader of the entrepreneurship and business-related clubs. Another team captain who was not a college-level athlete. Not first-gen but a compelling backstory and a strong writer.
Following year:
P: Salutatorian with a 35 ACT (was an indirect legacy with a grandparent). Was involved in leadership for robotics and backstage theater, both of which were large passions over the entire HS career. That valedictorian went to Swarthmore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only people we know without a hook who got into HYPS were a valedictorian, a salutatorian with research experience, a young woman with amazing music accomplishments (got into Columbia-Juilliard too) in the top 5%, and a top mathematician (nationally recognized) in the top 5%. MIT accepts 1-2 students a year and they’re always unhooked, but geniuses similar to the fourth example.

Top 5% of what? Certainly not if all high school graduates.

Top 5% of the class. Our school doesn’t rank but does give Cum Laude to the top 10%, valedictorian to first ranked , and salutatorian to second ranked. And these kids were clearly in the upper half of Cum Laude but not top two students.

[Anonymous]

Just look at the common data set OP it has your answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Related, if you've won the lottery recently, what numbers did you pick?

Bingo.

[Anonymous]

You can't make a shot you don't take...

[Anonymous]

Two kids

SAT 1560; >4.0 GPA

SAT 1580 NMSF; >4.0 GPA

no hooks, not URM, not a donor

People ask where our kids go to school and I almost hesitate because it sounds a little ridiculous. But they don't stop asking if I try to be vague. But we are proud and happy for them

[Anonymous]

You’re asking for (almost) irrelevant information. HYPSM look wayyy beyond GPA and SAT scores. You have no clue.

[Anonymous]

1430
Did not submit
Admitted to Yale—just started
Stellar grades and ECs
Public school
No hook

[Anonymous]

Harvard, jumping up and down and screaming: Every kid looks the same we are begging for an application that is really distinctive, if you’re imperfect it’s fine just be super duper interesting! Be different! Give us something appealing and unique!

DCUM Parents: What test score is most competitive for Harvard? My kid has a 1580 but he can sit again.

[Anonymous]

Valedictorian, 1270 SAT, First Gen, URM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two kids

SAT 1560; >4.0 GPA

SAT 1580 NMSF; >4.0 GPA

no hooks, not URM, not a donor

People ask where our kids go to school and I almost hesitate because it sounds a little ridiculous. But they don't stop asking if I try to be vague. But we are proud and happy for them

Public or Private high school?

[Anonymous]

My kid just started last month and had 4.0 and 29 ACT (didnt submit obviously). Had extraordinary ECs

[Anonymous]

OP, I get why you want to hear these stories, but they are completely pointless. The odds are strenuously against every single applicant - finding the 5% who get through the door isn't going to provide any greater clarity about whether your DC will be among that group or among the 95% of qualified, talented kids who are rejected from each of these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Non-DMV HS
H: Valedictorian with a 1550+ SAT (not sure of the exact score but it was 1550-1590). Was student council president and head of a funded club giving grants to non-profits. Also a team captain but was not a college-level athlete.
Y: Salutatorian with a 33 ACT. Worked a significant amount of time for a small family business and was still on student council and the leader of the entrepreneurship and business-related clubs. Another team captain who was not a college-level athlete. Not first-gen but a compelling backstory and a strong writer.
Following year:
P: Salutatorian with a 35 ACT (was an indirect legacy with a grandparent). Was involved in leadership for robotics and backstage theater, both of which were large passions over the entire HS career. That valedictorian went to Swarthmore.

Stalker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking for (almost) irrelevant information. HYPSM look wayyy beyond GPA and SAT scores. You have no clue.

It's like asking "how tall do you need to be, to be a supermodel?" Maybe 5'9" is necessary but NOWHERE near sufficient.