College admissions 101 - book recs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try not to stress too much. If you have a kid taking bc calc as a sophomore, he/she is already situated to end up at a great school. I grew up in a pressure cooker nyc burb in the 90s, didn’t want that for my kids. They are happy Midwest public school kids now who are ant Emory and kenyon college (with significant merit aid at the latter). The emory student also got into UVA oos. One took bc calc as a senior, the other took ap stats senior year after pre calc. Maybe in the dmv they could’ve shot for the Ivy League, or maybe they would have been burnt out and depressed.

HS guidance departments will vary, but you can reach out to your kids guidance counselor and see if they are available to meet. There are a lot of nuances about admissions depending on your particular community and school

This is a tidbit to remember, OP. If using the internet to gauge admission experiences the location matters. The sad reality is that any given kids first admission hurdle is their same school peers. Kids from communities that don’t offer the same degree of rigor as MCPS schools are like comparing apples and oranges.

[Anonymous]

Yes, MCPS has Naviance. Shows scattergrams of where kids at your kid’s school got in and didn’t. Better for narrowing list of reaches and targets than predicting whether your kid will get in a specific place because it does not/cannot reflect things like rigor, hooks, ECs, whether someone applied ED, etc. Parents have their own access to Naviance through kid’s school but don’t remember when access starts.

[Anonymous]

YCBK podcast is the best of all.

As far as books:
Valedictorians at the Gates
Soundbite
Who Gets In and Why
and, since you are not familiar with the US college process: What Colleges Don't Tell You (And Other Parents Don't Want You to Know): 272 Secrets for Getting Your Kid into the Top Schools. This book is insane and dated, but it gives some insight into how a certain segment of parents start resume-building, courseload-designing, and activity-focusing while their child is still in middle school. I don't recommend follow the author's advice; instead, consider the book a sociology textbook.

[Anonymous]

Your dc is doing really well and is setting himself up for success. Just remember that there are others who have the same profile and getting into some of the very elite schools is like winning the lottery as they receive applications from so many qualified students.

Also remember that your student will have intellectual peers regardless of where he attends. He doesn’t need to go to an Ivy League school for that.


In terms of affordability, if you won’t qualify for financial aid based on need, find some schools that he likes that provide a lot of merit to outstanding students. These include state schools like Alabama and some lesser-ranked LAC’s. If he has admission to one of those that is affordable, he can also apply to more selective schools (as long as he would be happy at one of the schools where it is easier to obtain admission). I know many people who have “chased merit” for financial reasons and it has worked out post-graduation with good grad school placement or a good job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Who Gets In And Why” by Jeff Selingo

+1. His explanation of "buyer" and "seller" colleges is really helpful. Along with the understanding of how difficult it is to get into elite schools.

[Anonymous]

So many DCUMers are in denial about the truths behind what Selingo's book uncovered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many DCUMers are in denial about the truths behind what Selingo's book uncovered.

And what are they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid wants to go to a top college in the US, they need to take time for extracurriculars. Perfect grades and rigor aren’t enough. Top schools want to see it all.

You can fake that crap. Admissions officers aren't calling to verify the clubs you were in or whether you actually went on that mission trip to circumcise babies in Haiti. Focus on grades and scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Who Gets In And Why” by Jeff Selingo

2nd this one and "Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning a Master's or a Ph.D." by Robert Peters (should your kid voice interest in that route in their later HS career).

Also, scour forums like CollegeConfidential and even peak on in on reddit.
Google, google, google with anything that might come to your mind or question.

Was in the same boat as you. Began early in DC Junior year to gather information, so I could provide guidance and FYI to DC in late junior year.
As a parent of a HS freshman that is high achieving, just make sure the kid takes the level of rigor they are comfortable with and still achieve good grades. Let them take charge of their EC (extracurricular) interests, what tickles their intellect/interest.
Check with counselors at school regarding any question for classes, especially public schools. There might be possibilities that you will only hear about once you start asking questions.
Some HS share where their students go and what major they plan on pursuing. This can give you ideas. Even better if the school has Naviance. You can see the trend if you check for the next 2 years.

Most important, ask, ask, google, google. Anything!

Thanks! What is Naviance and do MCPS schools have it? Kid is taking most challenging courses available with all As so far including precalculus and Spanish 4 in 9th (plus both honors physics and chem) and will continue to do so (including calc BC in 10th)— but volume of homework could be an issue in pursuing extra curricular activities. I’m amazed at kids who can get state or national awards/recognition in activities and cope with 3 hrs homework a night! Also want kid to just be a teenager sometimes, but that seems to be tough in this climate of high achievement!

All MCPS schools have Naviance. The scattergrams are unfortunately not all that accurate in test optional environment. The bar charts will give you an idea of how few kids get into some schools though.

Another good read to set expectations is “Never Enough” by Jennifer Wallace.

College admissions is brutal. You would find my kids results depressing for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many DCUMers are in denial about the truths behind what Selingo's book uncovered.

And what are they?

Admissions decisions are often based most on the needs/institutional priorities of a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many DCUMers are in denial about the truths behind what Selingo's book uncovered.

And what are they?

Admissions decisions are often based most on the needs/institutional priorities of a school.

This - faculty kids, legacy, donors, athletes.

other lesson: schools are still being wowed by bullshit ie the elephant whisperer ie the girl who went on the one-week paid trip to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

it's a lot of bullshit out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:schools are still being wowed by bullshit ie the elephant whisperer ie the girl who went on the one-week paid trip to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

Keep on believing that.
https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/the-smell-of-privilege-in-admissions/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:schools are still being wowed by bullshit ie the elephant whisperer ie the girl who went on the one-week paid trip to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

Keep on believing that.
https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/the-smell-of-privilege-in-admissions/

it was just one example from sellingo's book. the ad com was wowed. the applicant obv didn't say this was a one week teen tour, she just said she was a licensed [whatever the word for elephant whisperer] and left it at that. same ad com was only suspect of the working class applicant who worked 25 hours a week. they weren't sure that was possible. wtf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many DCUMers are in denial about the truths behind what Selingo's book uncovered.

And what are they?

Admissions decisions are often based most on the needs/institutional priorities of a school.

This - faculty kids, legacy, donors, athletes.

other lesson: schools are still being wowed by bullshit ie the elephant whisperer ie the girl who went on the one-week paid trip to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

it's a lot of bullshit out there.

Yep. The two legacies bumped my kid who had a much higher gpa, scores (kids know each other) and even 'better' ECs.

Nothing you can do about that part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:schools are still being wowed by bullshit ie the elephant whisperer ie the girl who went on the one-week paid trip to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

Keep on believing that.
https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/the-smell-of-privilege-in-admissions/

it was just one example from sellingo's book. the ad com was wowed. the applicant obv didn't say this was a one week teen tour, she just said she was a licensed [whatever the word for elephant whisperer] and left it at that. same ad com was only suspect of the working class applicant who worked 25 hours a week. they weren't sure that was possible. wtf?

DP: Yes, I was also annoyed by that exchange in his book. However, the PP is correct that admissions have shifted and now the elephant whisper is considered an achievement solely based on privilege and therefore doesn't come from a place of caring/passion and has little impact.