Parents of Ivy admits — what were their ECs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So tired of all the advice that kids have to be pointy. My kid rising sophomore is a regular kid with interests in sports, sneakers, and girls.

Somehow in the next two years, he’s supposed to develop deep intellectual interests, do innovative research, or somehow be the best in his field at something.

Is this real, or do normal kids have a chance at Ivy admissions? Parents of Ivy admits, can you share what your kids ECs were?

Know a kid accepted to an Ivy that started a business reselling limited edition sneakers...probably netted about $100k (i.e. profit) during HS.

Kid had great scores and grades, but I am sure this was part of the application.

[Anonymous]

People seem to make a lot of assumptions about kids they know, but the reality is you really don’t. You may know stats or extracurriculars, but can’t possibly know how the student’s voice came through via essays, letters of recommendation, and having a compelling narrative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem to make a lot of assumptions about kids they know, but the reality is you really don’t. You may know stats or extracurriculars, but can’t possibly know how the student’s voice came through via essays, letters of recommendation, and having a compelling narrative.

Also it’s hard for dumb or just regular bright people to recognize true brilliance in another kid. Your own child may not be able to tell or report to you who is actually the best writer, smartest, most incisive, brilliant mathematician or scientist or whatever in his class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Ivies are bastions of hate. Why would you even consider these schools? Don’t you have a moral compass?

Yeah, we all have eyes to see the massacre in Gaza. Go away.

[Anonymous]

OP- your kid really needs to have a genuine love of learning and that needs to come across in the application, in addition to high stats, good ECs, good recs and strong essays. Interest in sports, sneakers and girls is just not enough, sorry. Is he bringing anything special to the campus community. If not, the odds are low. If your kid is very smart but not intellectually curious, the admission committees see that IMO.

[Anonymous]

I was the commenter that said you couldn’t possibly know. Mine was admitted to 3 unhooked. I won’t list all, but NREMT, lead instructor and coach for an activity that won an international prize, president of SGA and 2 other school clubs amongst other small things. What people wouldn’t see is that all of the activities are linked by a strong desire to help others above herself, and recommendations while say “change the class” “selfless and humble” and “goes the extra mile at every turn” type statements.

If I were to guess even though I don’t discuss with anyone in real life, they would likely say yes super smart and an EMT, think they do this activity (intl award) with no context to the involvement, depth or motivation behind it which makes it the unique part over the actual activity itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- your kid really needs to have a genuine love of learning and that needs to come across in the application, in addition to high stats, good ECs, good recs and strong essays. Interest in sports, sneakers and girls is just not enough, sorry. Is he bringing anything special to the campus community. If not, the odds are low. If your kid is very smart but not intellectually curious, the admission committees see that IMO.

I believe this and struggle with it. My kid is very bright but lack curiosity. I don't get it, but there is only so much I can do about it. He is provided every possible opportunity; every interest is nurtured, has access to everything. Just doesn't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was the commenter that said you couldn’t possibly know. Mine was admitted to 3 unhooked. I won’t list all, but NREMT, lead instructor and coach for an activity that won an international prize, president of SGA and 2 other school clubs amongst other small things. What people wouldn’t see is that all of the activities are linked by a strong desire to help others above herself, and recommendations while say “change the class” “selfless and humble” and “goes the extra mile at every turn” type statements.

If I were to guess even though I don’t discuss with anyone in real life, they would likely say yes super smart and an EMT, think they do this activity (intl award) with no context to the involvement, depth or motivation behind it which makes it the unique part over the actual activity itself.

Sounds like an amazing kid, PP. Congratulations!

The challenge for boys is that they mature later than girls. The girls I hear about generally more focused, and they are nicer, more socially conscious human beings, more focused on helping others. My DS is young for his age. Academically gifted, but no signs of any driving passions as yet. Here's hoping he matures in time.

Seems like colleges demand maturity and focus at an unrealistic level and that's why many parents end up paying for packaging.

[Anonymous]

OP- with 3%-6% acceptance rates, it is most likely your kid won't get into an Ivy. Mine got in as a recruited athlete, top grades, top scores. Your child has to absolutely excel in some area to be noticed by Ivy Admissions. Tell them to do great in undergrad and then they can go to an Ivy for Grad/Professional School. Good luck! Don't despair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was the commenter that said you couldn’t possibly know. Mine was admitted to 3 unhooked. I won’t list all, but NREMT, lead instructor and coach for an activity that won an international prize, president of SGA and 2 other school clubs amongst other small things. What people wouldn’t see is that all of the activities are linked by a strong desire to help others above herself, and recommendations while say “change the class” “selfless and humble” and “goes the extra mile at every turn” type statements.

If I were to guess even though I don’t discuss with anyone in real life, they would likely say yes super smart and an EMT, think they do this activity (intl award) with no context to the involvement, depth or motivation behind it which makes it the unique part over the actual activity itself.

Sounds like an amazing kid, PP. Congratulations!

The challenge for boys is that they mature later than girls. The girls I hear about generally more focused, and they are nicer, more socially conscious human beings, more focused on helping others. My DS is young for his age. Academically gifted, but no signs of any driving passions as yet. Here's hoping he matures in time.

Seems like colleges demand maturity and focus at an unrealistic level and that's why many parents end up paying for packaging.

Thanks and completely agree on ridiculous demands, this kid was motivated all on their own and puts us to shame haha. My youngest is completely different, will take a much slower path in that direction, just hope they find something fulfilling that they love. My honest answer is just surviving with a mentally healthy child is the goal these days, the rest is a distant second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newbie parent here. What does "pointy" mean?

particularly deep in a one or two (complementary) subject area that shows up in academic choices, extracurriculars, and achievements

The thing is, some kids are naturally like this. I think those are the kids that get into top schools. Not the kids who are packaged to look this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newbie parent here. What does "pointy" mean?

particularly deep in a one or two (complementary) subject area that shows up in academic choices, extracurriculars, and achievements

The thing is, some kids are naturally like this. I think those are the kids that get into top schools. Not the kids who are packaged to look this way.

Agree. Also, the podcast Inside the Yale Admissions Office discussed this. They only interview kids “they need more information on”, one reason is to sniff the authenticity of this out and ensure no obscure interest is trying to game the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newbie parent here. What does "pointy" mean?

particularly deep in a one or two (complementary) subject area that shows up in academic choices, extracurriculars, and achievements

The thing is, some kids are naturally like this. I think those are the kids that get into top schools. Not the kids who are packaged to look this way.

DP. That’s what everyone wants to think, but half the kids we know who have gone to Ivies in the past four years have had a lot of adult packaging. People who know these families joke that their parents got admitted. Ha!

[Anonymous]

Consider that many (maybe half, or more) Ivy kids have just ordinary careers. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, but it kinda suggests that not everyone there is the rockstar they profess to be. Sure, they’re very intelligent, but so are kids from many other schools (just look at average SATs). Also, subtract out the smart kids who are already wealthy and connected, snd who will parlay those connections to further riches. Note that these successes are not because of the school or the school’s connections. I’m not saying that the Ivies aren’t great, but for many, they’re less of a golden ticket than imagined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So tired of all the advice that kids have to be pointy. My kid rising sophomore is a regular kid with interests in sports, sneakers, and girls.

Somehow in the next two years, he’s supposed to develop deep intellectual interests, do innovative research, or somehow be the best in his field at something.

Is this real, or do normal kids have a chance at Ivy admissions? Parents of Ivy admits, can you share what your kids ECs were?

Know a kid accepted to an Ivy that started a business reselling limited edition sneakers...probably netted about $100k (i.e. profit) during HS.

Kid had great scores and grades, but I am sure this was part of the application.

There are lots of sneaker reselling teen boys out there. I know of 2 enrollees to Michigan Ross who had such businesses.

Do they score them based on profit? Maybe kids should submit Schedule C's.