Perfect scores, no interest in Ivys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This will cause entertaining responses I'm sure, but what would be your reaction if your 36 ACT/4.8W GPA student didn't want to apply to an Ivy? I respect it but am surprised.

Do you have $400k to pay for undergraduate education?

[Anonymous]

I hear Bucknell is quaint on a crisp autumn afternoon.

[Anonymous]

This is a horrible example of vague posting. My initial response is "so?" Next question is "Do they not want Ivies but they want Williams/Pomona/Stanford/MIT/etc." or "Do they want to go to state U for free and be a superstar?" - though guess what - no guarantee they will be a superstar and being average at state U is a lot worse than being average at an Ivy so there will be a lot more pressure to succeed.

But frankly I don't think I generally care so I will move on. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

My kid was accepted to 2 Ivies and is attending UVA. We also know a kid who chose UVA over Princeton and is attending this fall.

This is not a UVA post but one to say that the "IVY LEAGUE" is not the end-all, be-all, dream college experience for every very smart kid.

[Anonymous]

I had perfect stats - visited all the ivies, didn't apply to any, got into a BS/MD program at a T20 med school elsewhere, and then top residency in my field. Loving life!

[Anonymous]

I mean MIT and Stanford are better than any ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a horrible example of vague posting. My initial response is "so?" Next question is "Do they not want Ivies but they want Williams/Pomona/Stanford/MIT/etc." or "Do they want to go to state U for free and be a superstar?" - though guess what - no guarantee they will be a superstar and being average at state U is a lot worse than being average at an Ivy so there will be a lot more pressure to succeed.

But frankly I don't think I generally care so I will move on. Best of luck.

Very true. My son turned down some higher-ranked schools for one which specialized in his desired major. He loves his school, and it was the right choice for him. If your kid has actually done their research, visited if possible and really thought about it, then you need to respect their choice. If it's just a vague "I'm a rebel and will go against my parent's wish" sort of thing, then your kid is stupid.

[Anonymous]

MIT is the best

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was accepted to 2 Ivies and is attending UVA. We also know a kid who chose UVA over Princeton and is attending this fall.

This is not a UVA post but one to say that the "IVY LEAGUE" is not the end-all, be-all, dream college experience for every very smart kid.

Yep, my kid with similar stats as OP didn't apply to any Ivies, and thought it was smarter to go to a strong state school and graduate debt free. Full tuition scholarship to Pitt, and couldn't be happier!

[Anonymous]

My kid has a similar academic profile and also doesn’t want Ivies, or any other schools under 20,000 students. In other words she’s just like the kids who apply to Ivies but don’t want LACs, it’s just that she has a different idea of what the right size is.

My initial reaction was “what?! How could you not want this?” so I took her to tour a couple private T20s. You could see her bridle at the marketing pitch. Too small, too intense, too elitist. Not for her. She relaxes and shows interest when we visit the big flagships. She’s been at a small, exclusive high school for 4 years, and though she’s done well, she’s found many aspects of the experience limiting and frustrating. So I have to trust her when she says she’s ready to move on to something bigger.

[Anonymous]

yep, enough with the Ivy whores. Go to best fit school.

[Anonymous]

Go to Michigan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This will cause entertaining responses I'm sure, but what would be your reaction if your 36 ACT/4.8W GPA student didn't want to apply to an Ivy? I respect it but am surprised.

Many kids applying to school now have strong feelings on Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians specially in Gaza. Over the past few years Ivies have shown by actions that only support for Israel will be allowed. Your freedom speech and academic freedom will be suppressed. You can be expelled from the school if you are in disagreement with the administration or well funded outside groups. This is reinforced in what seems like a preferential admission for Jewish students(12-25% of the students population depending on the school vs 2% of the population). Add in the antisemitism attacks from the federal government that creates a preferred status for students that vocally support Israel.

Most students with the high scores and grades apply ED because it increases your admissions chances(Brown is 17.9% EA and 5% regular admission). Though this limits your choice to one school. Why would you pick a school where you are basically a second class student, can get expelled by outside groups, receive no support from the administration and have federal funding stripped? Today it is support for Israel. Tomorrow it could be support for vaccines or if you are a democrat.

Who wants that type of a hassle went there are other schools out there that are just focused on academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This will cause entertaining responses I'm sure, but what would be your reaction if your 36 ACT/4.8W GPA student didn't want to apply to an Ivy? I respect it but am surprised.

I won't be surprised at all.

My DC went to PHS (SMCS), MoCo, and there were plenty of kids with 4/4.8 gpa, 1600 SAT, 12 APs with 5s...who did not bother applying to Ivies. Everyone applied to MIT and UMD in EA round!

[Anonymous]

It sounds a little they are taking a lot of liberty in assuming they would have gotten in and had the opportunity to turn down. Most of those stats are rejected. However, I applaud any kid that prioritizes fit.