Which top schools still like well-rounded (versus pointy) kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:he needs at 1530+

Is it easier to get this level score now? Years ago would have been unheard of to think more than a couple kids even of those going Ivies to get this. Has test changed enough that more realistic for more to get this score?

[Anonymous]

I think the answers are misleading.

None of these schools "like" well-rounded kids...they just don't care so much about the really pointy kids and also accept that high stats, really pointy kids are likely headed to higher ranked schools.

I have no doubt that if it came down to two full pay kids, with one that has just a couple of ECs and is a winner/champion/leader in one, that they will accept that kid over a kid who just is a member of multiple clubs and plays a sport but has no real accomplishment.

[Anonymous]

Our DC was somewhat like this. Slightly 'pointy' in one school EC with leadership / heavy involvement, and good well-rounded ECs
(ex: Eagle Scout) but not super spiky / any big national awards. Seemed to do much better with SLACs vs bigger universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the answers are misleading.

None of these schools "like" well-rounded kids...they just don't care so much about the really pointy kids and also accept that high stats, really pointy kids are likely headed to higher ranked schools.

I have no doubt that if it came down to two full pay kids, with one that has just a couple of ECs and is a winner/champion/leader in one, that they will accept that kid over a kid who just is a member of multiple clubs and plays a sport but has no real accomplishment.

They like high stats well-rounded kids better than low stats more EC kids. In that sense yes they definitely "like" them.
Different schools have different reputation, and attract different applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:he needs at 1530+

Is it easier to get this level score now? Years ago would have been unheard of to think more than a couple kids even of those going Ivies to get this. Has test changed enough that more realistic for more to get this score?

There are a lot more 1530 nowadays than years ago. Yes, it's easy to get to this level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Michigan and UVA

OP here and these two are in his top 5 on his preliminary list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the answers are misleading.

None of these schools "like" well-rounded kids...they just don't care so much about the really pointy kids and also accept that high stats, really pointy kids are likely headed to higher ranked schools.

I have no doubt that if it came down to two full pay kids, with one that has just a couple of ECs and is a winner/champion/leader in one, that they will accept that kid over a kid who just is a member of multiple clubs and plays a sport but has no real accomplishment.

They like high stats well-rounded kids better than low stats more EC kids. In that sense yes they definitely "like" them.
Different schools have different reputation, and attract different applicants.

All the schools mentioned above expect high stats...that's just the ante for playing. Again, it's very misleading to imply these schools prefer a well-rounded kid to a pointy kid. It's really not the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:he needs at 1530+

Is it easier to get this level score now? Years ago would have been unheard of to think more than a couple kids even of those going Ivies to get this. Has test changed enough that more realistic for more to get this score?

There are a lot more 1530 nowadays than years ago. Yes, it's easy to get to this level.

+1. It’s all about tutoring and super scoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern & Notre Dame. Any school outside top 25 national universities & top 10 liberal arts colleges.

NU likes two (or three) defined spikes (AND is our middle name)….with awards/accolades in at least one.

Agree WashU

The way to check is the CDS (if ECs are only “considered” it’s not important) = WashU

+1 in regard to the CDS

[Anonymous]

How would the schools even know?

[Anonymous]

State flagships (UMich, UVa, UNC more difficult but possible), small liberal arts colleges, for Ivy's don't waste an REA at HYP with no hooks, no spikes, it just will not happen even with top SATs and top GPA/rigor. Could try RD at the other Ivy's or Duke, Chicago but it will only increase your chances, not make it likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS has straight As through 10th grade with high rigor and did very well on the PSAT in 10th (without any prep) so we expect SATs to be good. He has lots of ECs but nothing amazing and not pointy. He is just a really well rounded kid. I feel like he would have been the ideal candidate when I was applying to schools.

These kids are valued everywhere outside HYPMS. But you still need to make yourself distinguishable in some way. There are a lot of students in America - and the world - with 4.0s and 1500/34 plus scores. I have two kids at what some call the fun, well-rounded T20 colleges. But they both had pretty clear "arcs" for lack of a better word. They were both very well-rounded - athletes, student leaders - but they had specific interests that they excelled in. And that's likely what caught the eye of an admissions reader that sees 50,000 applications from high stats kids every fall.

And these days, given the cost of college, there are super-bright, well-rounded students at every state flagship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the answers are misleading.

None of these schools "like" well-rounded kids...they just don't care so much about the really pointy kids and also accept that high stats, really pointy kids are likely headed to higher ranked schools.

I have no doubt that if it came down to two full pay kids, with one that has just a couple of ECs and is a winner/champion/leader in one, that they will accept that kid over a kid who just is a member of multiple clubs and plays a sport but has no real accomplishment.

They like high stats well-rounded kids better than low stats more EC kids. In that sense yes they definitely "like" them.
Different schools have different reputation, and attract different applicants.

All the schools mentioned above expect high stats...that's just the ante for playing. Again, it's very misleading to imply these schools prefer a well-rounded kid to a pointy kid. It's really not the case.

Not true.
Some dcum moms frequently advocate kids with sub-1500 with unique narratives and undersubscribed majors and small spikes can perform well. This might be true for some schools, but much less so at Emory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:State flagships (UMich, UVa, UNC more difficult but possible), small liberal arts colleges, for Ivy's don't waste an REA at HYP with no hooks, no spikes, it just will not happen even with top SATs and top GPA/rigor. Could try RD at the other Ivy's or Duke, Chicago but it will only increase your chances, not make it likely.

Can high stats no hook works for WASP (ED) and Cal/UCLA (full pay OOS)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the answers are misleading.

None of these schools "like" well-rounded kids...they just don't care so much about the really pointy kids and also accept that high stats, really pointy kids are likely headed to higher ranked schools.

I have no doubt that if it came down to two full pay kids, with one that has just a couple of ECs and is a winner/champion/leader in one, that they will accept that kid over a kid who just is a member of multiple clubs and plays a sport but has no real accomplishment.

They like high stats well-rounded kids better than low stats more EC kids. In that sense yes they definitely "like" them.
Different schools have different reputation, and attract different applicants.

All the schools mentioned above expect high stats...that's just the ante for playing. Again, it's very misleading to imply these schools prefer a well-rounded kid to a pointy kid. It's really not the case.

Not true.
Some dcum moms frequently advocate kids with sub-1500 with unique narratives and undersubscribed majors and small spikes can perform well. This might be true for some schools, but much less so at Emory.

What are you talking about? All the top schools have high SAT scores. Emory is 1470 - 1540, so clearly 25% of the kids who submit (like 65%) have scores under a 1470.