Our Current Situation - Not thrilled

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I am so sorry. This is such a hard process for our kids. The truth of the matter is that it is hard at this age to be told “no” - even if the kid should have known it was coming. I know a kid with a great profile and a good head on her shoulders whose parents were taken aback by how hard her Stanford rejection was. She should have known it was a reach. They had talked about how it was a reach. And it still struck her pretty hard. It’s because kids at this age are supposed to believe in themselves and that they can do anything. It’s how they make the most of their lives. It is going to be fine for all these kids and getting some life experience along the way, while not fun, is probably a good thing. Your son has the drive to land on his feet and make the most of whatever opportunities he is given. In the long run, this is what will matter. Best to you.

On the CS thing, it’s the fad of the moment. I am sure it will pay dividends for all who study it but really it isn’t going to be the make or break field for the long run. Sucks that kids like yours who have a real passion for it are the victims of the over subscription of this major.

He's not a "victim". He's into at least 2 good CS programs. Just not "elite" programs. Hint: you don't need an elite program to excel at anything, but certainly not for CS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I get what everyone is saying but please stop saying a kid with:

4.0, never less than an A in 7 years
9 APs including the most rigorous sci & math
Strong ECs strongly aligning with academic interest
1550 one sitting
Eagle Scout

is a dime a dozen, HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of kids, SO typical.

No. Not true. Not here. Not anywhere.

OP's kid will thrive because that's who he is and we can all look at this theoretically and say, oh whatever college is fine he'll be a success who cares it's such an honor to go to gmu...

It is disappointing and yes, on some level, unfair how this is all going down.

She's allowed to be upset. You are allowed to criticize her. And I am allowed to call you a clown.

Completely agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not a troll i am just an upset parent with a son (sorry for the typo my finger hit the s but good lord everyone jumped on it).
My son is a very passionate caring normal kid who is naturally smart and comes by his stats honestly through both hard work and encouraging involved but not up in his business at every moment parents. I care about my son and his future and push him when it’s necessary but allow him to fall on his own and work his way out of problems. He is well liked at his school and has been innately into computers, coding and creating things related to such things since I can remember. He was the kid begging for Lego mindstorms as soon as I could trust him not to swallow the pieces.

His school choices are well thought out (for him). He wants a strong cs program in a school with a strong STEM reputation but he also wants to have fun and not necessarily attend a top 20 pressure-cooker. He wants ideally to get out of va for many reasons and I respect his reasons. He does not mesh at all with VT and doesn’t relish the atmosphere at UVA but did apply to UVA bc he felt he needed it in his quiver due to cost in state vs reputation vs he could possibly see himself there. Did not apply to VT. GMU is an option bc the program is decent and it’s near DC (he loves cities). Plus it’s dirt cheap and although we are full pay and said we will pay for wherever he will consider cost in his ultimate decision. VCU is also in a city with a tolerable program for him and he knew he needed safety schools. Pitt is a very very good option and he really likes the school.

Boulder actually was a top pick. We as a family have a goal of moving west and love Colorado, the mountains, etc… it’s a great program in a great location for him and he loved it when we toured. I think that decision hit the hardest bc he really wanted to go there. Even got 25,000 merit but not in CS direct admit and despite what people think starting in exploratory studies is NOT a guarantee you will eventually land in CS. If you do you can bet on taking 5 yrs to finish bc there’s no way you’re getting your first year cs courses unless you’re actually a first year cs student. We have talked with MANY friends and people in and around Boulder that verified this. Why pay all that money and just gamble (no matter how high the odds) when you know your true passion is CS (which he does). There are little details like your AP credits not counting towards your exp studies courses etc that make me think it’s a money grab to ensure some kids stay more than 4 yrs.

Purdue is incredible for CS and the school spirit and size made up for the lack of a nearby city when he toured.

We are proud and express openly our pride about his current admissions but I feel like I am allowed to vent about the deferral and Boulder situation bc we thought he would have a better outcome at those 2 schools and it makes us leery of the ones to come (which are all statistically harder admits for CS). Just reading the tea leaves and upset that he worked so hard, honestly and truly loves and is gifted in CS and is realistically looking at more deferrals and denials. It sucks for ALL our hardworking kids; a lot of us are in this high stat, high demand major admission crap shoot.

That’s what I was trying to get across but there are some bitter mean people on this forum.

I don’t know, OP. Seems like some backtracking in order to get sympathy. This was more than a vent. You called the CU exploratory studies garbage and basically called Pitt, VCU, and GMU ridiculous. It came across as very arrogant and rude. As someone who has exceptionally bright children with LDs, who worked hard, are very well-rounded, and would be happy with any of those acceptances, I found your OP to be pretty obnoxious. Sorry.

It does raise the question of why her kid applied to those “ridiculous, garbage” schools at all. If they were safeties, you shouldn’t apply to ridiculous, garbage safeties but to schools you’d be happy to attend. Or is it that the kid would be happy to attend those schools but tiger mom thinks they are garbage?

THIS^^^^. It's not a safety if you do not want to actually attend. That's the whole point---find safeties that your kid will be excited about. And yes, even a 1600, 4.0 UW, Eagle Scout/Excellent ECs can find great safeties. They exist. My 1500, 3.99 UW, 10 AP kid found several. So much that their top Safety (into with 30% tuition merit) remained in their top 3 choices up until the end and was only removed because of the fast paced nature of 4 quarters in a traditional school year (my kid's a procrastinator and realized this might not be best fit for them). But they seriously kept a school ranked "much lower" than their other 2 choices in contention for 5 months because they had found an awesome Safety---would have been proud/happy for them to attend if they made that choice

Our job as parents is to help our high achieving kids (or any kid really) navigate this process with as little drama/issues as possible. Best way to do that is ditch the attitude "my high achieving kid deserves the best and it's ridiculous if they don't get in". Look for best fit schools that will let your kid major in what they want (and hint: that they can even switch majors without issues might be a good idea). Know going in that it's a brutal process and be happy with any acceptances

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I get what everyone is saying but please stop saying a kid with:

4.0, never less than an A in 7 years
9 APs including the most rigorous sci & math
Strong ECs strongly aligning with academic interest
1550 one sitting
Eagle Scout

is a dime a dozen, HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of kids, SO typical.

No. Not true. Not here. Not anywhere.

OP's kid will thrive because that's who he is and we can all look at this theoretically and say, oh whatever college is fine he'll be a success who cares it's such an honor to go to gmu...

It is disappointing and yes, on some level, unfair how this is all going down.

She's allowed to be upset. You are allowed to criticize her. And I am allowed to call you a clown.

No--there are tons of kids with those stats or very close (1550+ and 3.95UW and 10+ APs). Once you hit 1550+ the score does not really matter. There are lots of kids with great stats, due to test prep. And the "one sitting" does not matter as 99% of schools superscore and Do NOT care if it took more than 1 attempt. And that group of kids is applying to 10-15+ top/elite schools. When acceptance rates are less than 15-20%, you should assume your kid will not get in and be excited if you do.

Yes, OP kid will (or should) thrive anywhere because they are smart, driven, high achieving. But the college process has been brutal for several years and gotten worse each year, TO makes it even more challenging. Smart people know this and prepare. That means finding Safeties that you ACTuALLY LIKE and want to attend and showing demonstrated interest. Why apply to schools that you wouldn't actually want to attend?

Yes, be disappointed for a day or so after you get rejected, then move on and focus on what's remaining.

[Anonymous]

OP, I can completely understand why you and your DC might feel disappointed. However, I think it’s a bit premature! I think your DC has a great chance of being admitted to one or more of the remaining schools. Did your DC get good merit from Pitt? (I didn’t read all of the replies so you may have already answered this.) My DD had slightly lower stats and got offered 20k/year last year.

Good luck and I hope your DC gets good results with the pending applications!

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry you're disappointed, OP. I'm not familiar with the colleges you reference, but I know of a college freshman at an top Ivy with "similar" stats (it's hard to compare, but same academics, no Eagle Scout, competed in Science Olympiad and played an instrument at an advanced level).

Your son has better stats than mine (Humanities oriented) and he's been deferred at Georgetown.

US college admissions are incredibly confusing and disheartening. They require strategic thinking beyond what the typical senior is capable of, and it creates a gulf between those who know and those who don't. I'm talking about deciding whether or not to submit scores depending on the admitted SAT range of the institution, whether to apply EA, ED or otherwise, picking ED at a match instead of holding out for a reach, writing thoughtful, mature essays... that kind of stuff.

And even if you think you've strategized the best way you could... it can still end in disappointment.

I say "you" because college admissions are so difficult it really is, or should be, a team effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if it's true, but what I keep hearing is that really exceptional students are for the first time being rejected from many state universities due to protecting yield. The colleges make the assumption the kid won't accept the offer due to being high stats. If it's true, it's just wrong. Many kids can only afford state tuition, but apply to privates with hope of getting aid to make it possible--and/or are just truly undecided when they apply to several universities.

I hear about students rejected from UVA, W&M, Tech, etc., that are above and far beyond admission profiles.

Again, I don't have a kid applying this year. My oldest is a Junior, but that is what neighbors and classmates with older siblings have been telling us.

^ and if they don't apply ED--they just reject them outright. Which, of course, if you are undecided and have some reaches--you likely don't want to commit to ED.

What makes the situation more difficult is that in-state applicants with stats well beyond the 25-75% admissions profile range ARE being accepted to these schools. This is certainly the case per Naviance for our FCPS high school. So why is one 4.6wGPA/1560 SAT student accepted by X school despite yield protection concerns but another with identical stats is rejected by the same school, especially if the CDS for the school states that demonstrated interest is not considered?

1)Because the state probably feels some responsibility to educate it's own taxpayers. Also kids who grew up locally are far more likely to stick in Colorado after graduation.

2)Is a super high stats kid from across the US REALLY going to have CU as their first choice and best option? No. Let's be honest. CU knows this. They don't want to accept OPs kid when they know the chance of him matriculating is probably less than 5%. It figures into their matriculation stats (which are a big deal for a university) plus it's just a PITA to have to find another top kid (if enough decline).

Yes, it makes sense for CU to favor in-state applicants and to be very skeptical that very top stats OOS applicants will actually enroll. But the PP who complained about very top stats kids being rejected due to perceived yield protection outright was also referring to in-state applicants to UVA, W&M, and VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people crapping on the OP are off base IMO. Let’s be honest; this kid had top 1% GPA, top 1% SAT scores and all the rest of the package. Schools like Perdue and CU aren’t swimming in kids like this. It’s completely reasonable to be upset that someone with a resume like this isn’t being immediately accepted into the schools mentioned.

I'm sure he got yield protected at CU and probably Perdue too. CU for sure knows he will never enroll there.

Boulder has 80% acceptance rate they don’t do yield protection FFS.

And OP’s son is in that 80%. Just not for his preferred major. Which is too bad of course.

Yes---he "got into CU". Personally, I don't call general admission "getting in", but I guess that is what happens at large State schools

can't they just transfer to CS after starting general admission at CU?

[Anonymous]

My son didn't have quantitative3 OP's kid has. But he got accepted into PITT CS. I feel it is good for us. But still waiting for a decision from other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I get what everyone is saying but please stop saying a kid with:

4.0, never less than an A in 7 years
9 APs including the most rigorous sci & math
Strong ECs strongly aligning with academic interest
1550 one sitting
Eagle Scout

is a dime a dozen, HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of kids, SO typical.

No. Not true. Not here. Not anywhere.

OP's kid will thrive because that's who he is and we can all look at this theoretically and say, oh whatever college is fine he'll be a success who cares it's such an honor to go to gmu...

It is disappointing and yes, on some level, unfair how this is all going down.

She's allowed to be upset. You are allowed to criticize her. And I am allowed to call you a clown.

No--there are tons of kids with those stats or very close (1550+ and 3.95UW and 10+ APs). Once you hit 1550+ the score does not really matter. There are lots of kids with great stats, due to test prep. And the "one sitting" does not matter as 99% of schools superscore and Do NOT care if it took more than 1 attempt. And that group of kids is applying to 10-15+ top/elite schools. When acceptance rates are less than 15-20%, you should assume your kid will not get in and be excited if you do.

Yes, OP kid will (or should) thrive anywhere because they are smart, driven, high achieving. But the college process has been brutal for several years and gotten worse each year, TO makes it even more challenging. Smart people know this and prepare. That means finding Safeties that you ACTuALLY LIKE and want to attend and showing demonstrated interest. Why apply to schools that you wouldn't actually want to attend?

Yes, be disappointed for a day or so after you get rejected, then move on and focus on what's remaining.

Well, a 1550 is in the top .5%; that coupled with a perfect GPA and strong ECs for their intended major probably puts then in the top 4-5 thousand kids out of a couple of million who took the SAT. You say that the kids with these stats are all shooting for the top 10-15 elite colleges; I agree. The OP is upset that her kid who has the stats to be a reasonable candidate for places like MIT was deferred at Purdue and wasn't admitted directly into the CS program at Colorado. That's absolutely ridiculous for a someone like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if it's true, but what I keep hearing is that really exceptional students are for the first time being rejected from many state universities due to protecting yield. The colleges make the assumption the kid won't accept the offer due to being high stats. If it's true, it's just wrong. Many kids can only afford state tuition, but apply to privates with hope of getting aid to make it possible--and/or are just truly undecided when they apply to several universities.

I hear about students rejected from UVA, W&M, Tech, etc., that are above and far beyond admission profiles.

Again, I don't have a kid applying this year. My oldest is a Junior, but that is what neighbors and classmates with older siblings have been telling us.

^ and if they don't apply ED--they just reject them outright. Which, of course, if you are undecided and have some reaches--you likely don't want to commit to ED.

What makes the situation more difficult is that in-state applicants with stats well beyond the 25-75% admissions profile range ARE being accepted to these schools. This is certainly the case per Naviance for our FCPS high school. So why is one 4.6wGPA/1560 SAT student accepted by X school despite yield protection concerns but another with identical stats is rejected by the same school, especially if the CDS for the school states that demonstrated interest is not considered?

1)Because the state probably feels some responsibility to educate it's own taxpayers. Also kids who grew up locally are far more likely to stick in Colorado after graduation.

2)Is a super high stats kid from across the US REALLY going to have CU as their first choice and best option? No. Let's be honest. CU knows this. They don't want to accept OPs kid when they know the chance of him matriculating is probably less than 5%. It figures into their matriculation stats (which are a big deal for a university) plus it's just a PITA to have to find another top kid (if enough decline).

Stop it with the stupid “yield protection” explanation. CU is not Tufts. They admit 86% and they don’t care how many actually enroll. Of their enrolled kids, 21% have SAT 1400-1600, 34% have 4.0 gpa, 20% have 3.75-3.99 gpa so yes they accept super high stats kids AND such kids actually enroll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people crapping on the OP are off base IMO. Let’s be honest; this kid had top 1% GPA, top 1% SAT scores and all the rest of the package. Schools like Perdue and CU aren’t swimming in kids like this. It’s completely reasonable to be upset that someone with a resume like this isn’t being immediately accepted into the schools mentioned.

I'm sure he got yield protected at CU and probably Perdue too. CU for sure knows he will never enroll there.

Boulder has 80% acceptance rate they don’t do yield protection FFS.

And OP’s son is in that 80%. Just not for his preferred major. Which is too bad of course.

Yes---he "got into CU". Personally, I don't call general admission "getting in", but I guess that is what happens at large State schools

can't they just transfer to CS after starting general admission at CU?

I'm sure he could (I'm not OP). But no idea how challenging that is. At many state flagship U's with great engineering programs, it is not that easy to get in from "general admission". I personally would not send my kid somewhere they are not guaranteed to actually major in what they want---not a fan of direct admission unless it's "to the engineering school and you can then select any major you want and switch if needed".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry you're disappointed, OP. I'm not familiar with the colleges you reference, but I know of a college freshman at an top Ivy with "similar" stats (it's hard to compare, but same academics, no Eagle Scout, competed in Science Olympiad and played an instrument at an advanced level).

Your son has better stats than mine (Humanities oriented) and he's been deferred at Georgetown.

US college admissions are incredibly confusing and disheartening. They require strategic thinking beyond what the typical senior is capable of, and it creates a gulf between those who know and those who don't. I'm talking about deciding whether or not to submit scores depending on the admitted SAT range of the institution, whether to apply EA, ED or otherwise, picking ED at a match instead of holding out for a reach, writing thoughtful, mature essays... that kind of stuff.

And even if you think you've strategized the best way you could... it can still end in disappointment.

I say "you" because college admissions are so difficult it really is, or should be, a team effort.

This team seems to lack certain qualifications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if it's true, but what I keep hearing is that really exceptional students are for the first time being rejected from many state universities due to protecting yield. The colleges make the assumption the kid won't accept the offer due to being high stats. If it's true, it's just wrong. Many kids can only afford state tuition, but apply to privates with hope of getting aid to make it possible--and/or are just truly undecided when they apply to several universities.

I hear about students rejected from UVA, W&M, Tech, etc., that are above and far beyond admission profiles.

Again, I don't have a kid applying this year. My oldest is a Junior, but that is what neighbors and classmates with older siblings have been telling us.

^ and if they don't apply ED--they just reject them outright. Which, of course, if you are undecided and have some reaches--you likely don't want to commit to ED.

What makes the situation more difficult is that in-state applicants with stats well beyond the 25-75% admissions profile range ARE being accepted to these schools. This is certainly the case per Naviance for our FCPS high school. So why is one 4.6wGPA/1560 SAT student accepted by X school despite yield protection concerns but another with identical stats is rejected by the same school, especially if the CDS for the school states that demonstrated interest is not considered?

1)Because the state probably feels some responsibility to educate it's own taxpayers. Also kids who grew up locally are far more likely to stick in Colorado after graduation.

2)Is a super high stats kid from across the US REALLY going to have CU as their first choice and best option? No. Let's be honest. CU knows this. They don't want to accept OPs kid when they know the chance of him matriculating is probably less than 5%. It figures into their matriculation stats (which are a big deal for a university) plus it's just a PITA to have to find another top kid (if enough decline).

Stop it with the stupid “yield protection” explanation. CU is not Tufts. They admit 86% and they don’t care how many actually enroll. Of their enrolled kids, 21% have SAT 1400-1600, 34% have 4.0 gpa, 20% have 3.75-3.99 gpa so yes they accept super high stats kids AND such kids actually enroll.

34% have a weighted 4.0. That is apple and oranges compared to OP's kid with an unweighted 4.0.
21% have an SAT over 1400. Again, it's not the same as a 1550. That is probably under 3% of their enrolled population.

Not OP but I don't know why so many people insist on portraying this kid as being a dime a dozen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I get what everyone is saying but please stop saying a kid with:

4.0, never less than an A in 7 years
9 APs including the most rigorous sci & math
Strong ECs strongly aligning with academic interest
1550 one sitting
Eagle Scout

is a dime a dozen, HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of kids, SO typical.

No. Not true. Not here. Not anywhere.

OP's kid will thrive because that's who he is and we can all look at this theoretically and say, oh whatever college is fine he'll be a success who cares it's such an honor to go to gmu...

It is disappointing and yes, on some level, unfair how this is all going down.

She's allowed to be upset. You are allowed to criticize her. And I am allowed to call you a clown.

No--there are tons of kids with those stats or very close (1550+ and 3.95UW and 10+ APs). Once you hit 1550+ the score does not really matter. There are lots of kids with great stats, due to test prep. And the "one sitting" does not matter as 99% of schools superscore and Do NOT care if it took more than 1 attempt. And that group of kids is applying to 10-15+ top/elite schools. When acceptance rates are less than 15-20%, you should assume your kid will not get in and be excited if you do.

Yes, OP kid will (or should) thrive anywhere because they are smart, driven, high achieving. But the college process has been brutal for several years and gotten worse each year, TO makes it even more challenging. Smart people know this and prepare. That means finding Safeties that you ACTuALLY LIKE and want to attend and showing demonstrated interest. Why apply to schools that you wouldn't actually want to attend?

Yes, be disappointed for a day or so after you get rejected, then move on and focus on what's remaining.

+1000