High test score kids who didn't get in where they thought they would

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read something today online from an IEC that said 90% of the oversubscribed major spots (CS, eng, business, and even bio/psych in some cases) are "allocated" at top schools after the early rounds...... (yes, even for schools that "don't admit by major" - they can't admit an entire freshman class of only CS kids).

So, for the high stats kids in the oversubscribed majors, they are just playing a game of roulette in RD. It works out for those kids who offer something else to the AO (geographic diversity, unusual accolades, talent/ability, or hooks).

I know this isn't rocket science, but I do think it explains some of the "shocking and disappointing" outcomes we hear about in RD for high stats kids.

Curious where you saw this?

My oldest child is applying this year with a very undersubscribed major and even with Naviance data etc., it's difficult to figure out where she stands relative to other applicants. Literally almost everyone at her high school seems to be applying in one of the 5 majors you mention (maybe economics too).

Not sure an undersubscribed major would make that big of a difference. Everywhere is crowded. There is no research done supporting that position at highly selective colleges. A few posters like to repeat that assertion again and again. But really not well supported.

It can make a difference if you are truly invested in that major - and have evidence for that undersubscribed major in 4 places (transcript, ECs, LOR and essays). A student with a demonstrated interest in a less common major/field may stand out more. But you can't "game" it without the backup evidence.

A quick google search shows:
https://www.collegeraptor.com/explore-careers/articles/careers-internships/10-least-common-majors/
https://www.koppelmangroup.com/blog/2022/2/9/top-10-least-popular-majors-at-stanford
https://www.commandeducation.com/resource/applying-to-unpopular-majors/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31MvGs-j4RQ&t=17s

But these links are all from private counseling services. They make a living by selling this type of "strategy." I would only take it with a grain of salt.
There isn't any official breakdown of acceptance rates by major. At ivies, I suspect the acceptance rates are pretty much the same if there is no separate admission. At least I haven't seen any.

Np.
Our private's CCO had 6 admissions officers come in last year for a roundtable. They basically said the reason they love our progressive private is how well prepared for the humanities everyone is and they know when kids declare a humanities major they mean it.

Its truly inconceivable that a college doesn't take into account a major. But, it doesn't make it easier per se.

The last two statements are fair. It's just that there is no concrete evidence for "major advantage."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read something today online from an IEC that said 90% of the oversubscribed major spots (CS, eng, business, and even bio/psych in some cases) are "allocated" at top schools after the early rounds...... (yes, even for schools that "don't admit by major" - they can't admit an entire freshman class of only CS kids).

So, for the high stats kids in the oversubscribed majors, they are just playing a game of roulette in RD. It works out for those kids who offer something else to the AO (geographic diversity, unusual accolades, talent/ability, or hooks).

I know this isn't rocket science, but I do think it explains some of the "shocking and disappointing" outcomes we hear about in RD for high stats kids.

Curious where you saw this?

My oldest child is applying this year with a very undersubscribed major and even with Naviance data etc., it's difficult to figure out where she stands relative to other applicants. Literally almost everyone at her high school seems to be applying in one of the 5 majors you mention (maybe economics too).

Not sure an undersubscribed major would make that big of a difference. Everywhere is crowded. There is no research done supporting that position at highly selective colleges. A few posters like to repeat that assertion again and again. But really not well supported.

It can make a difference if you are truly invested in that major - and have evidence for that undersubscribed major in 4 places (transcript, ECs, LOR and essays). A student with a demonstrated interest in a less common major/field may stand out more. But you can't "game" it without the backup evidence.

A quick google search shows:
https://www.collegeraptor.com/explore-careers/articles/careers-internships/10-least-common-majors/
https://www.koppelmangroup.com/blog/2022/2/9/top-10-least-popular-majors-at-stanford
https://www.commandeducation.com/resource/applying-to-unpopular-majors/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31MvGs-j4RQ&t=17s

This is what my kid had and she was accepted at a top 15 school despite mediocre SATs

What major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read something today online from an IEC that said 90% of the oversubscribed major spots (CS, eng, business, and even bio/psych in some cases) are "allocated" at top schools after the early rounds...... (yes, even for schools that "don't admit by major" - they can't admit an entire freshman class of only CS kids).

So, for the high stats kids in the oversubscribed majors, they are just playing a game of roulette in RD. It works out for those kids who offer something else to the AO (geographic diversity, unusual accolades, talent/ability, or hooks).

I know this isn't rocket science, but I do think it explains some of the "shocking and disappointing" outcomes we hear about in RD for high stats kids.

Idk, mine got into multiple T10 in RD, for one of these oversubscribed majors, unhooked white kid from the DMV. Seems many unhooked new friends at the ivy with the same techy interests got in RD. Plenty were ED as well, but RD was not a bunch of hooked kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Asian male, Applied Rd all schools. 34 act , 4.45 when applied. 12+ Ap classes Public school. Lot of ec and national awards finalist . Business major accepted at all public ivys business programs and waitlisted at nyu, stern , vtech, rejected usc Vanderbilt, duke, Wharton, northeastern Got off waitlist Dartmouth, Cornell , northwestern but passed on them. The whole thing is a crap shot. The whole experience was pointless in the grand scheme.

34 ACT is not considered that high and national awards and lots of APs from a public high school don’t matter that much to top private colleges. You actually did really well if you got in all public ivies and got off waitlist of Dartmouth and Northwestern. Cornell would have been the best chance at an Ivy I would have guessed for this profile.

100+

[Anonymous]

Well I’m asking for those of us with 1570+ kids who don’t have a shot at T20s. They have to go somewhere, and it would be nice if they could go somewhere where there is a healthy peer group of similarly smart kids. Sue me for trying to figure out where that might be.

Find a school that give massive merit $ to kids with 1570+ SAT or NMF -- there are lots of 1570+ kids at those schools and specialized programs to cater to the super high achievers. University of Alabama is probably #1 at recruiting these types of kids with the big $...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well I’m asking for those of us with 1570+ kids who don’t have a shot at T20s. They have to go somewhere, and it would be nice if they could go somewhere where there is a healthy peer group of similarly smart kids. Sue me for trying to figure out where that might be.

Find a school that give massive merit $ to kids with 1570+ SAT or NMF -- there are lots of 1570+ kids at those schools and specialized programs to cater to the super high achievers. University of Alabama is probably #1 at recruiting these types of kids with the big $...


Case Western
UGA Honors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I’m asking for those of us with 1570+ kids who don’t have a shot at T20s. They have to go somewhere, and it would be nice if they could go somewhere where there is a healthy peer group of similarly smart kids. Sue me for trying to figure out where that might be.

Find a school that give massive merit $ to kids with 1570+ SAT or NMF -- there are lots of 1570+ kids at those schools and specialized programs to cater to the super high achievers. University of Alabama is probably #1 at recruiting these types of kids with the big $...

Case Western
UGA Honors


Absolutely. Case premed program has many 1570+ with merits.

[Anonymous]

Since we are reducing our kids to numbers how about including their height, weight, shoe size, FBG and HbA1c? It's only fair. How else will anybody be able to compare their kids to yours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well I’m asking for those of us with 1570+ kids who don’t have a shot at T20s. They have to go somewhere, and it would be nice if they could go somewhere where there is a healthy peer group of similarly smart kids. Sue me for trying to figure out where that might be.

I think anyone who is intellectually very strong has a shot at T20's. DC scored 1590, first attempt & zero prep. Was going to go in without even trying out a single practice test, and I had to practically force DC to take half the test and at least read the instructions for the other half (because DC was super confident of getting 800 on the other half). I thought it would teach DC a lesson when they get the score.

Essays likewise did not really do justice as DC rushed through and were not that polished.

Ended up getting into 6 of the T20's and is going to one of HYPSM. I think recommendation letters played a huge role and likely the main factor. I used to get nice letters from DC's teachers and that must have come though in the recommendation letters as well.

So I would say, dont just write them off. I thought it was a waste of time, but DC had confidence.

Case Western & CMU should be on your list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I’m asking for those of us with 1570+ kids who don’t have a shot at T20s. They have to go somewhere, and it would be nice if they could go somewhere where there is a healthy peer group of similarly smart kids. Sue me for trying to figure out where that might be.

Find a school that give massive merit $ to kids with 1570+ SAT or NMF -- there are lots of 1570+ kids at those schools and specialized programs to cater to the super high achievers. University of Alabama is probably #1 at recruiting these types of kids with the big $...

Case Western
UGA Honors

Absolutely. Case premed program has many 1570+ with merits.


UGA Honors gives little to no merit money. I believe the top award for out of state is $10k.
Case gives big merit money - but the COA is $90k+ per year, so even with huge merit you're still looking at $50k+/year.

[Anonymous]

1590 SAT, multiple national awards and high impact ECs, but rejected from Bowdoin, Haverford, and Vassar. Currently attending Dartmouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1590 SAT, multiple national awards and high impact ECs, but rejected from Bowdoin, Haverford, and Vassar. Currently attending Dartmouth.

Pfff
Dartmouth loves super high stats.

Bowdoin is the true test optional school. Haverford Vassar similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1590 SAT, multiple national awards and high impact ECs, but rejected from Bowdoin, Haverford, and Vassar. Currently attending Dartmouth.

Congratulations on Dartmouth.
How was the GPA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the high school.
Private HS kids have an advantage here.

And the major. Humanities kids can get away with lower scores.

And the gender. Many schools need more males.