What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If I wanted to be a nurse, I'd probably go to Emory. Everything else screams UCLA to me.

Just shows how ignorant you are, you would go to UCLA for finance.

UNSWR 2026 Rankings

Finance
Emory is ranked #46

But Berkeley is no. 6

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Several public schools are T20 universities (UC Berkeley, UCLA and UMich) (2026 rankings)

the quality of student is T30/35. While Emory, Georgetown are technically T25, but quality of student is T20.

lol

UCLA avg sat is a 1340

Not sure about Georgetown, but Emory admits a crazy almost 40% without test scores. I wonder what the average is there? Hmmm

It does not 67% of students submit test scores to Emory last year , class of 2029. Class of 2028 was 63%. For this year's class expect 70% or more. With that said 67% submitted is more than all of Emorys peers besides Georgetown. Vanderbilt is what I would consider low with only 50% submitted.

Class of 2028 Submitting SAT Scores 43% 623 Submitting ACT Scores 20% 286
Emory doesn't disclose how many of the 43% SAT or 20% ACT submitted both ACT and SAT so were counted twice for having submitted test scores. So the number I suspect is higher than even the 37% of the total class that did not submit scores.

Thats not how that works. If so Vandy would have less than 50% test submitters which also isnt true. Stop the non sense

Citing median test scores as if it's truly indicative for a college that is TO for well over 30% of its admits is the nonsense.

And ICLA is Test blind which is even worse. You can see it with their outcomes. Only 50% of ucla premeds are accepted to med school. I can almost guarantee its because of low MCAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s plenty of overlap. There are many who prefer the state flagship over the private T-20. [/

Yes. Mine.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Kids at T20s also get into state flagships. Some choose the latter.

My firstborn is at an Ivy. My second born had the same choices and chose the state flagship.

Same for my two. First is at an ivy. Second had 4.0, 1580 SAT, 14 APS with a 5 on all of the tests (8 at application time) and was a national merit scholar finalist. He saw what my first went through and also was not into the social life at my older son's school. He chose our state flagship over Cornell (he was rejected everywhere else) and was pretty convinced he would have chosen it anyway. Because of his APs that transferred he is getting two degrees in three years and loves his school!

+10. Awesome. 👍

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Nearly every competitive student at T20s also applies to their state schools. And increasingly often, those top students will choose their public option, especially if it's Berkeley, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Michigan, UVA, and many others. And the reason is cost. A student getting into Princeton likely is getting a full ride at their state flagship. That's a $300-$400,000 savings right there. Lots of families are making that choice today.

As for difference in admissions, public schools remain very stat driven. A high GPA and high test scores pretty much guarantees admission. Whereas at the T20 schools, high stats are just the beginning. A student's ECs, essays, and LORs is what sets them apart.

The best value in higher education is in-state in California, Michigan, Georgia, Texas, or Virginia. End of story.

How about North Carolina (unc, bc state), Illinois (uiuc), Indiana (if, Purdue), etc

+ Florida

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Selective state flagships seem to value well rounded kids who are in the top 10 percent of their high school class with leadership in traditional extracurricular activities (i.e. varsity sport captain, SGA president, etc.). Most kids at T20s are either hooked (recruited athlete, legacy, donor, first generation low income) or very pointy (exceptional grades and test scores with national/international recognition in a less common extracurricular activity).

Actually many of the "T20's" are Test optional so there is that ....plus the most selective publics for OOS students..I'm talking about single digit OOS acceptance rate publics..all students admitted to these publics all have exceptional grades and definitely have top test scores because many of these publics require them. But, I agree that the publics do value kids in varsity sports, captains and SGA presidents etc. Really socially well adjusted kids.

You are not getting into a top 20 test optional unless you are hooked or applying to Vanderbilt, UCLA, or Cal. Test optional is for hooked applicants.

Not really true anymore - here is the USNWR top 20 Universities and top ten colleges that require testing. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/top-colleges-that-still-require-test-scores

I know which schools are test optional. My point is that going test optional to a top 20, outside Vandy, UCs, Michigan in-state, is not going to work in 2026 unless you are hooked (athlete, donor, FGLI). Will there be exceptions? Of course. But for the most part you need test scores if unhooked.

[Anonymous]

Often - $$. For non-poor kids T20 is $$$$$. State flagships are priced more reasonably in most cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nearly every competitive student at T20s also applies to their state schools. And increasingly often, those top students will choose their public option, especially if it's Berkeley, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Michigan, UVA, and many others. And the reason is cost. A student getting into Princeton likely is getting a full ride at their state flagship. That's a $300-$400,000 savings right there. Lots of families are making that choice today.

As for difference in admissions, public schools remain very stat driven. A high GPA and high test scores pretty much guarantees admission. Whereas at the T20 schools, high stats are just the beginning. A student's ECs, essays, and LORs is what sets them apart.

That’s not how the top flagships work. I don’t think a CA kid accepted to UCB and Princeton is getting much of anything from UCB unless they are poor (in which case, both would be free).

UVA and UMD may be different…I think UMD competes more fiercely for their kids to stay in state.

Agee 100%. Our State flagship gives a pittance to in-state kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nearly every competitive student at T20s also applies to their state schools. And increasingly often, those top students will choose their public option, especially if it's Berkeley, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Michigan, UVA, and many others. And the reason is cost. A student getting into Princeton likely is getting a full ride at their state flagship. That's a $300-$400,000 savings right there. Lots of families are making that choice today.

As for difference in admissions, public schools remain very stat driven. A high GPA and high test scores pretty much guarantees admission. Whereas at the T20 schools, high stats are just the beginning. A student's ECs, essays, and LORs is what sets them apart.

That’s not how the top flagships work. I don’t think a CA kid accepted to UCB and Princeton is getting much of anything from UCB unless they are poor (in which case, both would be free).

UVA and UMD may be different…I think UMD competes more fiercely for their kids to stay in state.

Agee 100%. Our State flagship gives a pittance to in-state kids.

That’s because it’s public so the costs are already discounted.

[Anonymous]

If you get into UT or UVA - you are easily getting into a T20

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get into UT or UVA - you are easily getting into a T20

What's a "top 20". You mean USNWR? so dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get into UT or UVA - you are easily getting into a T20

I get your point and agree...but there are publics more difficult to get into OOS than UVA. UT is just a different animal because they are just required to take like 90% in-state with the whole auto-admit stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get into UT or UVA - you are easily getting into a T20

Agreed. The point PP is missing is that there are a lot of kids that go check out the non-public top 20s and are completely turned off by the vibe outside of the classroom. I know it is a generalization, but to many kids the social life seems really lacking and the kids are extremely nerdy. State flagships are a lot more lively and fun, so they might choose to target schools like Michigan, UCLA, UVA or UNC.

[Anonymous]

If in state, it’s money. In state flagship is way, way more affordable than any other school, but especially a top 20 OOS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If in state, it’s money. In state flagship is way, way more affordable than any other school, but especially a top 20 OOS

That's what makes getting in OOS at these top publics so difficult. Especially since many are test required. Affordable top educations are very popular and extremely competitive these days with test requirements. The publication USNWR is very antiquated and behind the times on this. I'm expecting they will start adjusting soon like many other rankings to reflect this trend. It's like the entire world knows how difficult it is to gain admission to these schools and how good they are, but USNWR are still stuck in the 90's. However, there are many other ranking publications that are starting to figure it out and get it right. USNWR will need to eventually change or become disregarded as not current reality.