Any Parents Privately Disappointed with College Placement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As others have noted you also need to look outside the tiny world of one school. There probably are 10-20 other great similar applicants at one school. there are probably hundreds in NW DC, and thousands in the US (and as someone pointed out vast numbers globally). We went to the AU college fair for private schools this spring and my DD looked around the room and commented that the whole gym was filled with people who looked just like her, probably had a similar leadership, athletic, grade profile, etc. On the other hand there are plenty of great schools with admit rates between 25% and 50% so some of this is about being realistic. It is not realistic to assume that with a 7% admit rate all qualified applicants are going to get into Harvard.

The Sidwell thing is interesting. I was at a graduation party last month and people were still bent out of shape about admissions. One parent commented that her kid (shut out of ivies) was going to college X - which she hadn't heard of until he applied. Clearly not happy. I dont think it's about the money necessarily, but it's about all the work that's gone into making these kids perfect college applicants - NIH internships, summer service in Nicaragua, summer studies at Stanford, SAT prep, tutors, personal trainers, whatever - and then being disappointed with the results. Hopefully all those activities were useful along the way but in some cases I am not so sure.

I think the college admissions officers can spot these kind of "packaged" applicants - despite their ccomplishments they're a dime a dozen. That Nicaragaua stuff just lacks authenticity and the admissions people can smell it a mile away.

NP. In my daughter's graduating class a few of girls who were admitted at Ivy leagues and Stanford attended summer programs offered by the school's prior to senior year and were admitted EA. They didn't have top grades/SAT scores. Perhaps, they appeared to have a higher interest in the schools after paying for, attending, and excelling at 4-8 week long summer college programs.

No, the college summer programs are not the magic ingredient. For every applicant who got in after doing one of thiose programs, many more did not get in. I'm sure your daughter's clasmates had more going for them than the college summer programs.

[Anonymous]

That's right pp. I think colleges want kids to think it might help them get in so they can soak kids for more money with all of these summer programs. It's hard for parents to understand -- but colleges are looking for different things in addition to great grades/test scores. The numbers are only the starting point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As others have noted you also need to look outside the tiny world of one school. There probably are 10-20 other great similar applicants at one school. there are probably hundreds in NW DC, and thousands in the US (and as someone pointed out vast numbers globally). We went to the AU college fair for private schools this spring and my DD looked around the room and commented that the whole gym was filled with people who looked just like her, probably had a similar leadership, athletic, grade profile, etc. On the other hand there are plenty of great schools with admit rates between 25% and 50% so some of this is about being realistic. It is not realistic to assume that with a 7% admit rate all qualified applicants are going to get into Harvard.

The Sidwell thing is interesting. I was at a graduation party last month and people were still bent out of shape about admissions. One parent commented that her kid (shut out of ivies) was going to college X - which she hadn't heard of until he applied. Clearly not happy. I dont think it's about the money necessarily, but it's about all the work that's gone into making these kids perfect college applicants - NIH internships, summer service in Nicaragua, summer studies at Stanford, SAT prep, tutors, personal trainers, whatever - and then being disappointed with the results. Hopefully all those activities were useful along the way but in some cases I am not so sure.

I think the college admissions officers can spot these kind of "packaged" applicants - despite their ccomplishments they're a dime a dozen. That Nicaragaua stuff just lacks authenticity and the admissions people can smell it a mile away.

NP. In my daughter's graduating class a few of girls who were admitted at Ivy leagues and Stanford attended summer programs offered by the school's prior to senior year and were admitted EA. They didn't have top grades/SAT scores. Perhaps, they appeared to have a higher interest in the schools after paying for, attending, and excelling at 4-8 week long summer college programs.

No, the college summer programs are not the magic ingredient. For every applicant who got in after doing one of thiose programs, many more did not get in. I'm sure your daughter's clasmates had more going for them than the college summer programs.

How are you so sure? They were surprised that they were accepted. And, they all mentioned that they had attended college summer programs. In my daughter's graduating class this appears to be the magic ingredient that set these particular applicants apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's right pp. I think colleges want kids to think it might help them get in so they can soak kids for more money with all of these summer programs. It's hard for parents to understand -- but colleges are looking for different things in addition to great grades/test scores. The numbers are only the starting point.

And masy I add that college adcoms know that those programs are expensive and often more available to applicants of means. being in one of those programs often shows not purely merit but money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As others have noted you also need to look outside the tiny world of one school. There probably are 10-20 other great similar applicants at one school. there are probably hundreds in NW DC, and thousands in the US (and as someone pointed out vast numbers globally). We went to the AU college fair for private schools this spring and my DD looked around the room and commented that the whole gym was filled with people who looked just like her, probably had a similar leadership, athletic, grade profile, etc. On the other hand there are plenty of great schools with admit rates between 25% and 50% so some of this is about being realistic. It is not realistic to assume that with a 7% admit rate all qualified applicants are going to get into Harvard.

The Sidwell thing is interesting. I was at a graduation party last month and people were still bent out of shape about admissions. One parent commented that her kid (shut out of ivies) was going to college X - which she hadn't heard of until he applied. Clearly not happy. I dont think it's about the money necessarily, but it's about all the work that's gone into making these kids perfect college applicants - NIH internships, summer service in Nicaragua, summer studies at Stanford, SAT prep, tutors, personal trainers, whatever - and then being disappointed with the results. Hopefully all those activities were useful along the way but in some cases I am not so sure.

I think the college admissions officers can spot these kind of "packaged" applicants - despite their ccomplishments they're a dime a dozen. That Nicaragaua stuff just lacks authenticity and the admissions people can smell it a mile away.

How are YOU so sure?

Look, the fact is that there is no magic ingredient. Believe it.




NP. In my daughter's graduating class a few of girls who were admitted at Ivy leagues and Stanford attended summer programs offered by the school's prior to senior year and were admitted EA. They didn't have top grades/SAT scores. Perhaps, they appeared to have a higher interest in the schools after paying for, attending, and excelling at 4-8 week long summer college programs.

No, the college summer programs are not the magic ingredient. For every applicant who got in after doing one of thiose programs, many more did not get in. I'm sure your daughter's clasmates had more going for them than the college summer programs.

How are you so sure? They were surprised that they were accepted. And, they all mentioned that they had attended college summer programs. In my daughter's graduating class this appears to be the magic ingredient that set these particular applicants apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's right pp. I think colleges want kids to think it might help them get in so they can soak kids for more money with all of these summer programs. It's hard for parents to understand -- but colleges are looking for different things in addition to great grades/test scores. The numbers are only the starting point.

And masy I add that college adcoms know that those programs are expensive and often more available to applicants of means. being in one of those programs often shows not purely merit but money.

Bingo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As others have noted you also need to look outside the tiny world of one school. There probably are 10-20 other great similar applicants at one school. there are probably hundreds in NW DC, and thousands in the US (and as someone pointed out vast numbers globally). We went to the AU college fair for private schools this spring and my DD looked around the room and commented that the whole gym was filled with people who looked just like her, probably had a similar leadership, athletic, grade profile, etc. On the other hand there are plenty of great schools with admit rates between 25% and 50% so some of this is about being realistic. It is not realistic to assume that with a 7% admit rate all qualified applicants are going to get into Harvard.

The Sidwell thing is interesting. I was at a graduation party last month and people were still bent out of shape about admissions. One parent commented that her kid (shut out of ivies) was going to college X - which she hadn't heard of until he applied. Clearly not happy. I dont think it's about the money necessarily, but it's about all the work that's gone into making these kids perfect college applicants - NIH internships, summer service in Nicaragua, summer studies at Stanford, SAT prep, tutors, personal trainers, whatever - and then being disappointed with the results. Hopefully all those activities were useful along the way but in some cases I am not so sure.

I think the college admissions officers can spot these kind of "packaged" applicants - despite their ccomplishments they're a dime a dozen. That Nicaragaua stuff just lacks authenticity and the admissions people can smell it a mile away.

NP. In my daughter's graduating class a few of girls who were admitted at Ivy leagues and Stanford attended summer programs offered by the school's prior to senior year and were admitted EA. They didn't have top grades/SAT scores. Perhaps, they appeared to have a higher interest in the schools after paying for, attending, and excelling at 4-8 week long summer college programs.

No, the college summer programs are not the magic ingredient. For every applicant who got in after doing one of thiose programs, many more did not get in. I'm sure your daughter's clasmates had more going for them than the college summer programs.

How are you so sure? They were surprised that they were accepted. And, they all mentioned that they had attended college summer programs. In my daughter's graduating class this appears to be the magic ingredient that set these particular applicants apart.

How are YOU so sure?

Look, the fact is that there is no magic ingredient. Believe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As others have noted you also need to look outside the tiny world of one school. There probably are 10-20 other great similar applicants at one school. there are probably hundreds in NW DC, and thousands in the US (and as someone pointed out vast numbers globally). We went to the AU college fair for private schools this spring and my DD looked around the room and commented that the whole gym was filled with people who looked just like her, probably had a similar leadership, athletic, grade profile, etc. On the other hand there are plenty of great schools with admit rates between 25% and 50% so some of this is about being realistic. It is not realistic to assume that with a 7% admit rate all qualified applicants are going to get into Harvard.

The Sidwell thing is interesting. I was at a graduation party last month and people were still bent out of shape about admissions. One parent commented that her kid (shut out of ivies) was going to college X - which she hadn't heard of until he applied. Clearly not happy. I dont think it's about the money necessarily, but it's about all the work that's gone into making these kids perfect college applicants - NIH internships, summer service in Nicaragua, summer studies at Stanford, SAT prep, tutors, personal trainers, whatever - and then being disappointed with the results. Hopefully all those activities were useful along the way but in some cases I am not so sure.

I think the college admissions officers can spot these kind of "packaged" applicants - despite their ccomplishments they're a dime a dozen. That Nicaragaua stuff just lacks authenticity and the admissions people can smell it a mile away.

NP. In my daughter's graduating class a few of girls who were admitted at Ivy leagues and Stanford attended summer programs offered by the school's prior to senior year and were admitted EA. They didn't have top grades/SAT scores. Perhaps, they appeared to have a higher interest in the schools after paying for, attending, and excelling at 4-8 week long summer college programs.

No, the college summer programs are not the magic ingredient. For every applicant who got in after doing one of thiose programs, many more did not get in. I'm sure your daughter's clasmates had more going for them than the college summer programs.

How are you so sure? They were surprised that they were accepted. And, they all mentioned that they had attended college summer programs. In my daughter's graduating class this appears to be the magic ingredient that set these particular applicants apart.

How are YOU so sure?

Look, the fact is that there is no magic ingredient. Believe

Sorry that it didn't work out in your case. However, attending their school's summer college programs worked for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's right pp. I think colleges want kids to think it might help them get in so they can soak kids for more money with all of these summer programs. It's hard for parents to understand -- but colleges are looking for different things in addition to great grades/test scores. The numbers are only the starting point.

And masy I add that college adcoms know that those programs are expensive and often more available to applicants of means. being in one of those programs often shows not purely merit but money.

quite so. It is just another element of "packaging." And I might add those programs like at Stanford make very clear: "do not assume because you attend the summer program it gives any advantage in gaining admission as an undergraduate to the university." (or words to that effect).

[Anonymous]

Does a sibling at a college/university help as much or more than having a parent attend? If I were in admissions, I think it would build a lot more brand loyalty to have members of the same generation attend.

[Anonymous]

Brand loyalty? In this market, schools do not need to worry about that!

[Anonymous]

This is copied directly from Stanford's undergraduate admissions website:

2. Would attending Stanford’s Summer Session before the senior year improve one’s chances for freshman admission?
Not in terms of signifying added interest in Stanford (see above). But what taking enrichment and advanced courses might do, wherever they are taken, is indicate to us your enthusiasm for a subject area, or your excitement about discovery. The fact that you are taking summer or enrichment programs is not in and of itself the value-add to your application; it is what you take from that experience, how you share that experience with us through your essays, and how that experience has enhanced your intellectual life that is of importance.

[Anonymous]

PP. They may make an extra effort - early decision, etc, for well qualified siblings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is copied directly from Stanford's undergraduate admissions website:

2. Would attending Stanford’s Summer Session before the senior year improve one’s chances for freshman admission?
Not in terms of signifying added interest in Stanford (see above). But what taking enrichment and advanced courses might do, wherever they are taken, is indicate to us your enthusiasm for a subject area, or your excitement about discovery. The fact that you are taking summer or enrichment programs is not in and of itself the value-add to your application; it is what you take from that experience, how you share that experience with us through your essays, and how that experience has enhanced your intellectual life that is of importance.

Exactly, attending a summer session sets you apart from an applicant that hasn't. Also, it helps an applicant answer the essay question: why Stanford? Your answer will surely have way more depth and passion than an applicant who has only visited once or read the website or catalog's literature about the school. As a pp stated by excelling and paying for a summer session an applicant conveys to their adcom that she has merit, motivation, and money. I would think this trumps your high school teacher or guidance counselor's recommendation.

Students can earn credit at Summer at Stanford University so doesn't that mean a transcript is involved? "It is what you take from that experience, how you share that experience with us through your essays, and how that experience has enhanced your intellectual life that is of importance." It's possible that the adcom has access to reviewing these transcripts. During Stanford's rep visit at my DD's school she wrote down the names of each interested girl.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes when I read threads like this I imagine a modern day Evelyn Waugh circulating a rumor that the hot ticket/magic ingredient is something incredibly bizarre and then watching everyone scramble to make sure their kid does it. Then again, maybe that's continually happening. Ten or more years ago I suspect there was a glut of oboe-playing coxswains on the Ivy market, LOL!