Getting shut out of selective/competitive private schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS with 3.82 (high rigor); 33 ACT and non-Stem /business /Econ major (true humanities major) with strong pointy related ECs.
Private selective non-DMV high school.

He’s finished with his RD apps.
Deferred from both NU (ED) and Tulane (EA).

He’s got a bunch of decisions from large flagships coming in next month. Concerned he falls into that middle space and may get dinged everywhere else.

Thoughts on chances for these reaches:

Colgate
Bucknell
Middlebury
Wesleyan
Williams
Wake
Emory
Vanderbilt
Wash U
Rice
Brown

Thoughts on chancing him?

OP Update:

Colgate - admitted
Bucknell - admitted
Middlebury - WL
Wesleyan - admitted
Williams - rejected
Wake - WL
Emory - admitted
Vanderbilt - rejected
Wash U - rejected
Rice - admitted !!
Brown - admitted !!
Northwestern - rejected
Tulane - WL

Crazy!
- Good highly tailored essays/ applications make a big difference (I don’t think he reused any of the essays other than PS and spent weeks customizing and finalizing. I did help with editing).
- very niche non-Stem major and unique long duration ECs that are atypical of HS student
- Getting extra letters of recommendations where schools will allow a third (and fourth)recommendation also may have made a difference.
- Adding more detailed information into the “additional information” section of the common app to really showcase interests and Personality
- unique videos

- Kid is going to 2 more admitted students events this month.

Thank you everyone for all of the advice.
Think the private school counseling office really helped here.
Non-DMV private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS with 3.82 (high rigor); 33 ACT and non-Stem /business /Econ major (true humanities major) with strong pointy related ECs.
Private selective non-DMV high school.

He’s finished with his RD apps.
Deferred from both NU (ED) and Tulane (EA).

He’s got a bunch of decisions from large flagships coming in next month. Concerned he falls into that middle space and may get dinged everywhere else.

Thoughts on chances for these reaches:

Colgate
Bucknell
Middlebury
Wesleyan
Williams
Wake
Emory
Vanderbilt
Wash U
Rice
Brown

Thoughts on chancing him?

OP Update:

Colgate - admitted
Bucknell - admitted
Middlebury - WL
Wesleyan - admitted
Williams - rejected
Wake - WL
Emory - admitted
Vanderbilt - rejected
Wash U - rejected
Rice - admitted !!
Brown - admitted !!
Northwestern - rejected
Tulane - WL

Crazy!
- Good highly tailored essays/ applications make a big difference (I don’t think he reused any of the essays other than PS and spent weeks customizing and finalizing. I did help with editing).
- very niche non-Stem major and unique long duration ECs that are atypical of HS student
- Getting extra letters of recommendations where schools will allow a third (and fourth)recommendation also may have made a difference.
- Adding more detailed information into the “additional information” section of the common app to really showcase interests and Personality
- unique videos

- Kid is going to 2 more admitted students events this month.

Thank you everyone for all of the advice.
Think the private school counseling office really helped here.
Non-DMV private.

Proof right there, never give up hope! Kudos to your kid!!!

[Anonymous]

Congrats OP, those are great outcomes!

[Anonymous]

That is a huge haul. And he put in the work on the essays, as you pointed out. Good for him!

[Anonymous]

Congrats!! How fun to enjoy deciding where to go

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting thread that goes to show that results can be very dependent on the student profile versus stats. Some posters gave Brown 1% and Rice 3% chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting thread that goes to show that results can be very dependent on the student profile versus stats. Some posters gave Brown 1% and Rice 3% chance.

Holistic admissions?

[Anonymous]

Need more of these case studies for this cycle. Helpful data.

[Anonymous]

NE and Tulane both yield protect so likely why op’s child was not admitted there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS with 3.82 (high rigor); 33 ACT and non-Stem /business /Econ major (true humanities major) with strong pointy related ECs.
Private selective non-DMV high school.

He’s finished with his RD apps.
Deferred from both NU (ED) and Tulane (EA).

He’s got a bunch of decisions from large flagships coming in next month. Concerned he falls into that middle space and may get dinged everywhere else.

Thoughts on chances for these reaches:

Colgate
Bucknell
Middlebury
Wesleyan
Williams
Wake
Emory
Vanderbilt
Wash U
Rice
Brown

Thoughts on chancing him?

OP Update:

Colgate - admitted
Bucknell - admitted
Middlebury - WL
Wesleyan - admitted
Williams - rejected
Wake - WL
Emory - admitted
Vanderbilt - rejected
Wash U - rejected
Rice - admitted !!
Brown - admitted !!
Northwestern - rejected
Tulane - WL

Crazy!
- Good highly tailored essays/ applications make a big difference (I don’t think he reused any of the essays other than PS and spent weeks customizing and finalizing. I did help with editing).
- very niche non-Stem major and unique long duration ECs that are atypical of HS student
- Getting extra letters of recommendations where schools will allow a third (and fourth)recommendation also may have made a difference.
- Adding more detailed information into the “additional information” section of the common app to really showcase interests and Personality
- unique videos

- Kid is going to 2 more admitted students events this month.

Thank you everyone for all of the advice.
Think the private school counseling office really helped here.
Non-DMV private.

This is amazing and thanks for updating. It goes to show you never know 100% what someone else has in their application profile and what made them stand out. Nor do we know exactly why NU may have said no, but Brown said yes. Now the fun part of making a decision.

[Anonymous]

WOW! Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Congrats to you and your kid. Got an Ivy out at the end of the Day. Can't beat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is NU Northeastern or Northwestern?

Nomenclature on this board is NU = Northwestern and NEU = Northeastern

Nomenclature most anywhere, not just DCUM.

Nope. And don’t derail the thread.

[Anonymous]

Congrats, OP. Awesome!

[Anonymous]

Congrats OP! I'm so happy for you and your child and am sure he'll choose that is his best fit.

Can you share what state you are in? Is it CA by chance?