Very high stats kid - which schools should we be considering

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11th grader was planning on attending our good but not great state flagship. Admissions is basically guaranteed, and it's nothing like NoVA kids fighting to get into UVA. We're a donut hole family and would need very generous aid to attend anything else, but...
In the course of 11th, kid got a 224 PSAT NMSF index, meaning they're almost guaranteed to be a NMSF. And they just recently got a 36 on the ACT. They didn't really study for either PSAT or ACT. So, which T20 or T50 schools are likely to give exceptionally generous aid or scholarships to a kid with the following stats:

Planned major: biochemistry
-GPA: 3.98 uw with one A- in 9th grade honors English
-APs: 5s in Calc, Chemistry, US Government, Euro History. 4 in English Lit. Will finish high school with 10 APs and another 5 post-APs.
-NMSF
-ACT 36
-EC: okay, but not related at all to the major. Performance in 3 school plays, with a lead role in 1. DM for school Dungeons and Dragons club. 3 years of mock trial.
-community service: okay, but nothing special.

Kid is perfectly content to do the honors college at the state flagship, but we'd like a few other options on the table. Any suggestions?

Go to your state school.

Done.

[Anonymous]

I think people are being rude too. So the kid will be a NMSF, there are a few non T50 schools that give substantial aid for this. My kid scored a 1580 SAT at age 14 with a 4.6 GPA and 13 AP classes and I thought the world would roll out the red carpet; it did not. He is doing great but only got into safeties so my advice is the NMSF will help him but dont assume he will be truly rewarded for his excceptionalism. Unless he is a URM or in an elite prep school, it may be rougher than you expect, though the major may help. Congrats to your kid on doing so well! It means he will be successful in life wherever he goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alabama is making a real effort to get the high stats kids. And it’s working. I’m surprised more ambitious colleges aren’t doing the same. It’s a guaranteed way to boost the academic profile of a school.

Yup. There are a lot of insanely smart kids there. And the NMF tuition scholarship is 5 years (R&B is 4 years)— you can use it for anything — MBA, law school, study abroad. You can change majors, add majors, make up a major. And they take ALL of your AP credits. Gives the kids so much flexibility to pursue their interests.

Our daughter is finishing her first year at Alabama on an NMF scholarship. Agree with all of this.

My NMF just committed to Alabama. Roll Tide ❤️

[Anonymous]

I have a kid with a similar test profile so I recently did some research to see where he could get money for being a NMSF. I don't remember the outcome because they were not schools he's interested in, but you can do the same research and see if any appeal.

You may also want to check out Case Western. A family friend's kid is there for a science major, may be biochem, the kid is happy, and they made a vague comment about getting good merit aid (this wasn't a family that qualified for financial aid as best I can tell).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At $150k, kid would get substantial financial aid at a top Ivy if they can get in. Worth a flier, but far from a certainty.

Essentially a very low chance for anyone…and even more so with those ECs and service hrs. At least IMO, it would be a throwaway.

Agree the T25 not likely with that resume unless there is a hook. What state are you in op?

One where geographic diversity would help my kid and not hurt them at T50 type schools.

I wasn't sure how dime-a-dozen kids are who have NMSF, non-superscored one-and-done 36 ACT, nearly perfect grades, and a boatload of APs with mostly 5s. Based on this forum, they must be really common. My kid takes the SAT in a couple weeks. I'm guessing that a 1550+ score will do nothing whatsoever to change the kid's profile.

Why biochem? Pick a major that matches the ECs?
5s in US Gov and Euro. And Performance in school plays and mock trial. [NOTE: What were the school plays? If anything historic, might be able to use as evidence for a humanities major too]
Why biochem? Horrible, horrible idea. I would do a multidisciplinary humanities major personally.

If you HAVE to do science, look at majors like:

- Science, Technology & Society (with the thematic area: Policy, Persuasion and the Rhetoric of Science) at Brown. Could tie in mock trial/humanities (and ask US Govt teacher for LOR)
- Science in Human Culture (Northwestern University)

Otherwise, look at some of the below to build on the ECs the kid does have:

- Justice and Peace Studies (Georgetown University) (less common than IR or Govt)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) (Dartmouth College)
- Religion, Ethics, and Politics (Princeton University)
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies (Cornell University)
- Ethics, Politics, and Economics (Yale University)

If you are from an underrepresented state (which one?), with stats like this, help your kid strengthen their profile. They need more impactful ECs and an award or 2. Are they a writer?
Otherwise, help develop a summer independent project - a few ideas below:

- Interactive Digital Storytelling Project
Combine D&D world-building skills with digital media
Create an interactive narrative experience exploring ethical dilemmas
Could focus on science ethics to bridge biochemistry interests (if staying with science)

- Mock Trial Workshop Series for Underprivileged Students
Develop and lead mock trial workshops for middle school students
Focus on critical thinking, public speaking, and logical reasoning
Create a curriculum that could be replicated easily.

Summer Job
Does your kid have a summer job? Working behind the scenes at a professional theater production would be great. Or even something in period costuming.

This!
This!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At $150k, kid would get substantial financial aid at a top Ivy if they can get in. Worth a flier, but far from a certainty.

Essentially a very low chance for anyone…and even more so with those ECs and service hrs. At least IMO, it would be a throwaway.

Agree the T25 not likely with that resume unless there is a hook. What state are you in op?

One where geographic diversity would help my kid and not hurt them at T50 type schools.

I wasn't sure how dime-a-dozen kids are who have NMSF, non-superscored one-and-done 36 ACT, nearly perfect grades, and a boatload of APs with mostly 5s. Based on this forum, they must be really common. My kid takes the SAT in a couple weeks. I'm guessing that a 1550+ score will do nothing whatsoever to change the kid's profile.

Why biochem? Pick a major that matches the ECs?
5s in US Gov and Euro. And Performance in school plays and mock trial. [NOTE: What were the school plays? If anything historic, might be able to use as evidence for a humanities major too]
Why biochem? Horrible, horrible idea. I would do a multidisciplinary humanities major personally.

If you HAVE to do science, look at majors like:

- Science, Technology & Society (with the thematic area: Policy, Persuasion and the Rhetoric of Science) at Brown. Could tie in mock trial/humanities (and ask US Govt teacher for LOR)
- Science in Human Culture (Northwestern University)

Otherwise, look at some of the below to build on the ECs the kid does have:

- Justice and Peace Studies (Georgetown University) (less common than IR or Govt)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) (Dartmouth College)
- Religion, Ethics, and Politics (Princeton University)
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies (Cornell University)
- Ethics, Politics, and Economics (Yale University)

If you are from an underrepresented state (which one?), with stats like this, help your kid strengthen their profile. They need more impactful ECs and an award or 2. Are they a writer?
Otherwise, help develop a summer independent project - a few ideas below:

- Interactive Digital Storytelling Project
Combine D&D world-building skills with digital media
Create an interactive narrative experience exploring ethical dilemmas
Could focus on science ethics to bridge biochemistry interests (if staying with science)

- Mock Trial Workshop Series for Underprivileged Students
Develop and lead mock trial workshops for middle school students
Focus on critical thinking, public speaking, and logical reasoning
Create a curriculum that could be replicated easily.

Summer Job
Does your kid have a summer job? Working behind the scenes at a professional theater production would be great. Or even something in period costuming.

I was suggesting pre-law, and for awhile, my kid wanted to do ACLU/social justice type law. I think it would fit much better with their strengths.
My kid is fixated on the medical pharma research because I've been going through cancer treatment for the last 5 years. They will easily get a 5 on the AP Bio exam this year to go with the 5s already earned on AP chem and Calc. So they're not a slouch in STEM.

They will have a senior project, but I doubt there will be any materials available in time for college applications. Amusingly enough, my kid does period and cosplay costuming as a hobby. They're really good with a sewing machine and prop construction.

Assume your kid is part of the Drama Club? If not, have them join officially now and for 12th grade.

Also, sewing (or costuming) should be listed as a long-term EC (like this):

ART
9, 10, 11, 12
Digital artist & painter (independent, freelance)
Create art near daily, sold $700 in commissions, illustrate for schools & clubs, raised $2000 for [redacted] Scholarship [social justice related], sold 104 pieces of [redacted social justice club] merchandise

DRAMA (or ART)
9, 10, 11, 12
Colonial-era costume designer, historical garment restorer & researcher (independent)
Research and hand-sew historically accurate 18th century garments using period-techniques and materials, completed 8 authentic ensembles, serve as costumed interpreter at Colonial Heritage Days, participate in English Country Dance preservation society, conduct museum workshops on historical textile arts.

I would also enroll in some online Coursera-style classes on Costume design, so it shows real dedication. All colleges are looking for people to help with their set productions and costume designs!! [And you could add these "certificates" as ECs if you have room, or in Additional Information]

https://www.thecostumingacademy.com/
https://www.fitnyc.edu/academics/academic-divisions/ccps/noncredit/wardrobe-technician.php
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/21m-732-beginning-costume-design-and-construction-fall-2008/
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/21m-715-the-craft-of-costume-design-fall-2009/

These are Wacky suggestions