Schools more difficult to get in than their rankings appear to indicate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every fall on these boards I watch people comment how VT is a safety school for their kid and by December there is wailing and gnashing of teeth wondering how VT could have rejected their kid with the 5.9 GPA, or whatever. It's an annual holiday tradition.

My DS, from FCPS, was rejected from VT but accepted to W&M and UVA. I don't think DS would have gone to VT if he had gotten in, but it was still a head scratcher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tufts is one.
WF?
Tulane.

Tulane, Tufts, Chicago are all in the "ED or bust" category. Either much easier or much harder to get into than rankings indicate, depending how you apply.

Wild differences between these. I literally don’t know anyone that has been rejected from Tulane. Uchicago uber hard and WF middle of the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every fall on these boards I watch people comment how VT is a safety school for their kid and by December there is wailing and gnashing of teeth wondering how VT could have rejected their kid with the 5.9 GPA, or whatever. It's an annual holiday tradition.

My DS, from FCPS, was rejected from VT but accepted to W&M and UVA. I don't think DS would have gone to VT if he had gotten in, but it was still a head scratcher.

Perhaps yield protection?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tufts is one.
WF?
Tulane.

Tulane, Tufts, Chicago are all in the "ED or bust" category. Either much easier or much harder to get into than rankings indicate, depending how you apply.

Wild differences between these. I literally don’t know anyone that has been rejected from Tulane. Uchicago uber hard and WF middle of the road.

Agree Chicago is the most difficult admit.

But it is also school dependent. Horace Mann sends a large drove to Chicago each year. At these feeders, an average student can get in ED.
At non-feeder high schools, yes it can be "uber hard".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for the talk about Vanderbilt, it’s tough admit shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s a simple combination of great academics, great social scene, great city, and increasingly good sports. Basically, it’s has it all in a great environment. The recent slippage in the ratings is a shrug. Also, it hadn’t had the political craziness that many elite campuses in the NE have experienced.

Upthread, there was a comparison to Duke. While Duke has a great campus, academics, and basketball team, Durham is terrible and the campus is segregated from the city. Also, while old campus is very collegiate, but the rest of campus feels very corporate. Not a great vibe.

It’s astonishing that Vandy has gone from an acceptance rate of 70% 35 years ago to less than 5% now. Wow.

Vanderbilt has that hard to find combination of urban, warm weather, athletics, Greek life, and prestige. Hard to beat.

Yes, and it is not dominated by Asians and Internationals. Look at their accepted student Instagram--it is an entirely different demographic then any other top20 school.

Similar look at Notre Dame, which is (unfortunately, IMO) only 9% Asian American and 8% international. But I suppose there aren't a huge number of Catholic Asian Americans?

Almost all LACs are like Vanderbilt, less than 20% Asian (except the ones in California).
If you cannot compete with Asian, consider LACs, or Vanderbilt, or Notre Dame. :P

I’ll bite! as the parent of a current very high stats and — this is the key — well round Vanderbilt student. Vanderbilt is not looking for grinders and box checkers (1st chair violin? Check! Fencing regional placement? Check! 4.0 unweighted vs. 3.86? Check! Natl debate regional winner?)

They do a good job in sniffing out natural leaders vs tiger-mommed grinders with impeccable and highly predictable portfolios

They are also looking for those wanting to pay that high tuition and willing to apply through their heavily focused early decision.

And because they know the so-called grinders are headed to Ivies!

Only the accepted ones The denied go to more grinder-friendly top schools where the low acceptance rate doesn’t shock outsiders. Like maybe Emory or Tufts or UC San Diego

For one Tufts and UC San Diego are no where near Emory. 2, Emory has better cross admits percentage with Ivys+ schools according to parchment. And Emory isnt grindy at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every fall on these boards I watch people comment how VT is a safety school for their kid and by December there is wailing and gnashing of teeth wondering how VT could have rejected their kid with the 5.9 GPA, or whatever. It's an annual holiday tradition.

My DS, from FCPS, was rejected from VT but accepted to W&M and UVA. I don't think DS would have gone to VT if he had gotten in, but it was still a head scratcher.

Perhaps yield protection?

VT says right on their website that they do not yield protect.

"Yield Protection
Virginia Tech does not participate in yield protection."
https://www.vt.edu/admissions/undergraduate/counselor-corner.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for the talk about Vanderbilt, it’s tough admit shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s a simple combination of great academics, great social scene, great city, and increasingly good sports. Basically, it’s has it all in a great environment. The recent slippage in the ratings is a shrug. Also, it hadn’t had the political craziness that many elite campuses in the NE have experienced.

Upthread, there was a comparison to Duke. While Duke has a great campus, academics, and basketball team, Durham is terrible and the campus is segregated from the city. Also, while old campus is very collegiate, but the rest of campus feels very corporate. Not a great vibe.

It’s astonishing that Vandy has gone from an acceptance rate of 70% 35 years ago to less than 5% now. Wow.

Vanderbilt has that hard to find combination of urban, warm weather, athletics, Greek life, and prestige. Hard to beat.

Yes, and it is not dominated by Asians and Internationals. Look at their accepted student Instagram--it is an entirely different demographic then any other top20 school.

Similar look at Notre Dame, which is (unfortunately, IMO) only 9% Asian American and 8% international. But I suppose there aren't a huge number of Catholic Asian Americans?

Almost all LACs are like Vanderbilt, less than 20% Asian (except the ones in California).
If you cannot compete with Asian, consider LACs, or Vanderbilt, or Notre Dame. :P

I’ll bite! as the parent of a current very high stats and — this is the key — well round Vanderbilt student. Vanderbilt is not looking for grinders and box checkers (1st chair violin? Check! Fencing regional placement? Check! 4.0 unweighted vs. 3.86? Check! Natl debate regional winner?)

They do a good job in sniffing out natural leaders vs tiger-mommed grinders with impeccable and highly predictable portfolios

They are also looking for those wanting to pay that high tuition and willing to apply through their heavily focused early decision.

And because they know the so-called grinders are headed to Ivies!

Only the accepted ones The denied go to more grinder-friendly top schools where the low acceptance rate doesn’t shock outsiders. Like maybe Emory or Tufts or UC San Diego

For one Tufts and UC San Diego are no where near Emory. 2, Emory has better cross admits percentage with Ivys+ schools according to parchment. And Emory isnt grindy at all.

Emory and Tufts are very much peer schools with similar social vibes/academic profiles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every fall on these boards I watch people comment how VT is a safety school for their kid and by December there is wailing and gnashing of teeth wondering how VT could have rejected their kid with the 5.9 GPA, or whatever. It's an annual holiday tradition.

My DS, from FCPS, was rejected from VT but accepted to W&M and UVA. I don't think DS would have gone to VT if he had gotten in, but it was still a head scratcher.

Perhaps yield protection?

VT says right on their website that they do not yield protect.

"Yield Protection
Virginia Tech does not participate in yield protection."
https://www.vt.edu/admissions/undergraduate/counselor-corner.html

Have you ever seen a school say that they do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMD if in state from a W school. 50% does not tell the real picture.

It’s so hit or Miss for white kids to get into UMCP that most have given up and simply don’t bother to apply anymore.

There was an admissions scandal within the last few years that confirmed this.

It’s a very good school. Honestly, most flagships are good…even in the red states that dcum likes to criticize. But MD has alienated a lot of alums whose kids were turned away despite having the right credentials. The only missing piece was their skin color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for the talk about Vanderbilt, it’s tough admit shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s a simple combination of great academics, great social scene, great city, and increasingly good sports. Basically, it’s has it all in a great environment. The recent slippage in the ratings is a shrug. Also, it hadn’t had the political craziness that many elite campuses in the NE have experienced.

Upthread, there was a comparison to Duke. While Duke has a great campus, academics, and basketball team, Durham is terrible and the campus is segregated from the city. Also, while old campus is very collegiate, but the rest of campus feels very corporate. Not a great vibe.

It’s astonishing that Vandy has gone from an acceptance rate of 70% 35 years ago to less than 5% now. Wow.

Vanderbilt has that hard to find combination of urban, warm weather, athletics, Greek life, and prestige. Hard to beat.

Yes, and it is not dominated by Asians and Internationals. Look at their accepted student Instagram--it is an entirely different demographic then any other top20 school.

Yes, Vanderbilt is much more white. Your white children will not be surrounded by students from all over the world who can out perform them or make them feel uncomfortable. They will just be competing with mostly white, upper middle class, American students. Much more comfortable for them as it will be no different from the mostly white upper middle class experiences they have had so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for the talk about Vanderbilt, it’s tough admit shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s a simple combination of great academics, great social scene, great city, and increasingly good sports. Basically, it’s has it all in a great environment. The recent slippage in the ratings is a shrug. Also, it hadn’t had the political craziness that many elite campuses in the NE have experienced.

Upthread, there was a comparison to Duke. While Duke has a great campus, academics, and basketball team, Durham is terrible and the campus is segregated from the city. Also, while old campus is very collegiate, but the rest of campus feels very corporate. Not a great vibe.

It’s astonishing that Vandy has gone from an acceptance rate of 70% 35 years ago to less than 5% now. Wow.

Vanderbilt has that hard to find combination of urban, warm weather, athletics, Greek life, and prestige. Hard to beat.

Yes, and it is not dominated by Asians and Internationals. Look at their accepted student Instagram--it is an entirely different demographic then any other top20 school.

Similar look at Notre Dame, which is (unfortunately, IMO) only 9% Asian American and 8% international. But I suppose there aren't a huge number of Catholic Asian Americans?

Almost all LACs are like Vanderbilt, less than 20% Asian (except the ones in California).
If you cannot compete with Asian, consider LACs, or Vanderbilt, or Notre Dame. :P

I’ll bite! as the parent of a current very high stats and — this is the key — well round Vanderbilt student. Vanderbilt is not looking for grinders and box checkers (1st chair violin? Check! Fencing regional placement? Check! 4.0 unweighted vs. 3.86? Check! Natl debate regional winner?)

They do a good job in sniffing out natural leaders vs tiger-mommed grinders with impeccable and highly predictable portfolios

They are also looking for those wanting to pay that high tuition and willing to apply through their heavily focused early decision.

And because they know the so-called grinders are headed to Ivies!

Only the accepted ones The denied go to more grinder-friendly top schools where the low acceptance rate doesn’t shock outsiders. Like maybe Emory or Tufts or UC San Diego

For one Tufts and UC San Diego are no where near Emory. 2, Emory has better cross admits percentage with Ivys+ schools according to parchment. And Emory isnt grindy at all.

Emory and Tufts are very much peer schools with similar social vibes/academic profiles.

They are not peers. Similarly selective, but Emory has better outcomes and more prestige.

[Anonymous]

What’s with all the anti-Asian undertones? When we (American-born offspring of Asian immigrants) and our American-born children get to campus, we want to contribute and participate in a lot of the same ways that our white classmates do. Some of us might join cultural affinity groups or take a class or attend an event that has to do with our background, but for a lot of us, it’s not the only defining part of our college experience. We wear the same campus gear, cheer on the teams and support the bigger alumni network after we graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for the talk about Vanderbilt, it’s tough admit shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s a simple combination of great academics, great social scene, great city, and increasingly good sports. Basically, it’s has it all in a great environment. The recent slippage in the ratings is a shrug. Also, it hadn’t had the political craziness that many elite campuses in the NE have experienced.

Upthread, there was a comparison to Duke. While Duke has a great campus, academics, and basketball team, Durham is terrible and the campus is segregated from the city. Also, while old campus is very collegiate, but the rest of campus feels very corporate. Not a great vibe.

It’s astonishing that Vandy has gone from an acceptance rate of 70% 35 years ago to less than 5% now. Wow.

Vanderbilt has that hard to find combination of urban, warm weather, athletics, Greek life, and prestige. Hard to beat.

Yes, and it is not dominated by Asians and Internationals. Look at their accepted student Instagram--it is an entirely different demographic then any other top20 school.

Yes, Vanderbilt is much more white. Your white children will not be surrounded by students from all over the world who can out perform them or make them feel uncomfortable. They will just be competing with mostly white, upper middle class, American students. Much more comfortable for them as it will be no different from the mostly white upper middle class experiences they have had so far.

Vanderbilt is 39.5 percent white. People seem to have a very outdated perception of Vanderbilt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s with all the anti-Asian undertones? When we (American-born offspring of Asian immigrants) and our American-born children get to campus, we want to contribute and participate in a lot of the same ways that our white classmates do. Some of us might join cultural affinity groups or take a class or attend an event that has to do with our background, but for a lot of us, it’s not the only defining part of our college experience. We wear the same campus gear, cheer on the teams and support the bigger alumni network after we graduate.

Only white?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s with all the anti-Asian undertones? When we (American-born offspring of Asian immigrants) and our American-born children get to campus, we want to contribute and participate in a lot of the same ways that our white classmates do. Some of us might join cultural affinity groups or take a class or attend an event that has to do with our background, but for a lot of us, it’s not the only defining part of our college experience. We wear the same campus gear, cheer on the teams and support the bigger alumni network after we graduate.

Only white?

Internationals and all American students of color also want to be and try to be integrated into the bigger campus community.