Game is rigged

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.

Yes. What schools at this level are looking for are students that are likely to be prominent in the years ahead. HYPS could fill their classes ten times over with perfect GPAs and test scores. But they don't. Harvard will take mediocre students like Jared Kushner - to use as an example - over a valedictorian every single day of the week. Someone like 18 year old Jared Kushner had the wealth and connections to become significant. His father donated even $2.5 million to Harvard to make it happen. And now here we are - 2003 Harvard grad Jared Kushner is running American foreign policy. Noah and Charlotte, who are the best students in the history of Des Moines, have no chance against Manhattan wealth and all the privileges that come with it.

But I think that's just HYPS. The rest of the top 20 would be very happy to hear from Noah and Charlotte.

What would be the trajectory for this country?

Well, I think we should recognize that the US is an oligarchy. And Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford perpetuate that with all their hooked students who did nothing but be born in the right family. But the good news is that the US has tons of great colleges.

Stop perpetuating this MYTH. Thinking this may somehow assuage some rejection - either your own or your kid's - but sadly it's not the reason. There are just too many qualified kids and too few spots.

Yes, be realistic about your kids. The majority of students at these schools are unhooked, but they are very interesting, talented, and compelling students. FWIW, I have one at HYP. My younger two don't have the profile these schools are looking for, and that's ok. I agree with PP posted above - make the most of what you have and you'll still end up at a great college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what you mean by rigged. An example from our private school on someone admitted to a non-HYP ivy.

Top 10% of class
One of 5 students offered 2 APs as a Freshman, based on entrance exam (Bio & Geo)
11 Total APs 4s and 5s on all of them (Calc/Stats/Bio/Chem/Phys)
1450 SAT (recruited athlete, so stopped taking the test)
3.8UW (school is known as a harsh grading school)
Top 10 nationally in their event at Track and Field.
State Champion F&F. County Record Holder T&F
School Rock Band
Chess Club
Beloved by Faculty, fellow students and the administration/College Guidance office.

Also, 3rd Generation Legacy

Is it rigged because this kid got in? Eventhough their SAT is below your kid's.

A lot of legacy kids are like this. Another kid from school at HYP...similar stats. Double Legacy. Lacrosse all-state. Top Math student in HS. 1430 SAT; 4.0UW.

Where does your kid compete with these kids?

A 1430 SAT student does not belong at HYP. Textbook example of a rigged system.

They offer the school more than the OP's kid. This board is like a bunch of adults with arrested development. They don't know how the world works, and have an almost naive view of the world.

In other words it’s rigged. College admissions is a birthright. Glad we can all agree with OP’s premise.

[Anonymous]

It's not rigged. The colleges don't know if they're donating money to the school or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is applying to a single digit selective college.
In her school there are two boys who are also applying, both from very wealthy families. One is legacy and heavily donates, another donates seven digit donations.

My kid has no chance.

I know how you feel. 26 years ago I had a crush on that actress from Friends. And I was crushed when she married Brad Pitt instead of me. The whole marriage thing is rigged!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one cares what idyllic system people want. There’s a system in place now & you have to play the game. Figure out your lane and work it.

This is not rocket science and all these people whining are truthfully just annoying and sore losers. They’re wasting their time when they could be doing something productive actually helped their kid.

I fully agree that we must all learn to function in the world that exists, not the one we believe should exist.

But as a general proposition, being annoyed at an unfair process (in any area of life) doesn’t make one a sore loser. No one likes getting screwed.

The key is not letting your irritation keep you from getting the best possible result in a flawed system.

[Anonymous]

I think your daughter will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.

If you look at the most recent cds (after going back to test required) it’s very few kids and most are likely hooked in some
way. The 25 percentile for SAT is 1510.

25% isn't a lot?

I always thought it was a lot - even if you say all the athletes and FGLI kids are in that 25% (which I don't agree with. There are plenty of athletes and FGLI kids who have higher scores than the bottom 25%)

Most of the kids in the bottom 25 percent probably are in the 1480 to 1510 range. Much ado about nothing.

Worth adding, however, that I know personally several recruited athletes that were very good students that were told they just needed SAT scores in the 1300 range for H/Y/P. They just took the test without tutoring to hit the minimum. If they were going through the regular process, they would have prepped and scored higher.

If you want to complain about rigged, perhaps start with the schools that take close to half the class test optional.

I know an athlete at H/Y/P who is test optional bc he couldn’t get 1300.