Ivy day 2026

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into Dartmouth as a legacy kid (after being rejected at a SCEA school) and is disappointed they were rejected from Penn, Columbia and Brown. I want to knock some sense into them and tell them how fortunate they are. I'm embarrassed to tell any other parents this (most of whom would be over the moon with my kid's options), but instead I'm posting here on DCUM and wondering where I went wrong as a parent...

Your kid is in at Dartmouth. Where did you go wrong? You need to recalibrate. Get your kid excited about the options they have. They are really really fortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into Dartmouth as a legacy kid (after being rejected at a SCEA school) and is disappointed they were rejected from Penn, Columbia and Brown. I want to knock some sense into them and tell them how fortunate they are. I'm embarrassed to tell any other parents this (most of whom would be over the moon with my kid's options), but instead I'm posting here on DCUM and wondering where I went wrong as a parent...

Congratulations to your child!
It seems like kids emotions are running high right now and they are not exactly thinking straight. There’s been so much pressure and in the end it really is a lottery for these top schools. It’s a difficult time for a lot of kids.

PP here. Thank you for your congrats and you are probably right - maybe the kid will come to their senses eventually. I've been disheartened because kid is saying they only got into Dartmouth because of my legacy and kid is probably right. Did not donate at all, so it wasn't the donations that's for sure. It has been a long slog since the rejection in December and I cannot wait until this time is over (after Duke next Tuesday. why?!?)

Dartmouth doesn't let in anyone not qualified. The kid deserves to be there. My HYP alum group is filled with parents complaining about their kids not getting in.

[Anonymous]

Yale by the numbers
https://news.yale.edu/2026/03/26/yale-admits-2328-applicants-class-2030?utm_source=YaleToday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=YT_Yale%20Today%20Alum%20no%20Parents_3-27-2026

Don't feel bad if your kid didn't get in, holy crap, that's a lot of applicants!

[Anonymous]

These days, just being a non-donor legacy is not nearly enough for an Ivy. Perhaps he was able to write about Dartmouth’s unique aspects in his essays because he knew more about the school through you? That’s the only advantage tbh.

[Anonymous]

DD is in at Harvard! Rejected from all other ivies she applied. Was down down down after opening all the portals and Harvard was the last one she opened.

She has no hooks, white girl, cheerleader, lots of volunteer work, president of student council, does part time work at a fast food place, most likely in top 10% of her class for GPA, 34 ACT. We are in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is in at Harvard! Rejected from all other ivies she applied. Was down down down after opening all the portals and Harvard was the last one she opened.

She has no hooks, white girl, cheerleader, lots of volunteer work, president of student council, does part time work at a fast food place, most likely in top 10% of her class for GPA, 34 ACT. We are in MCPS.

Wow. Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is in at Harvard! Rejected from all other ivies she applied. Was down down down after opening all the portals and Harvard was the last one she opened.

She has no hooks, white girl, cheerleader, lots of volunteer work, president of student council, does part time work at a fast food place, most likely in top 10% of her class for GPA, 34 ACT. We are in MCPS.

Congratulations to her. I'm sure it's well deserved. Would your "heart have ached" if she struck out? I'm betting it wouldn't have, and good for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is in at Harvard! Rejected from all other ivies she applied. Was down down down after opening all the portals and Harvard was the last one she opened.

She has no hooks, white girl, cheerleader, lots of volunteer work, president of student council, does part time work at a fast food place, most likely in top 10% of her class for GPA, 34 ACT. We are in MCPS.

Wow. Congratulations!

Fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is in at Harvard! Rejected from all other ivies she applied. Was down down down after opening all the portals and Harvard was the last one she opened.

She has no hooks, white girl, cheerleader, lots of volunteer work, president of student council, does part time work at a fast food place, most likely in top 10% of her class for GPA, 34 ACT. We are in MCPS.

Congrats!! I hope she is able to go to Visitas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In at Princeton and U Penn.

1540 SAT
Fairfax Public
2 sport athlete (not recruited)
Fund raised $4000+ for non-profit
President of investment club
3.9/4.0
9 AP's
3 years volunteer work at animal shelter
2 summers working in retail

No hooks, white, male

Wow, it got to be something special, rec letter from vvip?

[Anonymous]

DC deferred REA from Yale then rejected yesterday. Disappointed, but knew it was a long shot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waitlisted Harvard and Princeton. Rejected Brown (legacy).

Wonder if same kid went to the base school, results would have been different.

Huh? Base school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ivies still prioritize legacies?

The Ivies will always prioritize legacies. They are the ones that came up with the concept (in order to keep out jews and catholics). I have a lot of respect for JHU, MIT, Amherst, Pomona and other schools that have decided not to give consideration to legacies.

Segregationists came up with the concept when they institute literacy exams with a grandfather clause. You did not get to vote unless you passed a literacy exam but that requirement was waived if your grandfather was able to vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In at Cornell. DC is thrilled. Dream school.

yay congrats! DC loves it.

yay congrats! DC loves it-its a special place to go for undergrad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In at Princeton and U Penn.

1540 SAT
Fairfax Public
2 sport athlete (not recruited)
Fund raised $4000+ for non-profit
President of investment club
3.9/4.0
9 AP's
3 years volunteer work at animal shelter
2 summers working in retail

No hooks, white, male

Wow, it got to be something special, rec letter from vvip?

My question is whether the 4000 plus was for an existing independent non profit or if this is a non profit kid started.