College Acceptance/Matriculation Stats: NCS/STA, Holton/Landon

[Anonymous]

Yes, but did you read the rest of her post? There was nothing about 50/50. For some kids, the dice is loaded. For others it's not. Her post was pretty clear about that.

[Anonymous]

oh GAWD! will this thread ever die????

[Anonymous]

PP -- This is former Ivy Admissions - you are correct...I never gave any odds. That would be incredibly negligent and untruthful of me to do so before knowing anything about a particulr applicant. Clearly, as you suggested, I never gave an odds -- I would never do that and never believe anyone who gives you odds. I know what Ivies are looking for. Again, there is really no magic or hidden secret about it contrary to what some of the crazy books out on the market suggest.

Here is the formula for success once again to have a good chance at being admitted to an Ivy:

1. Applicant needs to have superior grades;
2. " "superior test scores;
3. " " extraordinary ECs;
4. " " to bring something special to
Ivy;
5. If applicant is a member of a desired population -- he/she will be looked at very closely -- recruited athlete; significant legacy (money, connections, VIP, etc.);exceptional musician; fundraising guru;entrepreneur; big national award winner; minority (AA, Hispanic, Native Am, first in family to attend college); geographic diversity (such as Montana);
6. Superior recommendations;
7. Great alumni interview (although some Ivies don't require interviews and/or don't give them much weight).

After all of those factors, one still needs to hope & pray. Again, I won't give odds because they change year-to-year.

[Anonymous]

Eureka. You found the magic formula. There is a seat at Harvard with your name on it.

[Anonymous]

Hope and pray sure sounds like rolling a dice.

[Anonymous]

PP -- it is not a roll of the dice. One can increase one's odds by ensuring one has done everything possible on his/her end to be admitted. If he/she is a top student in his/her high school -- that will help a lot too! (Former Ivy)

[Anonymous]

Precisely. Once you have all the ducks lined up. It's a roll of the dice. No ducks. No dice.

[Anonymous]

PP -- Yes, that is closer to the truth. Some parents act as though the whole process of selection is completely random. It is not. We at all of the Ivies very carefully read every single file of every single applicant.

[Anonymous]

So it seems like we're talking about two distinct groups here.

1. Kids who have their proverbial ducks in a row and have tossed the dice, and
2. The much larger mass of kids with great grades and scores.

For this umbrella group, getting into the first group seems like an even bigger lottery, one that has a big uncontrolable element. Were you genetically endowed with superior athletic talent, or do you have Ivy or minority parents, or did you manage to get yourself born into a super-rich family? If so, congrats, all your ducks are in a row and you can proceed to group 1.

For kids who are missing some ducks, I would imagine the chances are pretty grim.

Which leads me to the depressing conclusion that it was largely decided before you even got to high school. Please say it isn't so!

[Anonymous]

So a threshold issue: do you even get to roll the dice?

Or are you at some other casino altogether, where you're gambling to see if you'll even get a pair of dice to roll?

I'm off for a double martini just now....

[Anonymous]

This is former Ivy Adm. again -- the 2 previous posts are too negative. This is not a given folks. If a student does very, very well then he/she can get into an Ivy. It happens everyday. Hard work pays off. Again, this is not random. Athletic talent needs to be nurtered-it is not a given. Even kids who aren't born athletic can be recruited to cox a boat -- there is no athletic talent involved -- just smarts. People who row can start in high school -- they don't need to start at age 4 or 5 like soccer. Don't throw in the towel too soon. Anyone can start a club -- one doesn't need to be rich to do that. As I earlier suggested -- if someone is smart -- they can start a club to teach SAT prep, for example, to the disadvantaged. Ivies love that kind of entrepreneurial/community service minded thinking. Just be creative -- that is my underlying message. Every kid has talent in some area -- take it to the next level.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps, but it seems like some kids start way behind others.

Being a recruitable athlete isn't just a matter of starting training early enough- I know dozens of travel soccer team players, and none of them is likely to get recruited. Crew teams only need so many coxes, plus like any other sport you need the appropriate physique (tiny, in this case).

True, starting a club to save Haiti doesn't require the genetic luck that sports require, but i'm not sure I'd urge to do it because padding your college application seems, I don't know, a bit cynical? Maybe I'm just not showing enough imagination about this.

[Anonymous]

PP -- I'm not saying to do something false. That is why I said every single child has talents -- he/she should follow those talents/passions to the end of the earth...that is not cynical...that is just using the gifts God gave each of us.

[Anonymous]

Still looking for that formula?

92 % of those applying to Harvard in any given year are turned down. Many are fine students and human beings with excellent grades and SATs. Only 8 % get the nod. Admission officers hovered around the table fret over some of these decisions (maybe even flipping a coin from time to time). Of course, if the applicant is not a felon and the family makes a seven figure donation or names a wing or building that is still the surest entre for those of you who still persist in finding the sure bet.

100 years ago, Ivy admission was definitely more predictable.

[Anonymous]

PP -- Of course it was much more predictable to get into an Ivy 100 years ago! No women nor minorities were allowed. Only the very wealthy could afford it -- that was long before financial aid. The population was much smaller too. Less people went to college back then.