Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Northwestern, other Ivies What Does It Take ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is great that this thread has stuck to what it takes or what you might need to get admitted to one of these great schools (including luck). It is important that kids realize they don't "deserve" admission to one or any of them. Yes, they are special to all of us but admissions officers can reasonably admit others. When rejection happens, you can still get that yes from an amazing school (even Harvard after a Stanford rejection in the earlier example).

Are there kids who think they "deserve" it? My kid has great stats and dedicated, passionate ECs and has a wish list but says "there's no way I'll get in."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having high stats and being a gifted athlete is the secret sauce.

+1
My friend's son got accepted into Harvard by being a high stats, gifted athlete, and an URM. This kid was a triple threat. He checked off every box that college admission counselors are looking for. Best of all he is the most humble and gracious kid that I have ever met. I am so proud of him!

It doesn't work like that.

If you're a recruited athlete, your actual academic stats (as long as they're good enough) and minority status don't really matter. If you're not a recruited athlete, being a "gifted athlete" means about the same as being a boy scout or the captain of the chess team (i.e. it doesn't matter).

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is great that this thread has stuck to what it takes or what you might need to get admitted to one of these great schools (including luck). It is important that kids realize they don't "deserve" admission to one or any of them. Yes, they are special to all of us but admissions officers can reasonably admit others. When rejection happens, you can still get that yes from an amazing school (even Harvard after a Stanford rejection in the earlier example).

Are there kids who think they "deserve" it? My kid has great stats and dedicated, passionate ECs and has a wish list but says "there's no way I'll get in."

Plenty do once others they think they are "better than" in one way or another get in. Kids and parents also try hard to temper any expectations in advance. Everyone seems to say there is no way or I'm taking a shot as if they have a 2.5 GPA and low test scores. What people say and think are different in the early stages of the admissions cycle. You'll start to hear what people actually think starting in a few months.

I haven't anyone who vocalizes it before acceptance start rolling in. Kids and parents are hesitant to even share where kids are applying outside of their immediate friend groups these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having high stats and being a gifted athlete is the secret sauce.

+1
My friend's son got accepted into Harvard by being a high stats, gifted athlete, and an URM. This kid was a triple threat. He checked off every box that college admission counselors are looking for. Best of all he is the most humble and gracious kid that I have ever met. I am so proud of him!

It doesn't work like that.

If you're a recruited athlete, your actual academic stats (as long as they're good enough) and minority status don't really matter. If you're not a recruited athlete, being a "gifted athlete" means about the same as being a boy scout or the captain of the chess team (i.e. it doesn't matter).

+1

The "it doesn't matter" isn't quite true. If you are gifted and a team captain, this is a clear indication of leadership. Being a HS team captain, Eagle Scout, or chess team captain isn't enough to get you in but they are strong EC signals. If you are a leader across different groups, that is particularly positive application wise (student counsel and a sport captain for example).

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I wonder whether achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is a positive. Probably depends upon how one presents their project. But, I think that some may see this accomplishment as a slight negative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having high stats and being a gifted athlete is the secret sauce.

+1
My friend's son got accepted into Harvard by being a high stats, gifted athlete, and an URM. This kid was a triple threat. He checked off every box that college admission counselors are looking for. Best of all he is the most humble and gracious kid that I have ever met. I am so proud of him!

It doesn't work like that.

If you're a recruited athlete, your actual academic stats (as long as they're good enough) and minority status don't really matter. If you're not a recruited athlete, being a "gifted athlete" means about the same as being a boy scout or the captain of the chess team (i.e. it doesn't matter).

+1

This is not true. If you are a gifted athlete and have the ability to play in college you can speak to the coast and the coach can put in a good word for you with admissions. If you are a good athlete, even if a coach has not reached out, you should reach out junior year and keep in contact with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I wonder whether achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is a positive. Probably depends upon how one presents their project. But, I think that some may see this accomplishment as a slight negative.

I can't imagine it is a negative no matter what. I also agree it's not necessarily going to get you in, but it is a very strong EC, shows strength of character and commitment, and the project is a wonderful opportunity to further explain who the student is and what moves them. I know a wonderful ES who was deferred by his target school - but later admitted in RD.
Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I wonder whether achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is a positive. Probably depends upon how one presents their project. But, I think that some may see this accomplishment as a slight negative.

I can't imagine it is a negative no matter what. I also agree it's not necessarily going to get you in, but it is a very strong EC, shows strength of character and commitment, and the project is a wonderful opportunity to further explain who the student is and what moves them. I know a wonderful ES who was deferred by his target school - but later admitted in RD.
Congrats!

It’s a psi tube. Demonstrates grit and the ability to see a project from beginning to end -which is what colleges want to see

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I wonder whether achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is a positive. Probably depends upon how one presents their project. But, I think that some may see this accomplishment as a slight negative.

I can't imagine it is a negative no matter what. I also agree it's not necessarily going to get you in, but it is a very strong EC, shows strength of character and commitment, and the project is a wonderful opportunity to further explain who the student is and what moves them. I know a wonderful ES who was deferred by his target school - but later admitted in RD.
Congrats!

It’s a psi tube. Demonstrates grit and the ability to see a project from beginning to end -which is what colleges want to see

I know several Eagle Scouts. The projects were routine. Parents forced the kids to participate in scouting in order to get the kid out of the house, away from video games, and among others of a similar age.

Besides a project, what do scouts need to do in order to become an Eagle Scout ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I wonder whether achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is a positive. Probably depends upon how one presents their project. But, I think that some may see this accomplishment as a slight negative.

I can't imagine it is a negative no matter what. I also agree it's not necessarily going to get you in, but it is a very strong EC, shows strength of character and commitment, and the project is a wonderful opportunity to further explain who the student is and what moves them. I know a wonderful ES who was deferred by his target school - but later admitted in RD.
Congrats!

It’s a psi tube. Demonstrates grit and the ability to see a project from beginning to end -which is what colleges want to see

I know several Eagle Scouts. The projects were routine. Parents forced the kids to participate in scouting in order to get the kid out of the house, away from video games, and among others of a similar age.

Besides a project, what do scouts need to do in order to become an Eagle Scout ?

The Eagle Scout projects themselves are often fairly large and involve project planning and management. You also have to have earned 21 merit badges and have held a leadership position in your troop for 6+ months. Certainly not a bad thing to have done since it shows some dedication to an EC over time and signals that you've reached the highest level for the EC. Scouting isn't as popular in many urban areas either (including DC) so it can actually be more of a differentiator regionally. In contrast, there were a bunch of Eagle Scouts in my graduating class in "flyover country."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I wonder whether achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is a positive. Probably depends upon how one presents their project. But, I think that some may see this accomplishment as a slight negative.

I can't imagine it is a negative no matter what. I also agree it's not necessarily going to get you in, but it is a very strong EC, shows strength of character and commitment, and the project is a wonderful opportunity to further explain who the student is and what moves them. I know a wonderful ES who was deferred by his target school - but later admitted in RD.
Congrats!

It’s a psi tube. Demonstrates grit and the ability to see a project from beginning to end -which is what colleges want to see

I know several Eagle Scouts. The projects were routine. Parents forced the kids to participate in scouting in order to get the kid out of the house, away from video games, and among others of a similar age.

Besides a project, what do scouts need to do in order to become an Eagle Scout ?

Thanks for your response.

I am familiar with a Boy Scout group in an affluent section of another major city. The kids were duds socially & athletically. Parents forced them to remain in Boy Scouts to have some semblance of a social life. The projects were minor civic endeavors such as building a walkway or funding the purchase and placement of a public bench. (My in-law was the head of the Boy Scout group. His sons hated it, but made Eagle Scout.)


The Eagle Scout projects themselves are often fairly large and involve project planning and management. You also have to have earned 21 merit badges and have held a leadership position in your troop for 6+ months. Certainly not a bad thing to have done since it shows some dedication to an EC over time and signals that you've reached the highest level for the EC. Scouting isn't as popular in many urban areas either (including DC) so it can actually be more of a differentiator regionally. In contrast, there were a bunch of Eagle Scouts in my graduating class in "flyover country."