Big 3 (or thereabouts) College Results - Class of 2021

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those whose DC got accepted into Tulane, what were test scores like and did you get merit aid?

34 ACT. $20,000 annually in merit aid.

Tulane regional Admissions Director loves DMV private schools. He recognizes the majority of applicants are full pay with likely high annual donation amounts on top of that, the kids are super bright but not dorks, and they all know how to let loose. It’s called I’ll scratch yours if you scratch mine. All have a Happy Ending!!

Honest question- is that why Tulane is becoming so popular with DMV independent school kids? And will my DC (Big 3 class of 22, B average student, better test scores, no real hooks) have a chance there?

It’s a socially acceptable school they can get into when they can’t get into the schools mom and dad really want them to attend

No way! I’m a Big 3 mom and my DD got into Tulane and other EA’s (she didn’t want to ED) and though Tulane isn’t ranked as high as some of her other acceptances, I’m gunning for her to go there (secretly; it has to be her decision). It seems like such a friendly atmosphere and everyone has been so attentive. We all love NoLA. I think she will be very happy there—that’s my goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS is probably the strongest STEM school in the area

TJ and most of the larger publics are MUCH better than GDS (or any of the private schools) just based on resources and the number of kids who are STEM focused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA is not a strong STEM school.
Only a very small fraction of boys (10 per year or less) take math beyond Calculus before graduating.
(i.e. they started Algebra in 8th grade.).
They're not going to send many if any kids to MIT, top engineering programs, etc.
-parent

10-12 boys taking math beyond calculus is 12-15% of the class. Is that really that bad?

As a parent it seems to me that math may be the only STEM area where STA matches local publics. Very weak in computer science and engineering and a general lack of breadth in science course offerings. I’ve never felt the school pushes or would even easily accommodate doing independent research at the level necessary to do a top flight competition. Mandatory sports every season is a major time suck in that regard.

If your kid's goal is MIT or Cal Tech or, heck, anything with "tech" in the name, you'd be well served sending him to a public magnet. I've been a member of the STA community for over a decade and it is quite rare for a graduate to end up at any of these schools. It's not that the STA boys don't have the innate STEM smarts - it's just not what the school has ever focused on. They focus on the humanities in all its various forms seeking to produce boys well-rounded gentlemen. A laudable goal, but one wonders how many future scientists and engineers have been snuffed out as a result. Even in college counseling, once you get past the Ivies and Chicago (where 10% of the class feeds to every year), the push is for the SLACs and mid-size universities with a liberal arts bent (like Wake or Bucknell).

I love the place though I wonder whether a recalibration of the STEM efforts are in order.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you are calling Michigan weak academically?

I wouldn't think OP is calling Michigan weak academically.

However, on a side note we decided NOT to apply after the armed protest at the State House and the plot to kidnap the Gov. We decided the MW hasn't changed enough in the last 40 years and have zero interest in DC having a "proud boy" as a roomie

I know the admissions office is weeping over your decision

My husband and I both attended schools in the Midwest. College towns are far more liberal than the surrounding areas. The Proud Boys aren’t the people you’d find there.

I attended University of Illinois a few decades ago coming from Main Line Philadelphia and I was shocked at the deep seated racism and anti-semetism at the school. Some examples:
* sororities and and fraternities were segregated and did not pledge across perceived " different race" lines - this included SE Asians ( Pakistanis ). We had no social mixers with Sammy, for example because ummmm " dating leads to marriage .. and I am not sure the alumni and our parents would approve of that " full stop

* I often dined with teammates who were AA. I once had a strange guy appear in my dorm doorway to " warn me" that " That kinda thing.... isn't tolerated here " He dissapeared after giving me his " message"

* People would make jokes every time Angie and Jesse kissed on camera in All My Children... it was a mystery to me what they found so funny so I asked . " the lips" was the response.... these were college aged girls who had all gotten above 1300 on SAT and all went on to work as CPA's or Ad Execs or in Finance in Chicago.

They always said the same thing when I challenged them , " I am not a racist ...Its just the way we were raised"

[Anonymous]

How many early Harvard admits from GDS this year?

[Anonymous]

Nixed at MIT.

[Anonymous]

OMG 15:19, you need to post this on the Colleges forum since someone asked about UIUC recently.
I agree with you 100% esp. about the sorority-fraternity nonsense. The worst, most foul-mouthed unapologetic racists weren't from Berwyn but Bannockburn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG 15:19, you need to post this on the Colleges forum since someone asked about UIUC recently.
I agree with you 100% esp. about the sorority-fraternity nonsense. The worst, most foul-mouthed unapologetic racists weren't from Berwyn but Bannockburn.

Right. Because PPs experience circa 1988 is so relevant now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG 15:19, you need to post this on the Colleges forum since someone asked about UIUC recently.
I agree with you 100% esp. about the sorority-fraternity nonsense. The worst, most foul-mouthed unapologetic racists weren't from Berwyn but Bannockburn.

Right. Because PPs experience circa 1988 is so relevant now.

My child is 18 and will be a freshman next year, It is likely that many of the Big 10 schools will be filled with the sane age children of my former 80's classmates....remember the defensive response, " its just how I was raised "

UIUC is Peoria meets Springfield meets St Louis... meets ...awkwardly Skokie and FB players from Southern CA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I interviewed a kid from the "Big 3" for my HYPS alma mater and I'm sad she got deferred. She seemed great!

Did she tell you she got deferred or does the school tell you that?

The school tells me. You can login to your alumni reviewer portal and check on the status of kids you’ve interviewed. They ask you to contact anyone who got in to say congrats; they ask you not to contact anyone who didn’t. Anyways, I just really liked this kid — one of the best two I’ve interviewed in about 10 years — so I was disappointed she ended up deferred. No doubt she’ll get in somewhere great though.

To the interviewer -- if you happen to be the woman who interviewed my daughter, she loved talking to you, too. She is disappointed, but still holding out hope that she'll get better news during the regular decision round. Thank you for rooting for her!

Statistically, I’m sure it’s someone else. But now I’m curious: Can you tell me anything about the interview/your daughter/anything I said during the interview that would allow me to know if it was her?

No Dog in this ...but my vote is the interviewer / alum call the AD and says, " this is the most outstanding kid I have interviewed in 10 years and I am so taken back that she was deferred that I am questioning whether my Alma Mater still holds out the same values and ethos when I was a student.... I am seriously considering no longer donating...

fingers crossed that gets her IN

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you are calling Michigan weak academically?

I wouldn't think OP is calling Michigan weak academically.

However, on a side note we decided NOT to apply after the armed protest at the State House and the plot to kidnap the Gov. We decided the MW hasn't changed enough in the last 40 years and have zero interest in DC having a "proud boy" as a roomie

I know the admissions office is weeping over your decision

My husband and I both attended schools in the Midwest. College towns are far more liberal than the surrounding areas. The Proud Boys aren’t the people you’d find there.

I attended University of Illinois a few decades ago coming from Main Line Philadelphia and I was shocked at the deep seated racism and anti-semetism at the school. Some examples:
* sororities and and fraternities were segregated and did not pledge across perceived " different race" lines - this included SE Asians ( Pakistanis ). We had no social mixers with Sammy, for example because ummmm " dating leads to marriage .. and I am not sure the alumni and our parents would approve of that " full stop

* I often dined with teammates who were AA. I once had a strange guy appear in my dorm doorway to " warn me" that " That kinda thing.... isn't tolerated here " He dissapeared after giving me his " message"

* People would make jokes every time Angie and Jesse kissed on camera in All My Children... it was a mystery to me what they found so funny so I asked . " the lips" was the response.... these were college aged girls who had all gotten above 1300 on SAT and all went on to work as CPA's or Ad Execs or in Finance in Chicago.

They always said the same thing when I challenged them , " I am not a racist ...Its just the way we were raised"

Such disgusting people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG 15:19, you need to post this on the Colleges forum since someone asked about UIUC recently.
I agree with you 100% esp. about the sorority-fraternity nonsense. The worst, most foul-mouthed unapologetic racists weren't from Berwyn but Bannockburn.

Right. Because PPs experience circa 1988 is so relevant now.

A couple decades ago would make it more like 2000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those whose DC got accepted into Tulane, what were test scores like and did you get merit aid?

34 ACT. $20,000 annually in merit aid.

Tulane regional Admissions Director loves DMV private schools. He recognizes the majority of applicants are full pay with likely high annual donation amounts on top of that, the kids are super bright but not dorks, and they all know how to let loose. It’s called I’ll scratch yours if you scratch mine. All have a Happy Ending!!

Honest question- is that why Tulane is becoming so popular with DMV independent school kids? And will my DC (Big 3 class of 22, B average student, better test scores, no real hooks) have a chance there?

It’s a socially acceptable school they can get into when they can’t get into the schools mom and dad really want them to attend

No way! I’m a Big 3 mom and my DD got into Tulane and other EA’s (she didn’t want to ED) and though Tulane isn’t ranked as high as some of her other acceptances, I’m gunning for her to go there (secretly; it has to be her decision). It seems like such a friendly atmosphere and everyone has been so attentive. We all love NoLA. I think she will be very happy there—that’s my goal.

Yes! Pick Tulane! Roll wave roll!
-fellow big 3 parent and tulane alum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many early Harvard admits from GDS this year?

23

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I interviewed a kid from the "Big 3" for my HYPS alma mater and I'm sad she got deferred. She seemed great!

Did she tell you she got deferred or does the school tell you that?

The school tells me. You can login to your alumni reviewer portal and check on the status of kids you’ve interviewed. They ask you to contact anyone who got in to say congrats; they ask you not to contact anyone who didn’t. Anyways, I just really liked this kid — one of the best two I’ve interviewed in about 10 years — so I was disappointed she ended up deferred. No doubt she’ll get in somewhere great though.

To the interviewer -- if you happen to be the woman who interviewed my daughter, she loved talking to you, too. She is disappointed, but still holding out hope that she'll get better news during the regular decision round. Thank you for rooting for her!

Statistically, I’m sure it’s someone else. But now I’m curious: Can you tell me anything about the interview/your daughter/anything I said during the interview that would allow me to know if it was her?

No Dog in this ...but my vote is the interviewer / alum call the AD and says, " this is the most outstanding kid I have interviewed in 10 years and I am so taken back that she was deferred that I am questioning whether my Alma Mater still holds out the same values and ethos when I was a student.... I am seriously considering no longer donating...

fingers crossed that gets her IN

She’s one of two. I interviewed a candidate from a non-“Big 3” excellent private last year that also blew me away. He was hooked 3 different ways and I would have admitted him blindly.