Do you know anyone who has actually been shut out?

Anonymous
I think the headline of this post should be "do you know anyone rejected from all their safeties and matches" since that appears to be the question.

Since "rejected from reach" by definition is the expected result.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I think the headline of this post should be "do you know anyone rejected from all their safeties and matches" since that appears to be the question.

Since "rejected from reach" by definition is the expected result.


If they were rejected from safety, it wasn't a safety. IMO schools like GMU, Towson, ODU--Those are true foolproof safeties in my opinion for a high stat student.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:One of mine was shut out from Ivies, waitlisted to each Ivy he applied to, had two T20 offers (coveted half tuition merit award at one) and state with honors and full ride. Funny thing is that he is genuinely everything Ivy looks for. I think his Uber competitive public high school had too many good applicants and counselors were too overwhelmed and indifferent to care.


Two T20 offers is far from shut out. Congrats!

My guess regarding the waitlists is that either there were other students who excelled more (on paper) in his areas &/or from his demographic or that he did not demonstrate enough interest in those colleges through supplements.

We know a super high flier from DD's magnet who was shut out of everything but umd. I think umd is a great choice, and mine was strongly considering it until the last week of admissions when things turned around for her in the admissions game. I don't think this kid applied to any targets or safeties other than umd. All ivies and top. They are taking a gap year. I do feel bad because this kid is truly brilliant, but they should have had more options on the list, and consider that umd hosts many brilliant students. To each their own....
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the headline of this post should be "do you know anyone rejected from all their safeties and matches" since that appears to be the question.

Since "rejected from reach" by definition is the expected result.


If they were rejected from safety, it wasn't a safety. IMO schools like GMU, Towson, ODU--Those are true foolproof safeties in my opinion for a high stat student.


Mine was rejected by her most "safe" safety by admissions terms. (>80% of applicants, so should have bern very safe). Got into 2 Ivies and another top 10. I think there were communication issues in admissions. They made her a finalist for their top scholarship, then rejected her for applied music (she got into umd with major performance scholarship so that seemed odd), then never responded about the liberal arts admission or the scholarship (for which they made her write a big essay). Dean was very apologetic when I informed him of the process. So weird. All this to say, it does happen. I think she also got yield protected from a hard target. Had excellent connection with department chair who informed her that her supplement earned their "highest marks," and invested time and interest in her. She was waitlisted there. But, she has great options, so no complaints here!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the headline of this post should be "do you know anyone rejected from all their safeties and matches" since that appears to be the question.

Since "rejected from reach" by definition is the expected result.


If they were rejected from safety, it wasn't a safety. IMO schools like GMU, Towson, ODU--Those are true foolproof safeties in my opinion for a high stat student.


PP here - I agree and that I think was the veiled objective of OP.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:There was a girl in my HS who applied basically to all the Ivies...and UNC. She was a UNC legacy (we were NOT in NC).

She was pretty disappointed that Chapel Hill was her ONLY choice.

Most people would have been thrilled with that, especially these days.

I know that isn't exactly shut out, but it is definitely one of those "maybe you needed a better list" situations.



Um, yeah. Anyone taking that approach today is just lucky to have gotten the UNC acceptance.

Not sure how long it will take for people to realize that this approach is stressful and often ends in disappointment when that doesn't need to be the case.

Pick 3+ true safeties (50%+ acceptance rate with your kid at the 75%+, be able to afford it, make sure your kid demonstrates interest and most importantly have them be schools your kid would actually be excited to attend), 2-3+ targets (above 30% acceptance rate, you kid is within the 25-75% but ideally above 50%, be able to afford it) and how ever many reaches you want but realize it's a lottery, where your high stats just give you the honor of getting a "lottery ticket". Most importantly, show demonstrated interest at ALL of the schools, especially the safeties so you are not "yield protected". And do not let your kid fall in love with a Reach school so much that they cannot see themselves anywhere else. It's our job as parents to prepare our kids for reality, so they have a great place to land in college, even if it ends up being a "Safety"
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:One of mine was shut out from Ivies, waitlisted to each Ivy he applied to, had two T20 offers (coveted half tuition merit award at one) and state with honors and full ride. Funny thing is that he is genuinely everything Ivy looks for. I think his Uber competitive public high school had too many good applicants and counselors were too overwhelmed and indifferent to care.


This is NOT responsive to the post.

Let it go...
Anonymous
If this were my kid I would have them take the year to do something fulfilling, become more self reliant, work, etc., etc. It is disappointing I am sure but also really not the end of the world. There are so many things out there other than college straight from high school.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If this were my kid I would have them take the year to do something fulfilling, become more self reliant, work, etc., etc. It is disappointing I am sure but also really not the end of the world. There are so many things out there other than college straight from high school.


If they weren't getting into the desired schools in 2022, there is nothing to say it will be any easier in 2023.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know a kid who was high performing in FCPS, then absolutely tanked junior year, which was DL. Smart, nice kid. Probably ADHD. Not admitted to his “safeties” of JMU, GMU, VCU engineering. He and his parents though colleges would overlook the COVID a disaster and they didn’t.

He’s probably taking the “second chance” route of NOVA guaranteed transfer.

I also know a kid admitted ED who sent a midterm transcript with 2Cs and a D. Put on notice by the college that their offer would be rescinded if the grades didn’t improve. Not quite the same process, but same end result.


So the kid was rescinded?


Kid was told they would be rescinded unless final transcript looked significantly better. Which at this point, it doesn’t
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