Success with Ivy-level admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very top kids at my child's high school (valedictorian, salutatorian and a couple others) got into Ivy-level colleges. The kids (like my DD), who would have had a good shot at some of these schools even 5 years ago, didn't have a chance, and every one is going to a second-tier college or in-state school because of cost.

The top-ranked schools attract a lot of hyper-qualified applicants, so they can pick whomever they want from their applicant pool. These days you need a hook, a 4.0 and at least 1550 on your SAT to even be considered at the top schools.

Kids who aren't interested in working that hard in high school should be realistic about college admissions, even if they are extremely bright. Sure, they'd do fine at Harvard and Yale, but without stats, they don't have the admissions ticket, unless they are a top athlete or have some other unique skill or talent.

I know two superb athletes who went to Princeton and Harvard who are not at the top of their classes academically. But their athletic skill got them admitted.

Yes agree with this, and maybe this is part of what you are saying, but now the unhooked kids (which is really most kids) with 4.0s and 1550 SATs are not even candidates for colleges a step down from ivies.

Private school parent. There is no one with a 4.0 at my kid’s school but I thought most kids with “high stats” got into top 25-ish type places, regardless of hook. Ivies seem to be reserved for cum laude society and kids don’t have a plethora of choices but it seems like most kids get at least into somewhere where they are happy.

I have a rising senior in public school with close to a 4.0uw, 4.7w and 1560 SAT. We’ve been told by his school counselor and private college counselor that T20 colleges are all extremely high reaches for him, to the point that they suggest he focus on the next rung “down” (eg, Wake Forest instead of Emory; Case Western instead of WUSTL).

I hate to say it, but that's the difference in a kid coming from a public school high school, versus comparable stats at a private/ independent school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very top kids at my child's high school (valedictorian, salutatorian and a couple others) got into Ivy-level colleges. The kids (like my DD), who would have had a good shot at some of these schools even 5 years ago, didn't have a chance, and every one is going to a second-tier college or in-state school because of cost.

The top-ranked schools attract a lot of hyper-qualified applicants, so they can pick whomever they want from their applicant pool. These days you need a hook, a 4.0 and at least 1550 on your SAT to even be considered at the top schools.

Kids who aren't interested in working that hard in high school should be realistic about college admissions, even if they are extremely bright. Sure, they'd do fine at Harvard and Yale, but without stats, they don't have the admissions ticket, unless they are a top athlete or have some other unique skill or talent.

I know two superb athletes who went to Princeton and Harvard who are not at the top of their classes academically. But their athletic skill got them admitted.

Yes agree with this, and maybe this is part of what you are saying, but now the unhooked kids (which is really most kids) with 4.0s and 1550 SATs are not even candidates for colleges a step down from ivies.

Private school parent. There is no one with a 4.0 at my kid’s school but I thought most kids with “high stats” got into top 25-ish type places, regardless of hook. Ivies seem to be reserved for cum laude society and kids don’t have a plethora of choices but it seems like most kids get at least into somewhere where they are happy.

I have a rising senior in public school with close to a 4.0uw, 4.7w and 1560 SAT. We’ve been told by his school counselor and private college counselor that T20 colleges are all extremely high reaches for him, to the point that they suggest he focus on the next rung “down” (eg, Wake Forest instead of Emory; Case Western instead of WUSTL).

I hate to say it, but that's the difference in a kid coming from a public school high school, versus comparable stats at a private/ independent school.

Oh please-plenty if privates have grade inflation. At least at most public schools you will be less likely to be competing against fellow students who get a big leg up for being legacies or major donors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

But the unis may have changed their goals for admission - two easy examples, maybe they are admitting more international students or wanted more geo diversity within the US.

Those are big "may" and "maybe" 's.

You'd need to cite evidence or it is easy to dismiss your post.

No need to get huffy. I'm not the PP, but have 2 DCs just going through these last cycles and both of these popped to mind when I read this thread. For example, I am aware of a T20 university with an overseas campus. There is an agreement that the students at the overseas campus will be able to study for one year at the US campus. That school is now having to accommodate two years' worth of students in this coming academic year. Given that, there are not as many openings for the incoming '26 class.

It’s not getting huffy to say “you just made that up without evidence” as people may read this forum, take your statement as fact and make uninformed decisions based on it.

This is a discussion forum. If you make a claim you should be prepared for it to be challenged. Your anecdote above is not evidence, and your lack of mentioning the school is a tell that you can’t support it with any facts.

PP is right - essentially the same number of seats for the same number of students. That’s all verifiable in the CDSs.

LOL. It's Duke and heard directly from a board member. So maybe Duke spun the board member, IDK.

Again, I'm not the PP with the original assertion. I responded because those were the first two points that also crossed my mind based on college search, tours, etc over the last three years. You can still have the same number of seats but fill a fair percentage of them with international students. That translates into a smaller pool of seats available for US applicants.

Again, no need to be huffy. You could have framed everything you did above without immediately accusing people of acting in bad faith. This is DCUM, not a Congressional hearing.

Duke CDS Enrollees:

2021: 538 non-resident aliens
2020: 631
2019: 636

I guess we'll have to wait for the next CDS to absolutely check what you heard, but the current data, for the "last three years", shows the number as around 10% and declining slightly. Enrollments are what matter, if they are taking the same number of enrollees, there is no net reduction.

If requiring facts and one minute of research makes me "Huffy", then I embrace huffy, and feel there is a total need for facts and none for "may and maybe"s. This process is hard enough on people.

Have a great day, and try not to be so sensitive when you have your facts checked.

Again, as I posted, these are students enrolled on their overseas campus who are promised one year (semester?) on Duke's campus. According to the board member, they have two years' worth of those students who have not been able to attend Duke due to COVID and now need to be accommodated. IDK where the campus is or if the non-resident alien (technically not NRA if not in the USA) numbers of students enrolled on overseas campuses are reflected in the CDS, but somehow, according to this board member, they have to be housed this school year.

And again, LOL. I'm not being sensitive. I am just suggesting that your communications style may be lacking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

Hmmm, I know a handful of students with stellar records, ECs, published research, etc shut of out of Ivies this cycle. Still in shock over one. Assumed they were going to be one and done in ED1, but not until RD and then rejected at Ivy after being deferred in ED and rejected at another.

Not being a crapshoot doesn’t mean a guaranteed admission, but a significant probability of being accepted by one of those (again it’s not 100%). It’s a statistical concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

But the unis may have changed their goals for admission - two easy examples, maybe they are admitting more international students or wanted more geo diversity within the US.

Those are big "may" and "maybe" 's.

You'd need to cite evidence or it is easy to dismiss your post.

No need to get huffy. I'm not the PP, but have 2 DCs just going through these last cycles and both of these popped to mind when I read this thread. For example, I am aware of a T20 university with an overseas campus. There is an agreement that the students at the overseas campus will be able to study for one year at the US campus. That school is now having to accommodate two years' worth of students in this coming academic year. Given that, there are not as many openings for the incoming '26 class.

It’s not getting huffy to say “you just made that up without evidence” as people may read this forum, take your statement as fact and make uninformed decisions based on it.

This is a discussion forum. If you make a claim you should be prepared for it to be challenged. Your anecdote above is not evidence, and your lack of mentioning the school is a tell that you can’t support it with any facts.

PP is right - essentially the same number of seats for the same number of students. That’s all verifiable in the CDSs.

LOL. It's Duke and heard directly from a board member. So maybe Duke spun the board member, IDK.

Again, I'm not the PP with the original assertion. I responded because those were the first two points that also crossed my mind based on college search, tours, etc over the last three years. You can still have the same number of seats but fill a fair percentage of them with international students. That translates into a smaller pool of seats available for US applicants.

Again, no need to be huffy. You could have framed everything you did above without immediately accusing people of acting in bad faith. This is DCUM, not a Congressional hearing.

Duke CDS Enrollees:

2021: 538 non-resident aliens
2020: 631
2019: 636

I guess we'll have to wait for the next CDS to absolutely check what you heard, but the current data, for the "last three years", shows the number as around 10% and declining slightly. Enrollments are what matter, if they are taking the same number of enrollees, there is no net reduction.

If requiring facts and one minute of research makes me "Huffy", then I embrace huffy, and feel there is a total need for facts and none for "may and maybe"s. This process is hard enough on people.

Have a great day, and try not to be so sensitive when you have your facts checked.

Again, as I posted, these are students enrolled on their overseas campus who are promised one year (semester?) on Duke's campus. According to the board member, they have two years' worth of those students who have not been able to attend Duke due to COVID and now need to be accommodated. IDK where the campus is or if the non-resident alien (technically not NRA if not in the USA) numbers of students enrolled on overseas campuses are reflected in the CDS, but somehow, according to this board member, they have to be housed this school year.

And again, LOL. I'm not being sensitive. I am just suggesting that your communications style may be lacking.

A classic ad hominem, Which is what you do when you don’t have any facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

So, be more precise please and tell us the big secret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

So, be more precise please and tell us the big secret.

Don’t feed the troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

So, be more precise please and tell us the big secret.

Don’t feed the troll.

There is no secret. All these have been discussed to death on the Internet. You just didn’t want to believe it. Keep hiding your head in the sand. That’s ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

So, be more precise please and tell us the big secret.

My kids are not at HYPSM, but I agree. My kids had high academic stats and good/not great EC got into the the next level lower schools. However, the students from my kid's public school that get into those schools have that something special (that just be republicated), in addition to the high stats. One of them is an amazing musician and scientist and also a high level varsity athlete, going to Princeton. The one who got into MIT, is so savvy with Tech that they bill themselves out to for techservices to legit companies and sold a patent for an app. The girl who got into Harvard has been a passionate environmental activist since she was in elementary school, in addition to all of the other extra curricular activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

So, be more precise please and tell us the big secret.

My kids are not at HYPSM, but I agree. My kids had high academic stats and good/not great EC got into the the next level lower schools. However, the students from my kid's public school that get into those schools have that something special (that just be republicated), in addition to the high stats. One of them is an amazing musician and scientist and also a high level varsity athlete, going to Princeton. The one who got into MIT, is so savvy with Tech that they bill themselves out to for techservices to legit companies and sold a patent for an app. The girl who got into Harvard has been a passionate environmental activist since she was in elementary school, in addition to all of the other extra curricular activities.

I meant to write can't be republicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

So, be more precise please and tell us the big secret.

My kids are not at HYPSM, but I agree. My kids had high academic stats and good/not great EC got into the the next level lower schools. However, the students from my kid's public school that get into those schools have that something special (that just be republicated), in addition to the high stats. One of them is an amazing musician and scientist and also a high level varsity athlete, going to Princeton. The one who got into MIT, is so savvy with Tech that they bill themselves out to for techservices to legit companies and sold a patent for an app. The girl who got into Harvard has been a passionate environmental activist since she was in elementary school, in addition to all of the other extra curricular activities.

I meant to write can't be republicated.

I agree with this. There is not formula, as much as folks want one. The kids who get in these days are for the most part special in some way (other than grades and test scores)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

So, be more precise please and tell us the big secret.

My kids are not at HYPSM, but I agree. My kids had high academic stats and good/not great EC got into the the next level lower schools. However, the students from my kid's public school that get into those schools have that something special (that just be republicated), in addition to the high stats. One of them is an amazing musician and scientist and also a high level varsity athlete, going to Princeton. The one who got into MIT, is so savvy with Tech that they bill themselves out to for techservices to legit companies and sold a patent for an app. The girl who got into Harvard has been a passionate environmental activist since she was in elementary school, in addition to all of the other extra curricular activities.

Yes it's called Legacy, URM, or recruited athlete. Better if you have all 3. That is your special something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

So, be more precise please and tell us the big secret.

My kids are not at HYPSM, but I agree. My kids had high academic stats and good/not great EC got into the the next level lower schools. However, the students from my kid's public school that get into those schools have that something special (that just be republicated), in addition to the high stats. One of them is an amazing musician and scientist and also a high level varsity athlete, going to Princeton. The one who got into MIT, is so savvy with Tech that they bill themselves out to for techservices to legit companies and sold a patent for an app. The girl who got into Harvard has been a passionate environmental activist since she was in elementary school, in addition to all of the other extra curricular activities.

Yes it's called Legacy, URM, or recruited athlete. Better if you have all 3. That is your special something.

PP- Sometimes that is it, but I disagree. One of my kids is an athlete and very good, but not great. He was able to parley that into admissions into some high D3 schools (UAA, NESAC and Swarthmore), but had no chance at HYPSM or any other ivy. Also one of my kids wanted to go to UChicago, my husband's alma mater and had high stats (4.7 and 1580SATs) rejected. The kid we know that is going to UChicago, is more interesting and smarter than my kid and neither of his parents went to University of Chicago. There are a lot of great kids out there, and some just rise to the highest level!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

So, be more precise please and tell us the big secret.

My kids are not at HYPSM, but I agree. My kids had high academic stats and good/not great EC got into the the next level lower schools. However, the students from my kid's public school that get into those schools have that something special (that just be republicated), in addition to the high stats. One of them is an amazing musician and scientist and also a high level varsity athlete, going to Princeton. The one who got into MIT, is so savvy with Tech that they bill themselves out to for techservices to legit companies and sold a patent for an app. The girl who got into Harvard has been a passionate environmental activist since she was in elementary school, in addition to all of the other extra curricular activities.

Yes it's called Legacy, URM, or recruited athlete. Better if you have all 3. That is your special something.

Not always. There are kids that get in without one of these, but have something else. Also, even with legacy, you need the grades, scores + generally.