Early Action: Stanford or Princeton

[Anonymous]

New parent to a TJ kid reading this thread. So because of changes in college admissions lately and TJ almost being a negative factor, are fewer TJ kids applying SCEA / REA to HYPS than in the past because it sounds like a waste and you give up an ED chance? Are More applying instead ED to other ivies/UChicago/T20/lower tier schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know odds are slim to none, but would DC from STEM magnet in DC area (TJ) have better chance at Stanford or Princeton for early action? Older sib attends HYM, but this child dream schools are Stanford and Princeton and doesn’t want to try ED at other schools that offer it (although have heard ED helps but EA not so much)

No way to guess but geography gives him a slight advantage at Stanford.

[Anonymous]

These schools tend to select a particular archetype. Your kid could look at kids from the past few years who did get in and see how they compare. Perhaps ask a counselor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New parent to a TJ kid reading this thread. So because of changes in college admissions lately and TJ almost being a negative factor, are fewer TJ kids applying SCEA / REA to HYPS than in the past because it sounds like a waste and you give up an ED chance? Are More applying instead ED to other ivies/UChicago/T20/lower tier schools?

Not a TJ parent. But unless your kid has a significant hook, it's pointless for otherwise bright high-performing suburban kids to apply early to schools like Stanford and Princeton. It's not happening. Save those applications for the regular decision lottery, and use the ED or SCEA card for a slightly lower ranked school where it does make a difference. Two cents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC likes both and can see themselves happy at both although very different. Wants to study CS or engineering and both are in top ten for undergraduate CS programs. Currently has As at TJ. Typical rigor, not exceptional rigor (MVC and LA will be highest math, 7 AP/post AP through junior year) ED not realistic because DC will require need based financial aid and from older sibling saw that FA was surprisingly different even among peer schools. Will encourage DC to research and spend more time thinking about target/safety schools. Don’t know if maybe TJ kids are generally more successful with Princeton or Stanford / which is considered “hardest” to get into

Princeton alum here- I’ve regularly interviewed a number of incredibly qualified TJ students with astounding stats for the last decade and none have been accepted. Unless your child either is truly top of his/her class, has incredible (press worthy) extracurriculars, is a URM, or is a well connected legacy don’t waste the early application.

So who DOES get in then?

[Anonymous]

Just pick the one that is the dream school.

[Anonymous]

So glad my unhooked suburban kid didn't read this board when deciding on where to apply. Otherwise, he might not be at admitted students weekend in Palo Alto right now...

And yes, he realizes it was a heavy dose of good fortune to go along with all the hard work. He backed up he REA app with several EA publics and a couple of rolling safeties. Had other apps to privates ready to go in RA on the likely chance he was rejected at Stanford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So glad my unhooked suburban kid didn't read this board when deciding on where to apply. Otherwise, he might not be at admitted students weekend in Palo Alto right now...

And yes, he realizes it was a heavy dose of good fortune to go along with all the hard work. He backed up he REA app with several EA publics and a couple of rolling safeties. Had other apps to privates ready to go in RA on the likely chance he was rejected at Stanford.

Congrats to your son! From the DMV?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC likes both and can see themselves happy at both although very different. Wants to study CS or engineering and both are in top ten for undergraduate CS programs. Currently has As at TJ. Typical rigor, not exceptional rigor (MVC and LA will be highest math, 7 AP/post AP through junior year) ED not realistic because DC will require need based financial aid and from older sibling saw that FA was surprisingly different even among peer schools. Will encourage DC to research and spend more time thinking about target/safety schools. Don’t know if maybe TJ kids are generally more successful with Princeton or Stanford / which is considered “hardest” to get into

Princeton alum here- I’ve regularly interviewed a number of incredibly qualified TJ students with astounding stats for the last decade and none have been accepted. Unless your child either is truly top of his/her class, has incredible (press worthy) extracurriculars, is a URM, or is a well connected legacy don’t waste the early application.

So who DOES get in then?

Someone does get in. My DC’s HS has kids into all these schools. They all seem bright, hard workers, interesting people but not exceptional among that crowd. But they all are in these places.

[Anonymous]

From what I heard, among the elite school Stanford admits are the most unpredictable at TJ, meaning there are no formulas or patterns of any kind like its peers. Naviance shows the admitted students’ stats varied by large margins. On the contrary Princeton admits always had the absolute highest GPA and SAT. Some were legacy admits, some had prestigious accolades or recognitions on national or international levels in EC.

[Anonymous]

Stanford. Students are much happier, there's no grade deflation, and you're funneled into scarce high paying SV jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC likes both and can see themselves happy at both although very different. Wants to study CS or engineering and both are in top ten for undergraduate CS programs. Currently has As at TJ. Typical rigor, not exceptional rigor (MVC and LA will be highest math, 7 AP/post AP through junior year) ED not realistic because DC will require need based financial aid and from older sibling saw that FA was surprisingly different even among peer schools. Will encourage DC to research and spend more time thinking about target/safety schools. Don’t know if maybe TJ kids are generally more successful with Princeton or Stanford / which is considered “hardest” to get into

Princeton alum here- I’ve regularly interviewed a number of incredibly qualified TJ students with astounding stats for the last decade and none have been accepted. Unless your child either is truly top of his/her class, has incredible (press worthy) extracurriculars, is a URM, or is a well connected legacy don’t waste the early application.

This could have been written almost any alumni interviewer for a top 10 National University (other than the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins).

Pp here and I don’t disagree. It happens that the op specifically asked about Princeton, which I have particular insight on, but given the stats it seems op’s child should generally be targeting a lower school bracket.

I apologize if my post was in any way offensive. It was not meant to offend. I simply wanted to stress the difficulty of getting admitted to many high ranking National Universities. Again, my apologies if I offended you in any manner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC likes both and can see themselves happy at both although very different. Wants to study CS or engineering and both are in top ten for undergraduate CS programs. Currently has As at TJ. Typical rigor, not exceptional rigor (MVC and LA will be highest math, 7 AP/post AP through junior year) ED not realistic because DC will require need based financial aid and from older sibling saw that FA was surprisingly different even among peer schools. Will encourage DC to research and spend more time thinking about target/safety schools. Don’t know if maybe TJ kids are generally more successful with Princeton or Stanford / which is considered “hardest” to get into

Princeton alum here- I’ve regularly interviewed a number of incredibly qualified TJ students with astounding stats for the last decade and none have been accepted. Unless your child either is truly top of his/her class, has incredible (press worthy) extracurriculars, is a URM, or is a well connected legacy don’t waste the early application.

So who DOES get in then?

Someone does get in. My DC’s HS has kids into all these schools. They all seem bright, hard workers, interesting people but not exceptional among that crowd. But they all are in these places.

+1 People need to read these threads with a grain of salt. Kids without traditional hooks DO get accepted early and OP's child is well-positioned to try.

My advice to my junior, OP, is to apply ED if he has a true clear-cut favorite. I have asked him to explain why he prefers x school and his reasons are very specific and well-reasoned. (and FWIW, he is picking a non-Ivy with parents who graduated from the same Ivy). Of course it will be very hard but slightly better odds than RD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC likes both and can see themselves happy at both although very different. Wants to study CS or engineering and both are in top ten for undergraduate CS programs. Currently has As at TJ. Typical rigor, not exceptional rigor (MVC and LA will be highest math, 7 AP/post AP through junior year) ED not realistic because DC will require need based financial aid and from older sibling saw that FA was surprisingly different even among peer schools. Will encourage DC to research and spend more time thinking about target/safety schools. Don’t know if maybe TJ kids are generally more successful with Princeton or Stanford / which is considered “hardest” to get into

Princeton alum here- I’ve regularly interviewed a number of incredibly qualified TJ students with astounding stats for the last decade and none have been accepted. Unless your child either is truly top of his/her class, has incredible (press worthy) extracurriculars, is a URM, or is a well connected legacy don’t waste the early application.

So who DOES get in then?

Someone does get in. My DC’s HS has kids into all these schools. They all seem bright, hard workers, interesting people but not exceptional among that crowd. But they all are in these places.

The problem with super competitive schools like TJ is that there are often a dozen or more extremely qualified students applying to Princeton, Stanford and other top schools in a given year and the colleges aren’t going to take more than one or two at most the odds are a lot more grim if you don’t have a hook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I heard, among the elite school Stanford admits are the most unpredictable at TJ, meaning there are no formulas or patterns of any kind like its peers. Naviance shows the admitted students’ stats varied by large margins. On the contrary Princeton admits always had the absolute highest GPA and SAT. Some were legacy admits, some had prestigious accolades or recognitions on national or international levels in EC.

I believe this. Stanford took 5 kids from our school (not dmv but similar large area) and they were all over the place in terms of profiles.