Did your kid go to a T100-T200 school? Tell me here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP: back to see what you all had to say and in reading this thread seeing some comments were deleted which is strange. For PP's who posted school lists please re-post if you don't mind!

Anyone with experience with University of Hawaii? I know that's slightly lower than T200 but curious - DC was intrigued by the focus on Asian studies/Japanese. They don't have a true "pre-law" but rather legal studies. Worried it's a suitcase school with such a high % of non-mainland students…

3.9 UW, excellent EC's and out of school volunteerism both with long time commitment & leadership. Rigorous class schedule, two different Honors science classes per year so far (school offers as EC's in other subjects apart from the usual Bio/Chem etc. e.g. Neuroscience Honors). DC is in 10th grade, we have time but I'd like to learn more about options all over the board vs. just focusing on T20 schools that seem so incredibly hard to get into year in/year out based on what I read on the boards here. Trying to cast a wide net, not have DC get their heart set on one school and feel celebratory when the time comes they get into a school they love based on what it offers and the fit and not that it fits into some mold of a "name" or rank.

A student doesn't have to major in pre-law to become a lawyer. The types of schools my kid was looking at might have a pre-law advisor but not a pre-law major--they'd major in any subject of their choice.

[Anonymous]

DS is finishing is sophomore year at Delaware. We are instate(moved from MD) and I'm an alum, but I'm sure he would've gotten in regardless. His HS stats were 3.3 GPA, 1230 SAT(?), URM, private school alum(on level similar to Bullis), athlete. He's working in a sports related job on campus and is looking into sports/entertainment related careers after graduating. He says Delaware is about 7/8 so he likes the school. I was definitely concerned about the fact that our instate options are very minimal, but we had to move as the COL was impacting our quality of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Towards the bottom of T30 schools are not extremely selective such as UF, WF, UNC, UVA.
Some T50 schools are more selective than these.
The first cut off would be T25

This is so out of touch and wrong it’s not funny. UNC has an OOS acceptance rate of 8%. UVA has an OOS acceptance rate of 12%.

Just for OOS, 12% is still higher than Tufts and 8% is still higher than Northeastern.

Yes, other extremely selective schools are also extremely selective

Those schools are mainly for in-state students.
Around 25% for instate. 1 out of 4 gets in.
It's not considered extremely selective overall.

Until you look at stats required. Only 25% of people who are in the top 5% of stats get in. You need to do two layers of math when thinking about selectivity.

Of course, extremely selective schools have both extremely low acceptance rate and very very high stat kids as you said.
UVA and UNC don't have extremely low acceptance rate with relatively very high stat kids, but again even their stats are lower than some of the T50 schools.

[Anonymous]

New Mexico, Kansas, Michigan State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UF is about $28k OOS, less than $50k / yr all-in including room and board. Gainesville has a regional airport, but Orlando is also less than 2 hours. Not a suitcase school.

UF is a top school and hard to get into OOS

It's also ranked in the top 30. Not the criteria OP is looking for.

Well, to be fair DC is not opposed to T30 school this is more me learning about what is out there apart from extremely selective schools.

We're CA based. Yes, will be leaning into UC options as well - Berkeley is the dream but again, trying to avoid getting hearts set on one school.

If you have the stats to apply to Berkeley, you do not have to step down to T100-200. You will find plenty of schools in the 40-100 range, many will give your kid merit/honor program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Towards the bottom of T30 schools are not extremely selective such as UF, WF, UNC, UVA.
Some T50 schools are more selective than these.
The first cut off would be T25

This is so out of touch and wrong it’s not funny. UNC has an OOS acceptance rate of 8%. UVA has an OOS acceptance rate of 12%.

Just for OOS, 12% is still higher than Tufts and 8% is still higher than Northeastern.

Yeah and for the $900M lottery, my chances "are higher if I purchase 2 tickets instead of 1" But the difference is miniscule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP: back to see what you all had to say and in reading this thread seeing some comments were deleted which is strange. For PP's who posted school lists please re-post if you don't mind!

Anyone with experience with University of Hawaii? I know that's slightly lower than T200 but curious - DC was intrigued by the focus on Asian studies/Japanese. They don't have a true "pre-law" but rather legal studies. Worried it's a suitcase school with such a high % of non-mainland students…

3.9 UW, excellent EC's and out of school volunteerism both with long time commitment & leadership. Rigorous class schedule, two different Honors science classes per year so far (school offers as EC's in other subjects apart from the usual Bio/Chem etc. e.g. Neuroscience Honors). DC is in 10th grade, we have time but I'd like to learn more about options all over the board vs. just focusing on T20 schools that seem so incredibly hard to get into year in/year out based on what I read on the boards here. Trying to cast a wide net, not have DC get their heart set on one school and feel celebratory when the time comes they get into a school they love based on what it offers and the fit and not that it fits into some mold of a "name" or rank.

A student doesn't have to major in pre-law to become a lawyer. The types of schools my kid was looking at might have a pre-law advisor but not a pre-law major--they'd major in any subject of their choice.

+1. Do not worry about pre-law. You can major in just about anything and get into a good law school, if you grades and LSATs are good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that even T100 schools are pretty difficult to get into these days.

Plenty in the Top 100 that are not that difficult if a kid has the stats to actually try for UC Berkeley.

There are T100 schools still accepting students for Fall---Marquette being one. Even their College of Engineering avg SAT is ~1320 (the avg is lower for all other "schools").
In the 60-100 range, most schools are fairly easy for a kid with a 1350+ to get into, just have to demonstrate interest so they don't think they are your safety school.
Also have Gonzaga with a 75% acceptance rate and similar statistics (but they are not accepting students for the fall---they got enough).

It is the T50 that are harder, but even those in the 30-50 range, if your kid is "Berkeley competitive" they have a decent chance at many there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP: back to see what you all had to say and in reading this thread seeing some comments were deleted which is strange. For PP's who posted school lists please re-post if you don't mind!

Anyone with experience with University of Hawaii? I know that's slightly lower than T200 but curious - DC was intrigued by the focus on Asian studies/Japanese. They don't have a true "pre-law" but rather legal studies. Worried it's a suitcase school with such a high % of non-mainland students…

3.9 UW, excellent EC's and out of school volunteerism both with long time commitment & leadership. Rigorous class schedule, two different Honors science classes per year so far (school offers as EC's in other subjects apart from the usual Bio/Chem etc. e.g. Neuroscience Honors). DC is in 10th grade, we have time but I'd like to learn more about options all over the board vs. just focusing on T20 schools that seem so incredibly hard to get into year in/year out based on what I read on the boards here. Trying to cast a wide net, not have DC get their heart set on one school and feel celebratory when the time comes they get into a school they love based on what it offers and the fit and not that it fits into some mold of a "name" or rank.

A student doesn't have to major in pre-law to become a lawyer. The types of schools my kid was looking at might have a pre-law advisor but not a pre-law major--they'd major in any subject of their choice.

+1. Do not worry about pre-law. You can major in just about anything and get into a good law school, if you grades and LSATs are good enough.

+1

In fact, just like med school, law schools like to see applicants that major in what they love/are passionate about. Sure major in Political science if that's truly your interest, but so while 40%+ of all law school applicants (or some high number). But someone who majors in math or data science or engineering will have a more exciting applications (and path to patent law/tech law if desired) or any thing you will do well in and be passionate about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP,

I set up the same parameters for my kid’s search. They still applied - and were accepted to Top 50 schools, but they were non-starters for us too because of the costs.

Check out the schools listed by US News as regional schools. Some are not nationally ranked because they are too small, while others are usually below 150 to the mid 200s. Most give generous merit scholarships and many have Honors Colleges or Honors Programs. My DC attends St. Joseph’s University aka St. Joe’s in Philadelphia. A Jesuit school with 4,000 undergrads, the school provides advising from freshman year on, and colleges of pharmacy, arts & science, business, nursing, education, and liberal arts. They also have many combined 3-2 health certification programs such as PA.

DC graduated from a local DMV private with a 3.5 and a 1440 SAT. They were not accepted into St. Joe’s small honors program because of their low-ish HS GPA. They’ve excelled at SJU, being a big fish in a little pond. Lots of great internships, shadowships, study abroad, and honors programs, and hands-on attention from professors. Majoring in finance, this summer they’ll be interning at a best in class global firm with an intern acceptance rate of only 2%.

We read somewhere, early in our search, a research study showing that the best indicator of success is where a kid applies. If they see themselves at Georgetown or Penn, for example, they’ll achieve at that level.

Good luck to your DC.

I can guarantee you that is doctored in some some way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP: back to see what you all had to say and in reading this thread seeing some comments were deleted which is strange. For PP's who posted school lists please re-post if you don't mind!

Anyone with experience with University of Hawaii? I know that's slightly lower than T200 but curious - DC was intrigued by the focus on Asian studies/Japanese. They don't have a true "pre-law" but rather legal studies. Worried it's a suitcase school with such a high % of non-mainland students…

3.9 UW, excellent EC's and out of school volunteerism both with long time commitment & leadership. Rigorous class schedule, two different Honors science classes per year so far (school offers as EC's in other subjects apart from the usual Bio/Chem etc. e.g. Neuroscience Honors). DC is in 10th grade, we have time but I'd like to learn more about options all over the board vs. just focusing on T20 schools that seem so incredibly hard to get into year in/year out based on what I read on the boards here. Trying to cast a wide net, not have DC get their heart set on one school and feel celebratory when the time comes they get into a school they love based on what it offers and the fit and not that it fits into some mold of a "name" or rank.

A student doesn't have to major in pre-law to become a lawyer. The types of schools my kid was looking at might have a pre-law advisor but not a pre-law major--they'd major in any subject of their choice.

+1. Do not worry about pre-law. You can major in just about anything and get into a good law school, if you grades and LSATs are good enough.

+2. If anything, think about what kind of lawyer that you want to be. It may be that you're best off with an accounting major if you want to do tax law or a STEM major if you anticipate taking the patent bar or a language if you want international.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP,

I set up the same parameters for my kid’s search. They still applied - and were accepted to Top 50 schools, but they were non-starters for us too because of the costs.

Check out the schools listed by US News as regional schools. Some are not nationally ranked because they are too small, while others are usually below 150 to the mid 200s. Most give generous merit scholarships and many have Honors Colleges or Honors Programs. My DC attends St. Joseph’s University aka St. Joe’s in Philadelphia. A Jesuit school with 4,000 undergrads, the school provides advising from freshman year on, and colleges of pharmacy, arts & science, business, nursing, education, and liberal arts. They also have many combined 3-2 health certification programs such as PA.

DC graduated from a local DMV private with a 3.5 and a 1440 SAT. They were not accepted into St. Joe’s small honors program because of their low-ish HS GPA. They’ve excelled at SJU, being a big fish in a little pond. Lots of great internships, shadowships, study abroad, and honors programs, and hands-on attention from professors. Majoring in finance, this summer they’ll be interning at a best in class global firm with an intern acceptance rate of only 2%.

We read somewhere, early in our search, a research study showing that the best indicator of success is where a kid applies. If they see themselves at Georgetown or Penn, for example, they’ll achieve at that level.

Good luck to your DC.

I can guarantee you that is doctored in some some way.

They went to a DC private. It may be a matter of dad asking a golfing buddy for a favor. When people talk about the name of the school not mattering for UMC and UC kids it's because those kids have networks to rely on instead of the college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UF is about $28k OOS, less than $50k / yr all-in including room and board. Gainesville has a regional airport, but Orlando is also less than 2 hours. Not a suitcase school.

UF is a top school and hard to get into OOS

It's also ranked in the top 30. Not the criteria OP is looking for.

Well, to be fair DC is not opposed to T30 school this is more me learning about what is out there apart from extremely selective schools.

We're CA based. Yes, will be leaning into UC options as well - Berkeley is the dream but again, trying to avoid getting hearts set on one school.

Looks like DC has great stats! I'd not discount UC colleges. There are several great options.
You need to decide what she wants to study and create a list of schools based on ranking (for her subject of study), overall ranking, location preferences, Private/Public, etc. Then dig into who will reasonably take her. She may have the grades to get into Harvard, but so do thousands of others. However, a school like UF, while ranked in the top 30, may be a better shot and also affordable. You could also target Private Liberal Arts colleges if they offer your DC's intended program of study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP: back to see what you all had to say and in reading this thread seeing some comments were deleted which is strange. For PP's who posted school lists please re-post if you don't mind!

Anyone with experience with University of Hawaii? I know that's slightly lower than T200 but curious - DC was intrigued by the focus on Asian studies/Japanese. They don't have a true "pre-law" but rather legal studies. Worried it's a suitcase school with such a high % of non-mainland students…

3.9 UW, excellent EC's and out of school volunteerism both with long time commitment & leadership. Rigorous class schedule, two different Honors science classes per year so far (school offers as EC's in other subjects apart from the usual Bio/Chem etc. e.g. Neuroscience Honors). DC is in 10th grade, we have time but I'd like to learn more about options all over the board vs. just focusing on T20 schools that seem so incredibly hard to get into year in/year out based on what I read on the boards here. Trying to cast a wide net, not have DC get their heart set on one school and feel celebratory when the time comes they get into a school they love based on what it offers and the fit and not that it fits into some mold of a "name" or rank.

A student doesn't have to major in pre-law to become a lawyer. The types of schools my kid was looking at might have a pre-law advisor but not a pre-law major--they'd major in any subject of their choice.

+1. Do not worry about pre-law. You can major in just about anything and get into a good law school, if you grades and LSATs are good enough.

+2. If anything, think about what kind of lawyer that you want to be. It may be that you're best off with an accounting major if you want to do tax law or a STEM major if you anticipate taking the patent bar or a language if you want international.

OP here, this is great to know.

[Anonymous]

University of Cincinnati