Any Ivy admits with IMperfect grades?

[Anonymous]

What is the point of this post?

Certainly there are kids getting into Ivies with a few Bs. Unclench and buy that lottery ticket like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

DD got into an Ivy ED this year. Had 3 Bs freshman year during the start of the pandemic but straigtht As the rest of the way with high but not highest rigor. ACT was slightly below mid 50% percent which she submitted. Scored very high in English/Reading sub-section, but low science score dragged her score down but she's not going to be a STEM major so I don't think the low overall score mattered. Goes to a top public high school. I think she got accepted because she was a perfect fit for the school/major she applied for with exceptional essays stating a world problem she wants to help solve with supporting evidence from her ECs involving her local community, as well as exceptional recommendations from her teachers. Unhooked, no national awards, no articles in local newspapers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:David Hogg got into Harvard with a sub-1300 SAT and a 4.2 weighted, which if you know anything about Florida public high schools is like a B/B- average.

David Hogg is exactly the kind of kid Harvard wants. Harvard doesn't care about anybody having perfect grades or a perfect SAT score. These things are not going to get you in.

Bingo.
Ppl here are clueless.

[Anonymous]

Admissions are US colleges are different than Admissions to UK, European and Asian. Even in 2023 (2024) there are so, so many people applying their understanding from their country of origin.

It. Is. Not. Plug. And. Play. Here.

[Anonymous]

Many top private schools do not graduate anyone with an unweighted 4.0.
Then they send 15-30% of the class to the Ivy League.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Unhooked but very ‘pointy’ DC admitted with 4 B+ (fresh/soph yr). Big 3 rigorous course load. Submitted 1560 SAT. Recs from toughest grading teachers. EC (and their achievement/many years of commitment to it) made for highly interesting/unique essays that clearly articulated why the school and intended major aligned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD got into an Ivy ED this year. Had 3 Bs freshman year during the start of the pandemic but straigtht As the rest of the way with high but not highest rigor. ACT was slightly below mid 50% percent which she submitted. Scored very high in English/Reading sub-section, but low science score dragged her score down but she's not going to be a STEM major so I don't think the low overall score mattered. Goes to a top public high school. I think she got accepted because she was a perfect fit for the school/major she applied for with exceptional essays stating a world problem she wants to help solve with supporting evidence from her ECs involving her local community, as well as exceptional recommendations from her teachers. Unhooked, no national awards, no articles in local newspapers.

I love to hear this! Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

We have two kids admitted ED to the same Ivy. Very different candidates.
First kid: 3.7 UW with 34 ACT from independent DMV Catholic HS. 3 AP's and 4 or 5 B or B+ grades. Strong leadership EC's.
Second kid: 4.0 UW with 1560 SAT from different DMV Catholic HS. 13 APs (mostly 5s) with multiple academic honors.

My take is that there is no single formula for top school admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:David Hogg got into Harvard with a sub-1300 SAT and a 4.2 weighted, which if you know anything about Florida public high schools is like a B/B- average.

I was just thinking that maybe the political troll was on holiday vacation, but I guess no rest for the wicked (as my mother used to say)!

Firstly, tests were less inflated then, and you can't really know what his weighted GPA equates to.
Secondly, that kid endured something horrific and rallied and organized to make real change in the world. That shows genuine leadership. I've heard him speak -- he has passion, knowledge and leadership. The data doesn't tell you everything about a student. Not surprised top schools wanted him. But, I would love to be able to discuss the things that the OPs ask, and not to deal with the troll sludge that you like to dredge up and spew.

Have you ever read his tweets? He can barely string together a grammatically correct sentence, even after four years at Harvard.

That doesn't speak very well of Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD got into an Ivy ED this year. Had 3 Bs freshman year during the start of the pandemic but straigtht As the rest of the way with high but not highest rigor. ACT was slightly below mid 50% percent which she submitted. Scored very high in English/Reading sub-section, but low science score dragged her score down but she's not going to be a STEM major so I don't think the low overall score mattered. Goes to a top public high school. I think she got accepted because she was a perfect fit for the school/major she applied for with exceptional essays stating a world problem she wants to help solve with supporting evidence from her ECs involving her local community, as well as exceptional recommendations from her teachers. Unhooked, no national awards, no articles in local newspapers.

I love to hear this! Congratulations!

Thanks! It was very unexpected and she's super excited about attending her college in the Fall. You do not need to obsess over achieving perfect grades and SAT/ACT scores to get into an Ivy or T20 school. Try to develop a passion and get involved in a related EC whether that is on or off campus. Take your time and write a phenomenal essay about your EC. You need multiple revisions before you get the perfect draft. Try to be authentic and do not be aftraid to discuss your failures and what you learned from those failures. Ask you English teacher for help writing your essays; they will be happy to help and best of all it is free. Try to develop a close relationship with your teachers. Those relationships will come in handy when you need recommendations for your applications. Stellar essays and recommendations will strengthen your overall application and might just tip the scale in your favor for admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:David Hogg got into Harvard with a sub-1300 SAT and a 4.2 weighted, which if you know anything about Florida public high schools is like a B/B- average.

I was just thinking that maybe the political troll was on holiday vacation, but I guess no rest for the wicked (as my mother used to say)!

Firstly, tests were less inflated then, and you can't really know what his weighted GPA equates to.
Secondly, that kid endured something horrific and rallied and organized to make real change in the world. That shows genuine leadership. I've heard him speak -- he has passion, knowledge and leadership. The data doesn't tell you everything about a student. Not surprised top schools wanted him. But, I would love to be able to discuss the things that the OPs ask, and not to deal with the troll sludge that you like to dredge up and spew.

Have you ever read his tweets? He can barely string together a grammatically correct sentence, even after four years at Harvard.

That doesn't speak very well of Harvard.

Actually, it speaks volumes re thd pettiness of the poster above who clearly has not watched the White House press secretary in action. And for the record he had a 4.2 and started a national movement while in high school. Did your kid do that? I didn’t think so

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD got into an Ivy ED this year. Had 3 Bs freshman year during the start of the pandemic but straigtht As the rest of the way with high but not highest rigor. ACT was slightly below mid 50% percent which she submitted. Scored very high in English/Reading sub-section, but low science score dragged her score down but she's not going to be a STEM major so I don't think the low overall score mattered. Goes to a top public high school. I think she got accepted because she was a perfect fit for the school/major she applied for with exceptional essays stating a world problem she wants to help solve with supporting evidence from her ECs involving her local community, as well as exceptional recommendations from her teachers. Unhooked, no national awards, no articles in local newspapers.

I love to hear this! Congratulations!

Thanks! It was very unexpected and she's super excited about attending her college in the Fall. You do not need to obsess over achieving perfect grades and SAT/ACT scores to get into an Ivy or T20 school. Try to develop a passion and get involved in a related EC whether that is on or off campus. Take your time and write a phenomenal essay about your EC. You need multiple revisions before you get the perfect draft. Try to be authentic and do not be aftraid to discuss your failures and what you learned from those failures. Ask you English teacher for help writing your essays; they will be happy to help and best of all it is free. Try to develop a close relationship with your teachers. Those relationships will come in handy when you need recommendations for your applications. Stellar essays and recommendations will strengthen your overall application and might just tip the scale in your favor for admission.

I am so sick of hearing about “passions”, “passion projects,” and choosing ECs so it tells story about your passion. It is such BS. Sure, a few kids may have a passion so great that they spend all their free time on things related to this passion. But, for the most part, it is just the new parent strategy to try and get your kid into an IVY. Most of these kids are moving in from their “passion” as soon as they leave high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD got into an Ivy ED this year. Had 3 Bs freshman year during the start of the pandemic but straigtht As the rest of the way with high but not highest rigor. ACT was slightly below mid 50% percent which she submitted. Scored very high in English/Reading sub-section, but low science score dragged her score down but she's not going to be a STEM major so I don't think the low overall score mattered. Goes to a top public high school. I think she got accepted because she was a perfect fit for the school/major she applied for with exceptional essays stating a world problem she wants to help solve with supporting evidence from her ECs involving her local community, as well as exceptional recommendations from her teachers. Unhooked, no national awards, no articles in local newspapers.

I love to hear this! Congratulations!

Thanks! It was very unexpected and she's super excited about attending her college in the Fall. You do not need to obsess over achieving perfect grades and SAT/ACT scores to get into an Ivy or T20 school. Try to develop a passion and get involved in a related EC whether that is on or off campus. Take your time and write a phenomenal essay about your EC. You need multiple revisions before you get the perfect draft. Try to be authentic and do not be aftraid to discuss your failures and what you learned from those failures. Ask you English teacher for help writing your essays; they will be happy to help and best of all it is free. Try to develop a close relationship with your teachers. Those relationships will come in handy when you need recommendations for your applications. Stellar essays and recommendations will strengthen your overall application and might just tip the scale in your favor for admission.

This EXACTLY! Teacher recommendations are crucial. If your kid is the one who gets the recommendation saying this kid is one of the brightest kids I have ever taught, they will have a big boost to get them in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way someone is getting into Harvard with a C jn anything without being from some obscure country, huge donor family or playing college sports

That’s not true. Extraordinary teens who have done some extraordinary things during high school will get in with a C.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD got into an Ivy ED this year. Had 3 Bs freshman year during the start of the pandemic but straigtht As the rest of the way with high but not highest rigor. ACT was slightly below mid 50% percent which she submitted. Scored very high in English/Reading sub-section, but low science score dragged her score down but she's not going to be a STEM major so I don't think the low overall score mattered. Goes to a top public high school. I think she got accepted because she was a perfect fit for the school/major she applied for with exceptional essays stating a world problem she wants to help solve with supporting evidence from her ECs involving her local community, as well as exceptional recommendations from her teachers. Unhooked, no national awards, no articles in local newspapers.

I love to hear this! Congratulations!

Thanks! It was very unexpected and she's super excited about attending her college in the Fall. You do not need to obsess over achieving perfect grades and SAT/ACT scores to get into an Ivy or T20 school. Try to develop a passion and get involved in a related EC whether that is on or off campus. Take your time and write a phenomenal essay about your EC. You need multiple revisions before you get the perfect draft. Try to be authentic and do not be aftraid to discuss your failures and what you learned from those failures. Ask you English teacher for help writing your essays; they will be happy to help and best of all it is free. Try to develop a close relationship with your teachers. Those relationships will come in handy when you need recommendations for your applications. Stellar essays and recommendations will strengthen your overall application and might just tip the scale in your favor for admission.

I am so sick of hearing about “passions”, “passion projects,” and choosing ECs so it tells story about your passion. It is such BS. Sure, a few kids may have a passion so great that they spend all their free time on things related to this passion. But, for the most part, it is just the new parent strategy to try and get your kid into an IVY. Most of these kids are moving in from their “passion” as soon as they leave high school.

DP. You bile overfloweth.

To the PP, congrats to your kid, and that was good advice.

-- Another mom w/ unhooked public school kids at Ivies