TJ - admissions: GPA and essays vulnerable to prep and affluence

[Anonymous]

We’re financially well-off, and some moms assume my kid has tons of tutors, but that’s not true! My husband went to an Ivy League school without any tutors, and our kids are naturally bright like us. They’ve gained so much from free resources like Khan Academy and college textbooks, and when they have questions, we’re always there to help them.

What truly makes a difference is diligence, resilience, hard work, consistency, and good time management. While having a high IQ has helped them save time, spending your time efficiently can lead to the same results. Honestly, many kids don’t use their time effectively, and that holds them back more than anything else. This is one of the reasons why some gifted kids struggle to achieve their potential as they grow older. Those traits matter far more than just relying on enrichment programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

That's exactly why selecting the top 1.5% from each school helps level the playing field!

But it's not the top 1.5%, it's an almost random selection.

Nope it's the top 1.5% based on clear and objective metrics. The problem is some people don't like this because it's hard to manipulate unlike the old system, they don't have a clear advantage.

Again, you seem to not comprehend the word "objective." Go back to your 4th grade homework and let the grown ups handle this discussion.

It's the top 1.5% based mostly on essays. Essay grading is by definition not objective.

Essay grading may not be as objective as something like the PSAT but it's not random.

IME, most of students who were admitted, at my DC's middle school and his friend's middle school, were mostly the students that you would expect, plus a couple more which were a bit of a surprise. IOW, the new admissions process seems to work just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

That's exactly why selecting the top 1.5% from each school helps level the playing field!

But it's not the top 1.5%, it's an almost random selection.

Nope it's the top 1.5% based on clear and objective metrics. The problem is some people don't like this because it's hard to manipulate unlike the old system, they don't have a clear advantage.

Again, you seem to not comprehend the word "objective." Go back to your 4th grade homework and let the grown ups handle this discussion.

It's the top 1.5% based mostly on essays. Essay grading is by definition not objective.

Essay grading may not be as objective as something like the PSAT but it's not random.

IME, most of students who were admitted, at my DC's middle school and his friend's middle school, were mostly the students that you would expect, plus a couple more which were a bit of a surprise. IOW, the new admissions process seems to work just fine.

The reason so many of the kids were good students is because there is self selection in the applicant pool.
There didn't used to be so many admits that got everyone scratching their heads and there didn't used to be so many kids who were likely admits not getting in.
At our middle school, they give a prize for the best students in various subjects. The winner of best algebra student and best geometry student didn't get in and they almost always get in.
The new process adds a lot of randomness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

That's exactly why selecting the top 1.5% from each school helps level the playing field!

But it's not the top 1.5%, it's an almost random selection.

Nope it's the top 1.5% based on clear and objective metrics. The problem is some people don't like this because it's hard to manipulate unlike the old system, they don't have a clear advantage.

Again, you seem to not comprehend the word "objective." Go back to your 4th grade homework and let the grown ups handle this discussion.

It's the top 1.5% based mostly on essays. Essay grading is by definition not objective.

Essay grading may not be as objective as something like the PSAT but it's not random.

IME, most of students who were admitted, at my DC's middle school and his friend's middle school, were mostly the students that you would expect, plus a couple more which were a bit of a surprise. IOW, the new admissions process seems to work just fine.

The reason so many of the kids were good students is because there is self selection in the applicant pool.
There didn't used to be so many admits that got everyone scratching their heads and there didn't used to be so many kids who were likely admits not getting in.
At our middle school, they give a prize for the best students in various subjects. The winner of best algebra student and best geometry student didn't get in and they almost always get in.
The new process adds a lot of randomness.

Student's ethnicity matters, as highlighted in the FCPS news release on TJ offers each year. They are aiming to achieve a predetermined diversity chart. Admissions offers are not done on a merit basis, since there is no merit evaluation. There is just a name sake, silly essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

That's exactly why selecting the top 1.5% from each school helps level the playing field!

But it's not the top 1.5%, it's an almost random selection.

Nope it's the top 1.5% based on clear and objective metrics. The problem is some people don't like this because it's hard to manipulate unlike the old system, they don't have a clear advantage.

Again, you seem to not comprehend the word "objective." Go back to your 4th grade homework and let the grown ups handle this discussion.

It's the top 1.5% based mostly on essays. Essay grading is by definition not objective.

No it's the top 1.5% based on objective metrics like grades and test scores. These aren't as easy to manipulate so people like yourselves try to pretend it's something else in order to push for a return to the older system which was easy to game.

This isn’t accurate. A quick visit to the official fcps website will immediately communicate otherwise.

So …. I’ve read the FCPS website and gone through the admissions process and my kid is at TJ under the new system.

Kids take the test. The top 1.5% who apply automatically get in if they take the test. This is actually grade based. Then some other kids get in if the essays are exceptional.

It feels random. I’ve had parents go - wait- how did your kid get in? And I literally tell them I don’t know.

But I do know my kids grades were all 100% and test wise- 99th. Just a lot of kids mask well to hide their intelligence in middle school to fit in. So it feels random. But it’s not. My kid just doesn’t make being smart their identity. It’s sort of how some people advertise their political affiliation and some don’t. You would never know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

This appears not to be an issue since the entering classes are economically more diverse than any before the change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

That's exactly why selecting the top 1.5% from each school helps level the playing field!

But it's not the top 1.5%, it's an almost random selection.

Nope it's the top 1.5% based on clear and objective metrics. The problem is some people don't like this because it's hard to manipulate unlike the old system, they don't have a clear advantage.

Again, you seem to not comprehend the word "objective." Go back to your 4th grade homework and let the grown ups handle this discussion.

It's the top 1.5% based mostly on essays. Essay grading is by definition not objective.

No it's the top 1.5% based on objective metrics like grades and test scores. These aren't as easy to manipulate so people like yourselves try to pretend it's something else in order to push for a return to the older system which was easy to game.

This isn’t accurate. A quick visit to the official fcps website will immediately communicate otherwise.

So …. I’ve read the FCPS website and gone through the admissions process and my kid is at TJ under the new system.

Kids take the test. The top 1.5% who apply automatically get in if they take the test. This is actually grade based. Then some other kids get in if the essays are exceptional.

It feels random. I’ve had parents go - wait- how did your kid get in? And I literally tell them I don’t know.

But I do know my kids grades were all 100% and test wise- 99th. Just a lot of kids mask well to hide their intelligence in middle school to fit in. So it feels random. But it’s not. My kid just doesn’t make being smart their identity. It’s sort of how some people advertise their political affiliation and some don’t. You would never know.

You’re saying that the admissions test isn’t used to determine acceptance for the top 1.5% of a middle school? As long as they take it at all, they’re in? My understanding was that the admissions test was used to help to determine the top 1.5%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

That's exactly why selecting the top 1.5% from each school helps level the playing field!

But it's not the top 1.5%, it's an almost random selection.

Nope it's the top 1.5% based on clear and objective metrics. The problem is some people don't like this because it's hard to manipulate unlike the old system, they don't have a clear advantage.

Again, you seem to not comprehend the word "objective." Go back to your 4th grade homework and let the grown ups handle this discussion.

It's the top 1.5% based mostly on essays. Essay grading is by definition not objective.

No it's the top 1.5% based on objective metrics like grades and test scores. These aren't as easy to manipulate so people like yourselves try to pretend it's something else in order to push for a return to the older system which was easy to game.

This isn’t accurate. A quick visit to the official fcps website will immediately communicate otherwise.

So …. I’ve read the FCPS website and gone through the admissions process and my kid is at TJ under the new system.

Kids take the test. The top 1.5% who apply automatically get in if they take the test. This is actually grade based. Then some other kids get in if the essays are exceptional.

It feels random. I’ve had parents go - wait- how did your kid get in? And I literally tell them I don’t know.

But I do know my kids grades were all 100% and test wise- 99th. Just a lot of kids mask well to hide their intelligence in middle school to fit in. So it feels random. But it’s not. My kid just doesn’t make being smart their identity. It’s sort of how some people advertise their political affiliation and some don’t. You would never know.

You are incorrect. The top 1.5% is based on the total points from the essays, GPA, and experience factors. The essays and experience factors carry much more weight than GPA. There isn't even really a "test," unless you consider fluff essays to be a test. It's great that your kid had straight As. It's likely that another 50 kids also had straight As (more if the school is Carson or Longfellow or any number of others). It would be impossible for TJ selection to pick the "best" kids based on GPA at any schools other than non-AAP centers in high FARMS areas, since there are way too many kids with all As. A kid with straight 100% grades taking Calculus in 8th grade with national level achievements would be ranked lower than a kid who barely earned straight As taking honors Algebra I if the second kid had an experience factor or wrote slightly (and debatably) stronger essays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

That's exactly why selecting the top 1.5% from each school helps level the playing field!

But it's not the top 1.5%, it's an almost random selection.

Nope it's the top 1.5% based on clear and objective metrics. The problem is some people don't like this because it's hard to manipulate unlike the old system, they don't have a clear advantage.

Again, you seem to not comprehend the word "objective." Go back to your 4th grade homework and let the grown ups handle this discussion.

It's the top 1.5% based mostly on essays. Essay grading is by definition not objective.

Essay grading may not be as objective as something like the PSAT but it's not random.

IME, most of students who were admitted, at my DC's middle school and his friend's middle school, were mostly the students that you would expect, plus a couple more which were a bit of a surprise. IOW, the new admissions process seems to work just fine.

It's debatable how random it truly is, especially when you're looking at fluffy portrait of a graduate essays. It is likely that among A students in Honors or AAP English, they're all decent enough writers. So, the differentiating factor is going to be how much the kid's personal anecdote resonates with the grader. That's completely subjective. For example, if the prompt is along the lines of describing a time you handled a conflict in a group project, and you talk about how you took charge and made sure the work got done, one grader might reward you for being a leader. Another might penalize you for being bossy or controlling. If you honestly have never had a conflict in a group project, you'd be kind of screwed over by this prompt through no real fault of your own.

The same is even true for the problem solving essay. Apparently, being 100% correct and explaining everything well might not be scored as high as someone who is objectively wrong, but had a "creative thought process."

The margins are likely pretty slim between the top scored kids and the ones who won't be admitted. FCPS could fill TJ 4 times over with kids who have nearly perfect GPAs who can also write a decent essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

That's exactly why selecting the top 1.5% from each school helps level the playing field!

But it's not the top 1.5%, it's an almost random selection.

Nope it's the top 1.5% based on clear and objective metrics. The problem is some people don't like this because it's hard to manipulate unlike the old system, they don't have a clear advantage.

Again, you seem to not comprehend the word "objective." Go back to your 4th grade homework and let the grown ups handle this discussion.

It's the top 1.5% based mostly on essays. Essay grading is by definition not objective.

No it's the top 1.5% based on objective metrics like grades and test scores. These aren't as easy to manipulate so people like yourselves try to pretend it's something else in order to push for a return to the older system which was easy to game.

This isn’t accurate. A quick visit to the official fcps website will immediately communicate otherwise.

So …. I’ve read the FCPS website and gone through the admissions process and my kid is at TJ under the new system.

Kids take the test. The top 1.5% who apply automatically get in if they take the test. This is actually grade based. Then some other kids get in if the essays are exceptional.

It feels random. I’ve had parents go - wait- how did your kid get in? And I literally tell them I don’t know.

But I do know my kids grades were all 100% and test wise- 99th. Just a lot of kids mask well to hide their intelligence in middle school to fit in. So it feels random. But it’s not. My kid just doesn’t make being smart their identity. It’s sort of how some people advertise their political affiliation and some don’t. You would never know.

The other kids know your kid is smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple and honest question: Why do so many of you think that GPA and essays are *less* vulnerable to prep and effects of affluence than test scores? Affluent kids with motivated parents likely have been in enrichment classes for quite awhile and are likely ahead. If the kid struggles at all, the affluent parents are likely to get a tutor and shore up any deficiencies the kid might have. If all else fails, the affluent parents are much more likely to badger the teacher and administration until their kid's grade turns into an A. It honestly doesn't seem hard for any parent with the money and motivation to make sure any average kid could get straight As in middle school.

Likewise, it's pretty easy to talk about love for STEM and such when the kid has been attending enrichment and camps for many years. Again, it would also be easy to get prep and tutoring to write a highly polished essay.

With tests like PSAT, while prep helps to some degree, there is a pretty strong limit. Kids who are naturally 99th percentile will likely earn very high scores with no or minimal prep. Kids who are pretty average but privileged will see score increases, but they're still unlikely to earn super high scores. It seems easier for affluent parents to ensure that their kids have straight As and can write strong essays than it would be to ensure that their kid would earn a very high PSAT score.

So what am I missing, here?

This appears not to be an issue since the entering classes are economically more diverse than any before the change.

There is an explicit preference for FARM students. Why do we also have to remove merit to achieve the economic diversity?

[Anonymous]

4 kids applied from DD's school (including her) last cycle. 1 waitlisted, 2 rejected (including my DD), and 1 got in. The one who got in had a mixture of As and Bs at the time of application, same course rigor and math level as DD, who had all A+s. DD got a perfect score on the PSAT 9, the kid who got in was 90th percentile. DD has phenomenal leadership and volunteering ECs she discussed in her PoG essays. Everyone said she should have gotten in.

My DD had no prep. The kid who got in had prep.

Prep absolutely matters.

[Anonymous]

If a STEM school is publicly funded, you would probably want the admission process to select students most likely to make a contribution in STEM fields. You would want some social benefit to accrue from that publically financed science education..

Bronx Science, for example has a number of alums who are Nobel Laureates. They are all, however, 50s and 60s grads. James Madison High in Brooklyn, a non selective public school, also has a number of Laureate alums. Thomas Jefferson has a number of founders of tech startups as alums, but how many grads really contribute in the sciences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4 kids applied from DD's school (including her) last cycle. 1 waitlisted, 2 rejected (including my DD), and 1 got in. The one who got in had a mixture of As and Bs at the time of application, same course rigor and math level as DD, who had all A+s. DD got a perfect score on the PSAT 9, the kid who got in was 90th percentile. DD has phenomenal leadership and volunteering ECs she discussed in her PoG essays. Everyone said she should have gotten in.

My DD had no prep. The kid who got in had prep.

Prep absolutely matters.

Above PP adding that the kid who got in is Asian and my kid is black/latina.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4 kids applied from DD's school (including her) last cycle. 1 waitlisted, 2 rejected (including my DD), and 1 got in. The one who got in had a mixture of As and Bs at the time of application, same course rigor and math level as DD, who had all A+s. DD got a perfect score on the PSAT 9, the kid who got in was 90th percentile. DD has phenomenal leadership and volunteering ECs she discussed in her PoG essays. Everyone said she should have gotten in.

My DD had no prep. The kid who got in had prep.

Prep absolutely matters.

But your daughter got a perfect score and the other kid got in the 90th percentile.
Who had the prep?
Is this for froshmore application?

If this is for the 8th grade application then welcome to the random nature of the application process.
And what kind of prep did they do for essays?