Do you know a kid who was screwed in the college process in last few years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Immediately after Floyd’s murder many schools increased their diversity efforts. That combined with the sudden test optional/blind practices (mostly due to Covid but also partly because of diversity pushes) created some new obstacles for the unhooked but academically strong. That period contributed to the anti DEI sentiment of today.

With many things, when the pendulum swings too far one way, it often overcorrects in the other.

Admissions were particularly brutal for the HS class of ‘21, since there were fewer slots following many deferred admissions from the year before, due to Covid.

Class of 2021 had it the worst bc it was such a shock. Plenty of top kids missed out on their top choices and ended up at decent, but not super selective schools. Classes of 2022 and 2023 knew it was going to be rough so were mostly able to readjust expectations. By 2024, things seemed to have leveled off and maybe improved for applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid! Waitlisted at UVA and NEU. 3.98/4.5, 1560. 9 APs/2 DE. CS major. He did NOT take AP lang/lit. I'm sure that was the killer. Really hoping that 760V and A's in honors would have helped. Oh well. Kid is happy
Direct admit to UMD with Honors placement and merit.

You mentioned nothing about ECs, job, leadership, etc. maybe that was the problem.

You're right, I didn't go into his entire resume
NMSF, Varsity athlete, founded/led school club, CS related internship with small non profit, Github project, PT employment Jr/Sr year and summer, self taught musician

Wow. Impressive. Was your kid applying as CS from a large public HS with a lot of other similarly situated kids?

Thank you. Yep, large NOVA HS. I know he's not unique, but still bitter!

[Anonymous]

I had a friend who was screwed (likely because she is Asian). She ended at becoming a doctor and is now CMO at a health care company. Super successful - no long term damage!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid! Waitlisted at UVA and NEU. 3.98/4.5, 1560. 9 APs/2 DE. CS major. He did NOT take AP lang/lit. I'm sure that was the killer. Really hoping that 760V and A's in honors would have helped. Oh well. Kid is happy
Direct admit to UMD with Honors placement and merit.

You mentioned nothing about ECs, job, leadership, etc. maybe that was the problem.

You're right, I didn't go into his entire resume
NMSF, Varsity athlete, founded/led school club, CS related internship with small non profit, Github project, PT employment Jr/Sr year and summer, self taught musician

Wow. Impressive. Was your kid applying as CS from a large public HS with a lot of other similarly situated kids?

Thank you. Yep, large NOVA HS. I know he's not unique, but still bitter!

I am sure he will do great things. And unlike others here, I think its ok to be bitter. I think of how much a kid like yours has sacrificed. Hopefully, college is an easy breeze and he can enjoy himself without stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top of class, 1590 sat, 36 ACT, great EC's, national awards, 15 AP's, denied everywhere, even UChicago EDII and now at Michigan. Could have been that the letter of recommendations were not the greatest. That's the problem with holisitic admissions. Everything could be perfect but the schools are just looking for something else.

How did he manage to attend Michigan after being denied?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Immediately after Floyd’s murder many schools increased their diversity efforts. That combined with the sudden test optional/blind practices (mostly due to Covid but also partly because of diversity pushes) created some new obstacles for the unhooked but academically strong. That period contributed to the anti DEI sentiment of today.

With many things, when the pendulum swings too far one way, it often overcorrects in the other.

Admissions were particularly brutal for the HS class of ‘21, since there were fewer slots following many deferred admissions from the year before, due to Covid.

Rephrasing: after George Floyd's murder, white people suddenly realized the continuing disadvantages of racism. Some institutions made attempts to make things more fair by removing some of the advantages white students had received for generations.

[Anonymous]

No. What I have seen though, is students with high test scores, excellent grades and extracurricular activities that check lots of boxes — who aren’t necessarily curious or genuinely well-rounded people, who don’t always stand out from other similarly accomplished kids applying to an unfortunately limited number of schools. They’re not all going to get in — unless those admirable qualities are sufficient for the particular schools they’re applying to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is all relative. A kid can is screwed if someone with lower stats gets accepted and you don't. But is has be significantly lower stats.

When I hear about such cases, I am always skeptical that the person who got "screwed" actually knows the other kid's stats, and it is impossible that they know all the information about the other kid that caused the admissions committee to accept that kid and reject the other kid.

You didn't get screwed just because the college didn't take all 60,000 applications, rank them in order of GPA and test scores, and then offer admission to the top 10,000 applications without looking at anything else.

[Anonymous]

No. What I have seen though, is students with high test scores, excellent grades and extracurricular activities that check lots of boxes — who aren’t necessarily curious or genuinely well-rounded people, who don’t always stand out from other similarly accomplished kids applying to an unfortunately limited number of schools. They’re not all going to get in — unless those admirable qualities are sufficient for the particular schools they’re applying to.

This exactly - every kid I know that folks say was “screwed” just applied to a the same set of tippy top schools because of the brand and thinks scores are going to get them in. And poor thing has to go to honors college at the state flagship and folks act like it’s some type of tragedy. I think for a kid that can’t think past HYP, Duke, Mich but won’t apply to other schools in top 30 - honestly honors college at a strong state school is actually the best fit.

[Anonymous]

Getting screwed implies they were entitled to something. So, no. Nobody is entitled to a spot at any college. Except maybe those auto admits but even then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is all relative. A kid can is screwed if someone with lower stats gets accepted and you don't. But is has be significantly lower stats.

When I hear about such cases, I am always skeptical that the person who got "screwed" actually knows the other kid's stats, and it is impossible that they know all the information about the other kid that caused the admissions committee to accept that kid and reject the other kid.

You didn't get screwed just because the college didn't take all 60,000 applications, rank them in order of GPA and test scores, and then offer admission to the top 10,000 applications without looking at anything else.

Yes but if a 36/1580, valedictorian, class president and varsity capt of championship sports team with maybe something else (national award in major related activity) doesn't get in, but others with demonstrably lower stats (per teachers) are getting in, that kid was screwed.

absolutely.
and yes, its part of life and it happens. but yes, it was being screwed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid! Waitlisted at UVA and NEU. 3.98/4.5, 1560. 9 APs/2 DE. CS major. He did NOT take AP lang/lit. I'm sure that was the killer. Really hoping that 760V and A's in honors would have helped. Oh well. Kid is happy
Direct admit to UMD with Honors placement and merit.

Sounds like this kid?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1k968dy/got_screwednow_what/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immediately after Floyd’s murder many schools increased their diversity efforts. That combined with the sudden test optional/blind practices (mostly due to Covid but also partly because of diversity pushes) created some new obstacles for the unhooked but academically strong. That period contributed to the anti DEI sentiment of today.

With many things, when the pendulum swings too far one way, it often overcorrects in the other.

Admissions were particularly brutal for the HS class of ‘21, since there were fewer slots following many deferred admissions from the year before, due to Covid.

Rephrasing: after George Floyd's murder, white people suddenly realized the continuing disadvantages of racism. Some institutions made attempts to make things more fair by removing some of the advantages white students had received for generations.

Advantages like studying for standardized tests and doing well on them?

Our small private placed 2 black girls at Yale test optional in 2022. No advanced classes. These girls are so disadvantaged they have never set foot in a public school in their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Rejected by two in-state more "selective" schools that should be serving the state but are instead being run like criminal enterprises. It's sick.

When your kid didn’t get into UVA or W&M from a NOVA public and you’ve lost all touch with reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is all relative. A kid can is screwed if someone with lower stats gets accepted and you don't. But is has be significantly lower stats.

When I hear about such cases, I am always skeptical that the person who got "screwed" actually knows the other kid's stats, and it is impossible that they know all the information about the other kid that caused the admissions committee to accept that kid and reject the other kid.

You didn't get screwed just because the college didn't take all 60,000 applications, rank them in order of GPA and test scores, and then offer admission to the top 10,000 applications without looking at anything else.

Yes but if a 36/1580, valedictorian, class president and varsity capt of championship sports team with maybe something else (national award in major related activity) doesn't get in, but others with demonstrably lower stats (per teachers) are getting in, that kid was screwed.

absolutely.
and yes, its part of life and it happens. but yes, it was being screwed.

That is ridiculous. There are more kids like that than spots every year. I think there are something like 30,000 high school valedictorians alone every single year.