Distinguishing your application

[Anonymous]

OP have you give to a local delegate, Congressman or Senator? Even if you haven’t, contact those offices and see if they can use your daughter as an intern. My DD did this in a House subcommittee for a congressman we had supported. Basically paper pushing but great resume entree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless she wants T15/ivy she does not need to do anything else than have top grades with max or close to max rigor and a couple of ECs she cares about. She has enough ECs for most schools below T15. She should make sure scores grades and coursework are up to par for the schools she is targeting T16-30. Below that it gets easier.

If she wants T15/ivy she’d better be very close to the top of her class at public, or for a private/top magnet like TJ, top10% or at least 15%, and she better have maxed out on rigor plus have great LOR that indicate she will be a good citizen on campus in and out of the classroom. She needs to show deep involvement with at least two ECs and needs to be able to convey why she cares about them. Some academic accolades/awards would be nice such as acceptance to selective summer programs or local/regional awards at a minimum. As a junior it is a little late to develop a deep EC interest that is genuine.

She is looking for T15/Ivy....
She has the grades, the rigor, and a 1520. Retaking.
Looking at political science, public policy, or sociology. Natl counseling firm thinks it's a stretch given no national awards or published research. They said her application is indistinguishable from thousands of other high-achieving girls interested in poli sci.
They are suggesting an ED1 to Emory, which seems strange (ED2 there might make sense?)

What types of things might make her distinctive or memorable enough to be admitted?

Whats wrong with Emory ED1, u less she doesn't like Emory, but a 1520 isnt high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got into HYP w similar but..

- National MUN award
- critical language capability but not fluency
- essay prize in narrow geopolitical issue
-1530 sat

I'd say try to get the sat up a bit but that's not such a big deal. Nailing down a state or national award is important. Does she do debate?

I'd ask her to focus on an issue and write about in it school newspaper, john Locke essay , local newspaper. Topical but not already front page stuff. Something that came up via debate or MUN maybe. Korean internal politics. Looking at high speed rails in Japan vs LA. Something like that.

T15 always tough

But Georgetown isn't nearly as hard
Cornell policy school if really wants ivy
Macalaster w merit. IR/govt dept as strong as Georgetown for cheaper price.
Scripps as safety w access to CMC and Pomona majors

I wouldn't ED to Emory unless she wants it

Yes, Cornell ILR is not as hard, especially if NY residents.

Brooks (public policy) is not the same as ILR.....

You are right, they are not. But these two are of a same level of selectivity.

Based on the #s Brooks has fewer slots and might be more difficult in RD.

ILR has an admit rate that is 2x Brooks (public policy). Brooks is actually one of the harder ones at Cornell.

[Anonymous]

It's awfully late to come up with a meaningful EC at this stage. And I agree with others here, it sounds like a dime a dozen great smart kid. I'd focus on looking for schools at Emory level that she likes (which may not be Emory), or as others suggested, perhaps reach for ED UofC or Northwestern. All great schools. Good luck! I know the system sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's awfully late to come up with a meaningful EC at this stage. And I agree with others here, it sounds like a dime a dozen great smart kid. I'd focus on looking for schools at Emory level that she likes (which may not be Emory), or as others suggested, perhaps reach for ED UofC or Northwestern. All great schools. Good luck! I know the system sucks.

Np:

Are Cornell ILR and Northwestern ED the same admit rate?

[Anonymous]

I think an overwhelmed AO would be thrilled to read an essay about costume design &/or upcycling clothes/jewelry (and would have a memorable tagline when presenting her case to the rest of the committee)! Any chance she could tie these interests to something policy-related (environmental perhaps, for the upcycling?) &/or with community impact? I think it's less about distinguishing the app than about being the fullest version of herself & communicating that on paper==> most likely to lead to a school placement where she has a joyful 4 years. Good luck!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got into HYP w similar but..

- National MUN award
- critical language capability but not fluency
- essay prize in narrow geopolitical issue
-1530 sat

I'd say try to get the sat up a bit but that's not such a big deal. Nailing down a state or national award is important. Does she do debate?

I'd ask her to focus on an issue and write about in it school newspaper, john Locke essay , local newspaper. Topical but not already front page stuff. Something that came up via debate or MUN maybe. Korean internal politics. Looking at high speed rails in Japan vs LA. Something like that.

T15 always tough

But Georgetown isn't nearly as hard
Cornell policy school if really wants ivy
Macalaster w merit. IR/govt dept as strong as Georgetown for cheaper price.
Scripps as safety w access to CMC and Pomona majors

I wouldn't ED to Emory unless she wants it

Yes, Cornell ILR is not as hard, especially if NY residents.

Brooks (public policy) is not the same as ILR.....

You are right, they are not. But these two are of a same level of selectivity.

Based on the #s Brooks has fewer slots and might be more difficult in RD.

ILR has an admit rate that is 2x Brooks (public policy). Brooks is actually one of the harder ones at Cornell.

Yes, but take a close look at the ILR curriculum and required classes. It’s excellent for kids who are truly interested in that spcific deep dive. But it may be too restrictive and limiting for others who want a broader undergrad education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think an overwhelmed AO would be thrilled to read an essay about costume design &/or upcycling clothes/jewelry (and would have a memorable tagline when presenting her case to the rest of the committee)! Any chance she could tie these interests to something policy-related (environmental perhaps, for the upcycling?) &/or with community impact? I think it's less about distinguishing the app than about being the fullest version of herself & communicating that on paper==> most likely to lead to a school placement where she has a joyful 4 years. Good luck!!!

+1 Best bet is to lean into who she authentically is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think an overwhelmed AO would be thrilled to read an essay about costume design &/or upcycling clothes/jewelry (and would have a memorable tagline when presenting her case to the rest of the committee)! Any chance she could tie these interests to something policy-related (environmental perhaps, for the upcycling?) &/or with community impact? I think it's less about distinguishing the app than about being the fullest version of herself & communicating that on paper==> most likely to lead to a school placement where she has a joyful 4 years. Good luck!!!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP have you give to a local delegate, Congressman or Senator? Even if you haven’t, contact those offices and see if they can use your daughter as an intern. My DD did this in a House subcommittee for a congressman we had supported. Basically paper pushing but great resume entree

"We had supported" financially or...?

[Anonymous]

OP- Your daughter is amazing but admission to Ivies/15 is brutal, low chance lottery for the thousands of "average exceptional" applicants.
The question she has to ask herself is whether she will regret not applying EDI to Emory (or another school where ED is a boost) and then landing at state flagship or somewhere lower ranked than the EDI options?
It is hard to know but it is a question of which she will regret more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- Your daughter is amazing but admission to Ivies/15 is brutal, low chance lottery for the thousands of "average exceptional" applicants.
The question she has to ask herself is whether she will regret not applying EDI to Emory (or another school where ED is a boost) and then landing at state flagship or somewhere lower ranked than the EDI options?
It is hard to know but it is a question of which she will regret more?

NP:
How selective is Emory (or WashU) ED2? Does anyone know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- Your daughter is amazing but admission to Ivies/15 is brutal, low chance lottery for the thousands of "average exceptional" applicants.
The question she has to ask herself is whether she will regret not applying EDI to Emory (or another school where ED is a boost) and then landing at state flagship or somewhere lower ranked than the EDI options?
It is hard to know but it is a question of which she will regret more?

NP:
How selective is Emory (or WashU) ED2? Does anyone know?

This College Kickstart chart is pretty informative. https://www.collegekickstart.com/blog/item/early-decision-schools-that-double-admission-odds Look at the percent of enrolled from ED (for the ones that show it)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- Your daughter is amazing but admission to Ivies/15 is brutal, low chance lottery for the thousands of "average exceptional" applicants.
The question she has to ask herself is whether she will regret not applying EDI to Emory (or another school where ED is a boost) and then landing at state flagship or somewhere lower ranked than the EDI options?
It is hard to know but it is a question of which she will regret more?

NP:
How selective is Emory (or WashU) ED2? Does anyone know?

This College Kickstart chart is pretty informative. https://www.collegekickstart.com/blog/item/early-decision-schools-that-double-admission-odds Look at the percent of enrolled from ED (for the ones that show it)

It doesn't break it down by ED2?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- Your daughter is amazing but admission to Ivies/15 is brutal, low chance lottery for the thousands of "average exceptional" applicants.
The question she has to ask herself is whether she will regret not applying EDI to Emory (or another school where ED is a boost) and then landing at state flagship or somewhere lower ranked than the EDI options?
It is hard to know but it is a question of which she will regret more?

NP:
How selective is Emory (or WashU) ED2? Does anyone know?

Emory University's Early Decision II (ED2) acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 (entering 2025) was approximately 10-11%, with 10% for Emory College and 11% for Oxford College. This binding round continues to be highly competitive, with 336 students admitted in the ED2 round for the Class of 2029, following a 12% ED2 rate for the Class of 2028.

https://emorywheel.com/article/emory-sees-slight-increase-in-acceptance-rate-for-class-of-2029-20250329