Which top schools still like well-rounded (versus pointy) kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State flagships (UMich, UVa, UNC more difficult but possible), small liberal arts colleges, for Ivy's don't waste an REA at HYP with no hooks, no spikes, it just will not happen even with top SATs and top GPA/rigor. Could try RD at the other Ivy's or Duke, Chicago but it will only increase your chances, not make it likely.

Can high stats no hook works for WASP (ED) and Cal/UCLA (full pay OOS)?

Cal/UCLA are test blind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the answers are misleading.

None of these schools "like" well-rounded kids...they just don't care so much about the really pointy kids and also accept that high stats, really pointy kids are likely headed to higher ranked schools.

I have no doubt that if it came down to two full pay kids, with one that has just a couple of ECs and is a winner/champion/leader in one, that they will accept that kid over a kid who just is a member of multiple clubs and plays a sport but has no real accomplishment.

They like high stats well-rounded kids better than low stats more EC kids. In that sense yes they definitely "like" them.
Different schools have different reputation, and attract different applicants.

All the schools mentioned above expect high stats...that's just the ante for playing. Again, it's very misleading to imply these schools prefer a well-rounded kid to a pointy kid. It's really not the case.

Not true.
Some dcum moms frequently advocate kids with sub-1500 with unique narratives and undersubscribed majors and small spikes can perform well. This might be true for some schools, but much less so at Emory.

What are you talking about? All the top schools have high SAT scores. Emory is 1470 - 1540, so clearly 25% of the kids who submit (like 65%) have scores under a 1470.

Not to bash Emory, but Emory's top quartile (1540+) has more high stats well rounded kids than other schools. Are we talking about sub-1470 or 1540+? OP's kid is clearly in the latter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Michigan and UVA

OP here and these two are in his top 5 on his preliminary list.

My high-stats, well-rounded kid got into both EA OOS. He presumably had very strong recs and decent essays (Michigan only, where the essays ares important; UVA doesn't have essays anymore).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State flagships (UMich, UVa, UNC more difficult but possible), small liberal arts colleges, for Ivy's don't waste an REA at HYP with no hooks, no spikes, it just will not happen even with top SATs and top GPA/rigor. Could try RD at the other Ivy's or Duke, Chicago but it will only increase your chances, not make it likely.

Can high stats no hook works for WASP (ED) and Cal/UCLA (full pay OOS)?

WASP, yes, and maybe even RD. I don't know about California schools, but they are test blind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ED Emory. They like high stats well rounded kids. RD gets a lot more competitive.

Yep, Emory RD is like HYP level, 5% admit rate because there are just so few spots left.
This kid should ED.

Yea, Vandy is the new Duke, Emory and Rice the new Vandy. From an admissions standpoint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Michigan and UVA

OP here and these two are in his top 5 on his preliminary list.

My high-stats, well-rounded kid got into both EA OOS. He presumably had very strong recs and decent essays (Michigan only, where the essays ares important; UVA doesn't have essays anymore).

You’re supposed to write a custom UVA personal statement or Addtl info essay for UVA now .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ED Emory. They like high stats well rounded kids. RD gets a lot more competitive.

Yep, Emory RD is like HYP level, 5% admit rate because there are just so few spots left.
This kid should ED.

Yea, Vandy is the new Duke, Emory and Rice the new Vandy. From an admissions standpoint.

So where does that leave WashU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the answers are misleading.

None of these schools "like" well-rounded kids...they just don't care so much about the really pointy kids and also accept that high stats, really pointy kids are likely headed to higher ranked schools.

I have no doubt that if it came down to two full pay kids, with one that has just a couple of ECs and is a winner/champion/leader in one, that they will accept that kid over a kid who just is a member of multiple clubs and plays a sport but has no real accomplishment.

They like high stats well-rounded kids better than low stats more EC kids. In that sense yes they definitely "like" them.
Different schools have different reputation, and attract different applicants.

Well duh.i mean id prefer those kids too. They are more compelling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:he needs at 1530+

Is it easier to get this level score now? Years ago would have been unheard of to think more than a couple kids even of those going Ivies to get this. Has test changed enough that more realistic for more to get this score?

There are a lot more 1530 nowadays than years ago. Yes, it's easy to get to this level.

It’s a top 1% score….it’s not easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State flagships (UMich, UVa, UNC more difficult but possible), small liberal arts colleges, for Ivy's don't waste an REA at HYP with no hooks, no spikes, it just will not happen even with top SATs and top GPA/rigor. Could try RD at the other Ivy's or Duke, Chicago but it will only increase your chances, not make it likely.

Can high stats no hook works for WASP (ED) and Cal/UCLA (full pay OOS)?

WASP, yes, and maybe even RD. I don't know about California schools, but they are test blind.

No, very poor advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Michigan and UVA

OP here and these two are in his top 5 on his preliminary list.

My high-stats, well-rounded kid got into both EA OOS. He presumably had very strong recs and decent essays (Michigan only, where the essays ares important; UVA doesn't have essays anymore).

You’re supposed to write a custom UVA personal statement or Addtl info essay for UVA now .

Not for this year’s admission cycle. No essays beyond the common app essay (except for the nursing school—I think they still have something). And pretty sure they haven’t announced anything for next year’s cycle.

[Anonymous]

Agreed about Northwestern and interdisciplinary spikes. That was the case for our DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:he needs at 1530+

Is it easier to get this level score now? Years ago would have been unheard of to think more than a couple kids even of those going Ivies to get this. Has test changed enough that more realistic for more to get this score?

The test has changed several times. The current SAT is "easier" to score higher than say 30+ years ago (think late 80s/early 90s). You can typically add 100-140 to your score from then to get "a current day score".

What has also changed is that way more people do test prep now. Way more take the test multiple times.
I recall taking SAT once and ACT once (and nobody in my HS took ACT, I did since I was applying to schools that preferred it). Your main prep was the PSAT and sharpening your #2 pencils and printing directions so you could find the testing location

Nowadays, test prep is available online for free, and many more people can afford to pay for it as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the answers are misleading.

None of these schools "like" well-rounded kids...they just don't care so much about the really pointy kids and also accept that high stats, really pointy kids are likely headed to higher ranked schools.

I have no doubt that if it came down to two full pay kids, with one that has just a couple of ECs and is a winner/champion/leader in one, that they will accept that kid over a kid who just is a member of multiple clubs and plays a sport but has no real accomplishment.

They like high stats well-rounded kids better than low stats more EC kids. In that sense yes they definitely "like" them.
Different schools have different reputation, and attract different applicants.

All the schools mentioned above expect high stats...that's just the ante for playing. Again, it's very misleading to imply these schools prefer a well-rounded kid to a pointy kid. It's really not the case.

Not true.
Some dcum moms frequently advocate kids with sub-1500 with unique narratives and undersubscribed majors and small spikes can perform well. This might be true for some schools, but much less so at Emory.

What are you talking about? All the top schools have high SAT scores. Emory is 1470 - 1540, so clearly 25% of the kids who submit (like 65%) have scores under a 1470.

25th is for kids with hooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the answers are misleading.

None of these schools "like" well-rounded kids...they just don't care so much about the really pointy kids and also accept that high stats, really pointy kids are likely headed to higher ranked schools.

I have no doubt that if it came down to two full pay kids, with one that has just a couple of ECs and is a winner/champion/leader in one, that they will accept that kid over a kid who just is a member of multiple clubs and plays a sport but has no real accomplishment.

They like high stats well-rounded kids better than low stats more EC kids. In that sense yes they definitely "like" them.
Different schools have different reputation, and attract different applicants.

All the schools mentioned above expect high stats...that's just the ante for playing. Again, it's very misleading to imply these schools prefer a well-rounded kid to a pointy kid. It's really not the case.

Not true.
Some dcum moms frequently advocate kids with sub-1500 with unique narratives and undersubscribed majors and small spikes can perform well. This might be true for some schools, but much less so at Emory.

What are you talking about? All the top schools have high SAT scores. Emory is 1470 - 1540, so clearly 25% of the kids who submit (like 65%) have scores under a 1470.

25th is for kids with hooks.

So…you are saying like 1300 kids at Emory have “hooks” (65% * 25% * 8,000 students)?

Look, if Emory preferred well rounded kids vs pointy kids then why are all the kids offered merit scholarships also the kids accepted to the very top schools?

My only point is nobody actually prefers the well rounded kid, but there are only so many kids with the pointy hooks.