To those who have kids at T20s

[Anonymous]

Well, are you talking T20 in the US or T20 in the world? Aside from the Ivies plus 2, maybe 3 others, there are no other T20s in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, are you talking T20 in the US or T20 in the world? Aside from the Ivies plus 2, maybe 3 others, there are no other T20s in the US.

There are lots of different international rankings, of course. THE shows 13 US universities in the Top 20 worldwide:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats


On the original question of:

Anonymous wrote:What did they do during high school. Stats?

Our DD from DC private had an uw GPA of 3.8, high 1400's on SAT, and some interesting ECs involving work and extra study in her area of interest. No sports to speak of, and no "hooks". She applied to roughly 5 T20s (the notion of "T20" is somewhat subjective) and was accepted at 2. She's a very diligent student, and we suspect she had very strong letters of recommendation. Based on her experience, as well as what we know from close friends, it sure looks pretty random out there. For "regular" applicants (i.e. not legacies, recruits, etc.), our impression is that once you cross some thresholds in terms of grades and standardized test scores, it is pretty much a lottery. The same essay that seems really authentic and sticks in the mind of one admissions officer might sound contrived and calculated to another. Despite acceptances at a couple of T20s and at some well regarded international schools, our DD was also rejected from a couple of U.S. "match" schools. Would not be overly surprised to learn that sometimes they essentially just pick randomly from the sufficiently qualified pile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, are you talking T20 in the US or T20 in the world? Aside from the Ivies plus 2, maybe 3 others, there are no other T20s in the US.

There are lots of different international rankings, of course. THE shows 13 US universities in the Top 20 worldwide:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats


On the original question of:

Anonymous wrote:What did they do during high school. Stats?

Our DD from DC private had an uw GPA of 3.8, high 1400's on SAT, and some interesting ECs involving work and extra study in her area of interest. No sports to speak of, and no "hooks". She applied to roughly 5 T20s (the notion of "T20" is somewhat subjective) and was accepted at 2. She's a very diligent student, and we suspect she had very strong letters of recommendation. Based on her experience, as well as what we know from close friends, it sure looks pretty random out there. For "regular" applicants (i.e. not legacies, recruits, etc.), our impression is that once you cross some thresholds in terms of grades and standardized test scores, it is pretty much a lottery. The same essay that seems really authentic and sticks in the mind of one admissions officer might sound contrived and calculated to another. Despite acceptances at a couple of T20s and at some well regarded international schools, our DD was also rejected from a couple of U.S. "match" schools. Would not be overly surprised to learn that sometimes they essentially just pick randomly from the sufficiently qualified pile.

That’s my point. When someone says T20, what is that? Because unless it’s the 13/20 top schools worldwide you are discussing, then what exactly does t20 mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, are you talking T20 in the US or T20 in the world? Aside from the Ivies plus 2, maybe 3 others, there are no other T20s in the US.

There are lots of different international rankings, of course. THE shows 13 US universities in the Top 20 worldwide:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats


On the original question of:

Anonymous wrote:What did they do during high school. Stats?

Our DD from DC private had an uw GPA of 3.8, high 1400's on SAT, and some interesting ECs involving work and extra study in her area of interest. No sports to speak of, and no "hooks". She applied to roughly 5 T20s (the notion of "T20" is somewhat subjective) and was accepted at 2. She's a very diligent student, and we suspect she had very strong letters of recommendation. Based on her experience, as well as what we know from close friends, it sure looks pretty random out there. For "regular" applicants (i.e. not legacies, recruits, etc.), our impression is that once you cross some thresholds in terms of grades and standardized test scores, it is pretty much a lottery. The same essay that seems really authentic and sticks in the mind of one admissions officer might sound contrived and calculated to another. Despite acceptances at a couple of T20s and at some well regarded international schools, our DD was also rejected from a couple of U.S. "match" schools. Would not be overly surprised to learn that sometimes they essentially just pick randomly from the sufficiently qualified pile.

That’s my point. When someone says T20, what is that? Because unless it’s the 13/20 top schools worldwide you are discussing, then what exactly does t20 mean?

Doesn’t it mean top 20? I would think top tier school. That means Ivies, Stanford, MIT, UChicago, Caltech, Johns Hopkins, Berkeley. The last few vary from year to year - Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Rice, Northwestern, UCLA. Top 15 are usually always the same.

[Anonymous]

what is the point of this thread anyway? there is no shortage of information available about what colleges are very competetive for admission and what kind of stats and accomplishments students that are admitted have to present.

[Anonymous]

Full IB diploma (HL courses were Bio, Chem, and Latin)
4.2 w gpa
34 ACT, never took the SAT
no sports or arts or job, no significant leadership, spent several years volunteering with two different local organizations
hook: application reads like a quiet intellectual type and she’s not. She shows up for interviews confident and in heels. It took me a minute to catch on, but admissions reps remembered her by name from high school visits to college fairs to interviews. I guess she makes an impression.

[Anonymous]

She sounds terrific but why are heels impressive? I am doing my best to convince my daughters to dispense with that nonsense. What stupid footwear are high heels. We got rid of hose, can we please do the same with heels?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Women seeking jobs should focus on looking professional, not pretty or sexy. This is not 1950.

Let's lose impractical things that men enjoy. (They are not comfortable...but some women have trained themselves to walk in them...for the sake of appearance, not practicality or comfort)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Women seeking jobs should focus on looking professional, not pretty or sexy. This is not 1950.

Let's lose impractical things that men enjoy. (They are not comfortable...but some women have trained themselves to walk in them...for the sake of appearance, not practicality or comfort)

What’s unprofessional about heels? I’m a lawyer and I always wear heels with a suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how t20's are screening candidates but I worked with a lot of fresh t20 grads on a presidential campaign and I was NOT blown away by their intellect.

Granted, I probably was not interacting with the smartest of their graduating class but it still doesn't say much about the top to bottom strength for some of these schools.

You probably weren’t. It was a presidential campaign after all. Not like the people who do that full time are the sharpest tools in the shed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Women seeking jobs should focus on looking professional, not pretty or sexy. This is not 1950.

Let's lose impractical things that men enjoy. (They are not comfortable...but some women have trained themselves to walk in them...for the sake of appearance, not practicality or comfort)

What’s unprofessional about heels? I’m a lawyer and I always wear heels with a suit.

They are not unprofessional but it is time for them to go the way of panty hose which are/were also not unprofessional but are a stupid product that no man every had to buy or wear. I am completely fine if men permanently stop wearing ties- another stupid product.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Women seeking jobs should focus on looking professional, not pretty or sexy. This is not 1950.

Let's lose impractical things that men enjoy. (They are not comfortable...but some women have trained themselves to walk in them...for the sake of appearance, not practicality or comfort)

What’s unprofessional about heels? I’m a lawyer and I always wear heels with a suit.

They are not unprofessional but it is time for them to go the way of panty hose which are/were also not unprofessional but are a stupid product that no man every had to buy or wear. I am completely fine if men permanently stop wearing ties- another stupid product.

You seem like a real gem. Some women enjoy dressing up. Some men enjoy suits and ties. If you don’t, you can opt out. No need to start a movement.

[Anonymous]

I am fortunate to have two god given feet that I use to walk around. High heels are not useful for walking. How is this up for discussion?

I tolerate them like most women do but just ugggg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, are you talking T20 in the US or T20 in the world? Aside from the Ivies plus 2, maybe 3 others, there are no other T20s in the US.

There are lots of different international rankings, of course. THE shows 13 US universities in the Top 20 worldwide:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats


On the original question of:

Anonymous wrote:What did they do during high school. Stats?

Our DD from DC private had an uw GPA of 3.8, high 1400's on SAT, and some interesting ECs involving work and extra study in her area of interest. No sports to speak of, and no "hooks". She applied to roughly 5 T20s (the notion of "T20" is somewhat subjective) and was accepted at 2. She's a very diligent student, and we suspect she had very strong letters of recommendation. Based on her experience, as well as what we know from close friends, it sure looks pretty random out there. For "regular" applicants (i.e. not legacies, recruits, etc.), our impression is that once you cross some thresholds in terms of grades and standardized test scores, it is pretty much a lottery. The same essay that seems really authentic and sticks in the mind of one admissions officer might sound contrived and calculated to another. Despite acceptances at a couple of T20s and at some well regarded international schools, our DD was also rejected from a couple of U.S. "match" schools. Would not be overly surprised to learn that sometimes they essentially just pick randomly from the sufficiently qualified pile.

That’s my point. When someone says T20, what is that? Because unless it’s the 13/20 top schools worldwide you are discussing, then what exactly does t20 mean?

Doesn’t it mean top 20? I would think top tier school. That means Ivies, Stanford, MIT, UChicago, Caltech, Johns Hopkins, Berkeley. The last few vary from year to year - Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Rice, Northwestern, UCLA. Top 15 are usually always the same.

T20 US News people. No one cares about any other ranking.

[Anonymous]

DC just graduated and is going to a top 20 according to the US News rankings. DC applied to four schools in the top 25, and honestly, I didn't think DC would get into any of them. Only got into one, but it was one of the top 20. Full IB Bilingual Diploma, but all humanities at the higher level. 1380 SAT and GPA roughly equivalent to a 3.6 - 3.7 (IB is on a scale of 7). One very strong EC with leadership roles in 11th and 12th, but no state or national prizes or recognition. The one big advantage was probably that we're full pay and checked the "do not need financial aid" box!

I think it's such a random thing - as a pp mentioned earlier - one admissions person may love an essay, while another one thinks its contrived. There's no magic formula here and it's definitely NOT objective.