So much disappointment this week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year has really proven to me how much college apps is just a lottery.

DD - Blair magnet -- wants an open curriculum school.

4.0 UW/4.75W; plenty of AP tests, significant leadership in a focused club, interesting mentoring that she's done. NMF, Presidential scholar nominee. And really, all-around - an empathetic human who really found herself during Covid and explained that emotional journey in one of her essays.

UMD Honors - half-tuition scholarship
Rejected: Yale, Amherst, Williams, Swathmore
Waitlisted: Wesleyan
Accepted at her other safety school with an interesting scholarship offer.
Waiting on two more selectives.

Maybe it's the test-optional/certain type of diversity (DD has a diversity aspect, but not necessarily the specific diversity sector that is currently being sought); maybe it's Covid deferrals. Maybe it's just that the names are thrown in a hat and are picked out...

We had a good conversation about how the 2 minutes that schools take to look at an application does not define four years of self-driven work, accomplishments and self-discovery as a human.

She is happy with the safety school. And she's not expecting much from the other two at this point. And she wasn't sad about rejections - she was angry that her type of diversity and voice were less valued and that the type of school she wants don't have enough openings/availability for the number of students qualified for them.

I bet she would’ve had a better shot if she’d applied ED. I think that is very important for SLACS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year has really proven to me how much college apps is just a lottery.

DD - Blair magnet -- wants an open curriculum school.

4.0 UW/4.75W; plenty of AP tests, significant leadership in a focused club, interesting mentoring that she's done. NMF, Presidential scholar nominee. And really, all-around - an empathetic human who really found herself during Covid and explained that emotional journey in one of her essays.

UMD Honors - half-tuition scholarship
Rejected: Yale, Amherst, Williams, Swathmore
Waitlisted: Wesleyan
Accepted at her other safety school with an interesting scholarship offer.
Waiting on two more selectives.

Maybe it's the test-optional/certain type of diversity (DD has a diversity aspect, but not necessarily the specific diversity sector that is currently being sought); maybe it's Covid deferrals. Maybe it's just that the names are thrown in a hat and are picked out...

We had a good conversation about how the 2 minutes that schools take to look at an application does not define four years of self-driven work, accomplishments and self-discovery as a human.

She is happy with the safety school. And she's not expecting much from the other two at this point. And she wasn't sad about rejections - she was angry that her type of diversity and voice were less valued and that the type of school she wants don't have enough openings/availability for the number of students qualified for them.

Your daughter sounds fantastic and that is nuts.

[Anonymous]

Lets get her and my brilliant son together - he also is in UMD and others safe schools but no where near the level expected- and this is based on counselors and other independent feedback not just parental surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year has really proven to me how much college apps is just a lottery.

DD - Blair magnet -- wants an open curriculum school.

4.0 UW/4.75W; plenty of AP tests, significant leadership in a focused club, interesting mentoring that she's done. NMF, Presidential scholar nominee. And really, all-around - an empathetic human who really found herself during Covid and explained that emotional journey in one of her essays.

UMD Honors - half-tuition scholarship
Rejected: Yale, Amherst, Williams, Swathmore
Waitlisted: Wesleyan
Accepted at her other safety school with an interesting scholarship offer.
Waiting on two more selectives.

Maybe it's the test-optional/certain type of diversity (DD has a diversity aspect, but not necessarily the specific diversity sector that is currently being sought); maybe it's Covid deferrals. Maybe it's just that the names are thrown in a hat and are picked out...

We had a good conversation about how the 2 minutes that schools take to look at an application does not define four years of self-driven work, accomplishments and self-discovery as a human.

She is happy with the safety school. And she's not expecting much from the other two at this point. And she wasn't sad about rejections - she was angry that her type of diversity and voice were less valued and that the type of school she wants don't have enough openings/availability for the number of students qualified for them.

Also, a Blair mom, and I know your DD is awesome, so this must be very disappointing.

Mine has very similar stats (down to NMF)! Also some great ECs and national, state and regional awards in a variety of areas. We were faring about the same until recently, but she has gotten some good late admissions. I think 2 things really helped her: 1) schools that had a "Why Xxxx" essay. She was able to make those very specific. I have to think that colleges know students are applying to more schools, so they want to choose students who are more likely to choose them back. 2) she won a couple awards in early March and was able to add an update, which added to her app and served as a reason to connect w/ her admissions counselor.

She also got 1/2 tuition at UMD (but later got that more than doubled w/ a Music scholarship from them), and she got some great scholarships from a safety. (Also, UMD should add to scholarship w/ NMF if they are designated first choice). That's all she had for a long time. We talked about all the merits of these two, and that helped.
Got rejected from Yale SCEA, Oxbridge, Mich, Williams and waitlisted at Middlebury (even after the Dept chair told her they gave her supplement highest marks and met w/ her for 40min).
I have 2 theories about the elite LACs -- either they don't interpret the Blair magnet classes as "rigorous" b/c Ostrander makes them designate only as "advanced" or they've been used by Blair magnet kids in the past as a back up and decided they will reject first. I am wondering the latter especially w/ the Middlebury situation. Are they testing to see if she will show how committed she is to them?
We were lucky that she has gotten some other great offers in the meantime (NU, Wes and Vassar). UMD and mid tier LAC are still in the running -- lots to be said for them.
Will be pulling for her w/ the 2 left. I will say, you have a reach heavy list so far. We kind of did too -- a couple safeties, a couple targets and about 8 reaches. She liked the safeties, so that made us feel better about the numbers. Also, a couple reaches came up as "hard targets" due to older data. '21 was insane, and this year is worse w/ more apps and some places dealing w/ over-enrollment from last year.
I think you are right about the lack of value on being an empathetic human. I think mine was lucky enough to get some accolades from her efforts that were deemed of value. Empathetic investments take time and don't yield that flashy credit. That doesn't seem right. Hope one of your two left sees her value. But, if not, UMD is a great option w/ the honors colleges and everything. We were on a tour the other day with an amazing guide who really helped DD see all that UMD has to offer. And the financial savings would be amazing too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's flat out depressing. I feel like I failed my child and I am not sure what else could have been done but all those years of striving for excellence, working so hard, dong so many ECs, choosing the hardest classes possible to impress colleges - it was all for nothing. With a virtual perfect academic record and a host of passionate ECs, he's rejected/wl everywhere he really wants to go.

He is in a safety schools that literally the class clowns get accepted to. I'm so sick of talking to people about it, everyone in our community assumed he was going to a T5 school - he is practically famous for being so smart - like photographic memory genius smart and they ask me about it constantly. They cant conceal their shock when I tell them the options. I cant deal with the reactions anymore.

I feel like you went into my brain and articulated how I was feeling and our situation. If I hear it will all work out in the one more time I will scream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's flat out depressing. I feel like I failed my child and I am not sure what else could have been done but all those years of striving for excellence, working so hard, dong so many ECs, choosing the hardest classes possible to impress colleges - it was all for nothing. With a virtual perfect academic record and a host of passionate ECs, he's rejected/wl everywhere he really wants to go.

He is in a safety schools that literally the class clowns get accepted to. I'm so sick of talking to people about it, everyone in our community assumed he was going to a T5 school - he is practically famous for being so smart - like photographic memory genius smart and they ask me about it constantly. They cant conceal their shock when I tell them the options. I cant deal with the reactions anymore.

I feel like you went into my brain and articulated how I was feeling and our situation. If I hear it will all work out in the one more time I will scream.

Same. Only accepted at the bottom 4 safety options. We are working so hard to get him excited for the opportunities, but other people cannot hide the shock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's flat out depressing. I feel like I failed my child and I am not sure what else could have been done but all those years of striving for excellence, working so hard, dong so many ECs, choosing the hardest classes possible to impress colleges - it was all for nothing. With a virtual perfect academic record and a host of passionate ECs, he's rejected/wl everywhere he really wants to go.

He is in a safety schools that literally the class clowns get accepted to. I'm so sick of talking to people about it, everyone in our community assumed he was going to a T5 school - he is practically famous for being so smart - like photographic memory genius smart and they ask me about it constantly. They cant conceal their shock when I tell them the options. I cant deal with the reactions anymore.

I feel like you went into my brain and articulated how I was feeling and our situation. If I hear it will all work out in the one more time I will scream.

There are two of you who are are anguished about your famously brilliant children ending up at the same college as the “class clowns”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's flat out depressing. I feel like I failed my child and I am not sure what else could have been done but all those years of striving for excellence, working so hard, dong so many ECs, choosing the hardest classes possible to impress colleges - it was all for nothing. With a virtual perfect academic record and a host of passionate ECs, he's rejected/wl everywhere he really wants to go.

He is in a safety schools that literally the class clowns get accepted to. I'm so sick of talking to people about it, everyone in our community assumed he was going to a T5 school - he is practically famous for being so smart - like photographic memory genius smart and they ask me about it constantly. They cant conceal their shock when I tell them the options. I cant deal with the reactions anymore.

I feel like you went into my brain and articulated how I was feeling and our situation. If I hear it will all work out in the one more time I will scream.

There are two of you who are are anguished about your famously brilliant children ending up at the same college as the “class clowns”?

There are far more than 2, I assure you. We haven’t yet heard of a “class clown” or “party kid” getting into a top school, thank God, but we certainly are shocked by many kids who should be getting into much better schools than they are. It’s really awful and totally unfair. My kid is into her top target school and we are insanely grateful (she has been WL or rejected at some other targets and all reaches) which is pathetic but reflects the current environment. This whole 2022 college process is an unmitigated disaster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's flat out depressing. I feel like I failed my child and I am not sure what else could have been done but all those years of striving for excellence, working so hard, dong so many ECs, choosing the hardest classes possible to impress colleges - it was all for nothing. With a virtual perfect academic record and a host of passionate ECs, he's rejected/wl everywhere he really wants to go.

He is in a safety schools that literally the class clowns get accepted to. I'm so sick of talking to people about it, everyone in our community assumed he was going to a T5 school - he is practically famous for being so smart - like photographic memory genius smart and they ask me about it constantly. They cant conceal their shock when I tell them the options. I cant deal with the reactions anymore.

I feel like you went into my brain and articulated how I was feeling and our situation. If I hear it will all work out in the one more time I will scream.

There are two of you who are are anguished about your famously brilliant children ending up at the same college as the “class clowns”?

There are far more than 2, I assure you. We haven’t yet heard of a “class clown” or “party kid” getting into a top school, thank God, but we certainly are shocked by many kids who should be getting into much better schools than they are. It’s really awful and totally unfair. My kid is into her top target school and we are insanely grateful (she has been WL or rejected at some other targets and all reaches) which is pathetic but reflects the current environment. This whole 2022 college process is an unmitigated disaster.

+1 My kid is also so far only getting into what we considered to be safe schools. However, a couple of other what we had considered to be safeties have flatly rejected him. For the schools that he did get accepted into, he has similarly qualified friends who were rejected, so he can't identify any objective reasons other than that he got lucky - which he finds unnerving.

I'm looking at the large number of applications that the schools have received this year and wondering if the top schools have all ended up admitting the same set of students, including in their waitlists. I guess we'll see more news on Ivy day, but we are pretty much resigned to the current state of things after a long string of rejections.

Aside: I attended UMD, College Park. Go Terps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's flat out depressing. I feel like I failed my child and I am not sure what else could have been done but all those years of striving for excellence, working so hard, dong so many ECs, choosing the hardest classes possible to impress colleges - it was all for nothing. With a virtual perfect academic record and a host of passionate ECs, he's rejected/wl everywhere he really wants to go.

He is in a safety schools that literally the class clowns get accepted to. I'm so sick of talking to people about it, everyone in our community assumed he was going to a T5 school - he is practically famous for being so smart - like photographic memory genius smart and they ask me about it constantly. They cant conceal their shock when I tell them the options. I cant deal with the reactions anymore.

I feel like you went into my brain and articulated how I was feeling and our situation. If I hear it will all work out in the one more time I will scream.

There are two of you who are are anguished about your famously brilliant children ending up at the same college as the “class clowns”?

There are far more than 2, I assure you. We haven’t yet heard of a “class clown” or “party kid” getting into a top school, thank God, but we certainly are shocked by many kids who should be getting into much better schools than they are. It’s really awful and totally unfair. My kid is into her top target school and we are insanely grateful (she has been WL or rejected at some other targets and all reaches) which is pathetic but reflects the current environment. This whole 2022 college process is an unmitigated disaster.

Oh FFS.

[Anonymous]

Team Class Clown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's flat out depressing. I feel like I failed my child and I am not sure what else could have been done but all those years of striving for excellence, working so hard, dong so many ECs, choosing the hardest classes possible to impress colleges - it was all for nothing. With a virtual perfect academic record and a host of passionate ECs, he's rejected/wl everywhere he really wants to go.

He is in a safety schools that literally the class clowns get accepted to. I'm so sick of talking to people about it, everyone in our community assumed he was going to a T5 school - he is practically famous for being so smart - like photographic memory genius smart and they ask me about it constantly. They cant conceal their shock when I tell them the options. I cant deal with the reactions anymore.

I feel like you went into my brain and articulated how I was feeling and our situation. If I hear it will all work out in the one more time I will scream.

There are two of you who are are anguished about your famously brilliant children ending up at the same college as the “class clowns”?

There are far more than 2, I assure you. We haven’t yet heard of a “class clown” or “party kid” getting into a top school, thank God, but we certainly are shocked by many kids who should be getting into much better schools than they are. It’s really awful and totally unfair. My kid is into her top target school and we are insanely grateful (she has been WL or rejected at some other targets and all reaches) which is pathetic but reflects the current environment. This whole 2022 college process is an unmitigated disaster.

These kinds of posts are very difficult to interpret. I have repeatedly read comments that students are "shocked" that they are not getting accepted to schools that only take less than 20 percent of applicants and many are also not particularly large schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year has really proven to me how much college apps is just a lottery.

DD - Blair magnet -- wants an open curriculum school.

4.0 UW/4.75W; plenty of AP tests, significant leadership in a focused club, interesting mentoring that she's done. NMF, Presidential scholar nominee. And really, all-around - an empathetic human who really found herself during Covid and explained that emotional journey in one of her essays.

UMD Honors - half-tuition scholarship
Rejected: Yale, Amherst, Williams, Swathmore
Waitlisted: Wesleyan
Accepted at her other safety school with an interesting scholarship offer.
Waiting on two more selectives.

Maybe it's the test-optional/certain type of diversity (DD has a diversity aspect, but not necessarily the specific diversity sector that is currently being sought); maybe it's Covid deferrals. Maybe it's just that the names are thrown in a hat and are picked out...

We had a good conversation about how the 2 minutes that schools take to look at an application does not define four years of self-driven work, accomplishments and self-discovery as a human.

She is happy with the safety school. And she's not expecting much from the other two at this point. And she wasn't sad about rejections - she was angry that her type of diversity and voice were less valued and that the type of school she wants don't have enough openings/availability for the number of students qualified for them.

Also, a Blair mom, and I know your DD is awesome, so this must be very disappointing.

Mine has very similar stats (down to NMF)! Also some great ECs and national, state and regional awards in a variety of areas. We were faring about the same until recently, but she has gotten some good late admissions. I think 2 things really helped her: 1) schools that had a "Why Xxxx" essay. She was able to make those very specific. I have to think that colleges know students are applying to more schools, so they want to choose students who are more likely to choose them back. 2) she won a couple awards in early March and was able to add an update, which added to her app and served as a reason to connect w/ her admissions counselor.

She also got 1/2 tuition at UMD (but later got that more than doubled w/ a Music scholarship from them), and she got some great scholarships from a safety. (Also, UMD should add to scholarship w/ NMF if they are designated first choice). That's all she had for a long time. We talked about all the merits of these two, and that helped.
Got rejected from Yale SCEA, Oxbridge, Mich, Williams and waitlisted at Middlebury (even after the Dept chair told her they gave her supplement highest marks and met w/ her for 40min).
I have 2 theories about the elite LACs -- either they don't interpret the Blair magnet classes as "rigorous" b/c Ostrander makes them designate only as "advanced" or they've been used by Blair magnet kids in the past as a back up and decided they will reject first. I am wondering the latter especially w/ the Middlebury situation. Are they testing to see if she will show how committed she is to them?
We were lucky that she has gotten some other great offers in the meantime (NU, Wes and Vassar). UMD and mid tier LAC are still in the running -- lots to be said for them.
Will be pulling for her w/ the 2 left. I will say, you have a reach heavy list so far. We kind of did too -- a couple safeties, a couple targets and about 8 reaches. She liked the safeties, so that made us feel better about the numbers. Also, a couple reaches came up as "hard targets" due to older data. '21 was insane, and this year is worse w/ more apps and some places dealing w/ over-enrollment from last year.
I think you are right about the lack of value on being an empathetic human. I think mine was lucky enough to get some accolades from her efforts that were deemed of value. Empathetic investments take time and don't yield that flashy credit. That doesn't seem right. Hope one of your two left sees her value. But, if not, UMD is a great option w/ the honors colleges and everything. We were on a tour the other day with an amazing guide who really helped DD see all that UMD has to offer. And the financial savings would be amazing too!

Which one? You can’t apply to both on UCAS. Also, course choice is hugely important. Apply to an undersubscribed course and your chances are much improved. I actually had a friend employ this strategy and he used his time wisely by getting some compelling CS certs in addition to reading a very challenging, writing-heavy joint course. I think it was brilliantly done, and he saved his family quite a bit of money even with the travel back and forth to the UK, because as you are aware, it’s typically three years’ study instead of the American four.

Your child sounds wonderful and I wish her well as she makes her decision.

[Anonymous]

Fact of the matter is that the class clown may have a 1600 sat and lots of EC....and a solid GPA. Nothing wrong with an outgoing person with a good sense of humor. Perhaps the colleges like that too?

[Anonymous]

Big time inflation in SAT scores starting around 2017-2018 (so this was a pre-pandemic trend).

A 1500 is a great score, but literally 2-3x number of students get that score than even 5 years ago. I think it's also one of the reasons why many schools are going test optional.

https://www.compassprep.com/great-to-good-the-diluted-value-of-high-test-scores/