So much disappointment this week

[Anonymous]

The kinds of schools casing stress here are not admitting kids on scores and gpas. Those out a student aver the threshold but there are still too many applications at that point. You need to be the best candidate to major in greek out of all the possibilities. Or the best tuba player of all the tuba players. Etc. Etc. Etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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/

There will likely be a lot more 1500 scores when the digital SAT is implemented.

[Anonymous]

Maybe someone whose DC was accepted into Yale, Oxford, Middlebury or Harvard can chime in? What did it take?

[Anonymous]

I think the high GPAS from public schools may be questionable to some of the elite schools mentioned by the Blair mom poster. Public school kids in the DMV were not in school for a full year plus. The education was not good and As were handed out easily or it was a “pass” mark/. We all know it. Lots of kids equally worthy of admission to an top 30 were actually in a school building and standards were not dropped. Admissions folks know it. I do believe that is why there are the huge number of odd rejections out there. Covid strikes again (at least if your kid is in the DMV!)

[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.

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.

I mean...I'm sorry, I do understand. When my very accomplished and wonderful DS decided to attend one of his safeties after he was rejected/waitlisted/or didn't get enough aid at his top choices, I had someone say to me, with great concern, "I feel like you aren't aiming high enough for Larlo." Can you imagine? I was like, WTF.

But here's the thing. DS went to the safety no one was excited about, and he had a good experience there. It really did work out ok.

I know you think you don't want to hear it, but it is the truth. Your smart, talented, hard-working kid will carry that brain and talent and perseverance with him wherever he goes.

[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.

There are lots of "really awful" "disasters" in the world. Failing to get accepted at your target school is not one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the high GPAS from public schools may be questionable to some of the elite schools mentioned by the Blair mom poster. Public school kids in the DMV were not in school for a full year plus. The education was not good and As were handed out easily or it was a “pass” mark/. We all know it. Lots of kids equally worthy of admission to an top 30 were actually in a school building and standards were not dropped. Admissions folks know it. I do believe that is why there are the huge number of odd rejections out there. Covid strikes again (at least if your kid is in the DMV!)

Interesting - that’s a point I really hadn’t thought about. My D goes to a top ranked, challenging VA public school; as far as we know at this point (and, of course this could change!) but as of today, we are seeing a huge drop in acceptances to certain schools that usually accept many kids from our school (we are talking 1/3 admitted compared to normal). Admittedly, as with other DMV schools, our school was virtual most of last year. Are our kids now being held accountable for that? Would be super upsetting if that is the case - it’s not like they had a choice!

[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.

Yes, thank God. That would just be too much to cope with.

Do you people hear yourselves? An unmitigated disaster?

[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.

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.

Same here. I admit, I cried when my DC was at school.

[Anonymous]

PP, you're just minimizing and belittling someone else's pain.

Yes, there is war and famine in the world. But if an athlete who trained their whole life to go to the Olympics narrowly misses making the Olympic team, do they not have a right to be severely disappointed? Kids put in a lot and time and effort. Many made very big sacrifices.

Yes, they'll get over it. But right now, it stings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, you're just minimizing and belittling someone else's pain.

Yes, there is war and famine in the world. But if an athlete who trained their whole life to go to the Olympics narrowly misses making the Olympic team, do they not have a right to be severely disappointed? Kids put in a lot and time and effort. Many made very big sacrifices.

Yes, they'll get over it. But right now, it stings.

How can you compare sports with academics? Sports people are considered cool their whole life. Academic people are nerds. Which group doe you think feels more scared if they don’t make it?

[Anonymous]

Blair mom poster here. I know that folks assume that Covid instruction wasn't all "that" during the Zoom year. But - at least for mine - she managed to end the year taking a UMD mutivariable calculus exam and score an A on it so that if she were to go to UMD, she would be able to start there at a higher level and not retake the class. So, it's not like the teens sat around doing nothing...

I agree with the other poster that I think the LAC's don't necessarily understand the Blair magnet program or believe that the students there could actually want them as a first choice (which mine did).

And she certainly was on camera communicating during her ASL class !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, you're just minimizing and belittling someone else's pain.

Yes, there is war and famine in the world. But if an athlete who trained their whole life to go to the Olympics narrowly misses making the Olympic team, do they not have a right to be severely disappointed? Kids put in a lot and time and effort. Many made very big sacrifices.

Yes, they'll get over it. But right now, it stings.

These....are not really the same thing. But if you think they are, yes, it explains your level of disappointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, you're just minimizing and belittling someone else's pain.

Yes, there is war and famine in the world. But if an athlete who trained their whole life to go to the Olympics narrowly misses making the Olympic team, do they not have a right to be severely disappointed? Kids put in a lot and time and effort. Many made very big sacrifices.

Yes, they'll get over it. But right now, it stings.

How can you compare sports with academics? Sports people are considered cool their whole life. Academic people are nerds. Which group doe you think feels more scared if they don’t make it?

What? Very few "sports people" can support themselves with their athletic talent, no matter how "cool" anyone thinks they are, and missing the Olympics (or the big leagues or whatever) literally can mean the difference between continuing to play or hanging up your shoes and finding some other way to put food on the table. By contrast, millions of "academic people" find gainful employment in their nerdy area of interest, no matter where they went to college. The comparison is not apt, but for exactly the opposite reason you are suggesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair mom poster here. I know that folks assume that Covid instruction wasn't all "that" during the Zoom year. But - at least for mine - she managed to end the year taking a UMD mutivariable calculus exam and score an A on it so that if she were to go to UMD, she would be able to start there at a higher level and not retake the class. So, it's not like the teens sat around doing nothing...

I agree with the other poster that I think the LAC's don't necessarily understand the Blair magnet program or believe that the students there could actually want them as a first choice (which mine did).

And she certainly was on camera communicating during her ASL class !

If it is her first choice, why didn’t she apply ED? Isn’t ED a strong indicator of first choice?