How are Big 3s doing with ED?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The landscape of college admissions has changed, particularly as a result and in the wake of COVID. Applying to colleges today is a completely different beast from when most of us did in the 80s/90s. Until all of you accept this and stop expecting admission to a top 25 university simply because your kid graduated from a Big 3, you'll be in for a world of disappointment.

THIS

The rest of you who keep pushing back on this need to start listening and facing reality. It's not the end of the world - but the landscape has shifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

DP. They are not talking about the bottom of the class. That is the issue. With a low GPA average the top 1/4 of the class could still not be in the running for a top 25 school despite having perfect SATs/ACT etc... I think what is really telling is kids with much lower SAT/ACT scores from certain schools with higher GPA's. They also tend to have much lower AP exam scores. Very obvious and telling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

DP. They are not talking about the bottom of the class. That is the issue. With a low GPA average the top 1/4 of the class could still not be in the running for a top 25 school despite having perfect SATs/ACT etc... I think what is really telling is kids with much lower SAT/ACT scores from certain schools with higher GPA's. They also tend to have much lower AP exam scores. Very obvious and telling.

Due to NCS’ grade deflation, that may be the case at that school. All of the unhooked students at my children’s Big 3 (not NCS) that I know, who had >3.75 GPAs and top test scores landed at a T25 or better. I’m only referring to graduating classes from the past 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

Ok - you seem confused. I am not talking about unhooked Big 3 across the board. Of course there are Big 3 students without hooks (and some with legacy too) - who are in the bottom half of the class and are not getting into a T25. That's not the group I referred to.

I am specifically talking about unhooked students with high stats/high rigor at Big 3 from the top of the class (like top 10%, top 20%) and got shut out of T25.

In our DC's class, all but two of the unhooked kids in the top 10-20% got shut out (unless they played the Chicago ED card). And the two unhooked that had success in Ivy or T10 were truly exceptional, probably in top 5 students overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

DP. They are not talking about the bottom of the class. That is the issue. With a low GPA average the top 1/4 of the class could still not be in the running for a top 25 school despite having perfect SATs/ACT etc... I think what is really telling is kids with much lower SAT/ACT scores from certain schools with higher GPA's. They also tend to have much lower AP exam scores. Very obvious and telling.

Due to NCS’ grade deflation, that may be the case at that school. All of the unhooked students at my children’s Big 3 (not NCS) that I know, who had >3.75 GPAs and top test scores landed at a T25 or better. I’m only referring to graduating classes from the past 2 years.

No true at our Big 3 two years ago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

Ok - you seem confused. I am not talking about unhooked Big 3 across the board. Of course there are Big 3 students without hooks (and some with legacy too) - who are in the bottom half of the class and are not getting into a T25. That's not the group I referred to.

I am specifically talking about unhooked students with high stats/high rigor at Big 3 from the top of the class (like top 10%, top 20%) and got shut out of T25.

In our DC's class, all but two of the unhooked kids in the top 10-20% got shut out (unless they played the Chicago ED card). And the two unhooked that had success in Ivy or T10 were truly exceptional, probably in top 5 students overall.

Did you not read the rest of what I wrote?

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Top schools can fill their classes with students who have perfect stats many times over. I guarantee that the unhooked top stat students that you’re referring to were lacking in the bolded areas above.

The perfect stat student who wants to study computer science, engineering, business, pre-law, or pre-med, like tens of thousands of other applicants, better bring something else (more unique) to the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

Ok - you seem confused. I am not talking about unhooked Big 3 across the board. Of course there are Big 3 students without hooks (and some with legacy too) - who are in the bottom half of the class and are not getting into a T25. That's not the group I referred to.

I am specifically talking about unhooked students with high stats/high rigor at Big 3 from the top of the class (like top 10%, top 20%) and got shut out of T25.

In our DC's class, all but two of the unhooked kids in the top 10-20% got shut out (unless they played the Chicago ED card). And the two unhooked that had success in Ivy or T10 were truly exceptional, probably in top 5 students overall.

Did you not read the rest of what I wrote?

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Top schools can fill their classes with students who have perfect stats many times over. I guarantee that the unhooked top stat students that you’re referring to were lacking in the bolded areas above.

The perfect stat student who wants to study computer science, engineering, business, pre-law, or pre-med, like tens of thousands of other applicants, better bring something else (more unique) to the table.

I've lost track of which school we're talking about but in our experience it's impossible to have vibrant and deep extracurriculars when you have mandatory sports until 6pm daily and then 3-4 hours of homework.

I frankly think this particular independent school model is completely outdated in 2025. The college admissions game only wants kids who have internships, research, and extensive non-profit work. You can't require every student in your class (the athletes and non athletes) to play JV field hockey, track, etc until 6pm M-F. You end up churning out completely non-competitive applicants outside of your recruited athletes. This is no slight against athletes at all (I love sports) but it's a giant waste of time for everyone else (in today's college admissions environment).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

Ok - you seem confused. I am not talking about unhooked Big 3 across the board. Of course there are Big 3 students without hooks (and some with legacy too) - who are in the bottom half of the class and are not getting into a T25. That's not the group I referred to.

I am specifically talking about unhooked students with high stats/high rigor at Big 3 from the top of the class (like top 10%, top 20%) and got shut out of T25.

In our DC's class, all but two of the unhooked kids in the top 10-20% got shut out (unless they played the Chicago ED card). And the two unhooked that had success in Ivy or T10 were truly exceptional, probably in top 5 students overall.

Did you not read the rest of what I wrote?

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Top schools can fill their classes with students who have perfect stats many times over. I guarantee that the unhooked top stat students that you’re referring to were lacking in the bolded areas above.

The perfect stat student who wants to study computer science, engineering, business, pre-law, or pre-med, like tens of thousands of other applicants, better bring something else (more unique) to the table.

And again - if you think that a thin application package explains a shift from historical outcomes at the Big 3 for EVERY unhooked student in the top of the class - you are fooling yourself.

You are arguing something that is the current reality. We all know that schools can fill their seats with top stats kids many times over. We are trying to let people know that there has been an additional shift - that colleges made a big change after COVID - so that it is even harder for top stats kids to get into a T25. This is especially true at top private schools in DMV with student body filled with legacy, VIP, and diverse student bodies.

I am ok with the shift. But there is a marked difference - unhooked kids that used to get into those Ivy/T10/T20 colleges from Big 3 very rarely get accepted anymore (again Chicago ED is your sweet spot if your kid is ok with that).

So when DCUMers go looking at posted instagram EDs and even posted instagram RD results from Big3 (or Big 7 or Big 10) as a guide to what they can expect for their own child's outcome - they should know what's really going on. Most of those T25 acceptances have a hook behind it. Not everyone is advertising their hook - you usually find out all the hooks at the end of senior year when the kids all figure out who got in where.

Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

DP. They are not talking about the bottom of the class. That is the issue. With a low GPA average the top 1/4 of the class could still not be in the running for a top 25 school despite having perfect SATs/ACT etc... I think what is really telling is kids with much lower SAT/ACT scores from certain schools with higher GPA's. They also tend to have much lower AP exam scores. Very obvious and telling.

Due to NCS’ grade deflation, that may be the case at that school. All of the unhooked students at my children’s Big 3 (not NCS) that I know, who had >3.75 GPAs and top test scores landed at a T25 or better. I’m only referring to graduating classes from the past 2 years.

I'm not buying the grade deflation claims. I think there are a good chunk of girls with GPAs over 3.7-3.8. It seems to me that the people whose kids don't have that GPA blame the school. NCS is a rigorous school, that is not news. When we toured colleges, the AO's often said that they don't compare GPAs between schools that are not similar. The school sends a School Profile, and they use that in assessing rigor and GPA. And guess what -- there isn't a magic combo for GPA and test scores. Recommendations, essays, NMSF etc all matter. Any one of those things could make a huge difference.

I know that isn't what everyone wants to hear, but it is a fact. Not everyone is going to be at the top of their class, yet there are wonderful schools outside of the top 25. The top 25 are not guaranteed to anyone and certainly there is no certainty about getting in during ED or EA. Stop sounding an alarm -- as previous posters have pointed out, it's only the end of January! Over 40% of the kids in NCS's senior class have gotten in to their top choice. That is a high percentage for early admissions at any school. Now settle down, and buck up. You are going to freak out your kids and the game isn't over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

Ok - you seem confused. I am not talking about unhooked Big 3 across the board. Of course there are Big 3 students without hooks (and some with legacy too) - who are in the bottom half of the class and are not getting into a T25. That's not the group I referred to.

I am specifically talking about unhooked students with high stats/high rigor at Big 3 from the top of the class (like top 10%, top 20%) and got shut out of T25.

In our DC's class, all but two of the unhooked kids in the top 10-20% got shut out (unless they played the Chicago ED card). And the two unhooked that had success in Ivy or T10 were truly exceptional, probably in top 5 students overall.

Did you not read the rest of what I wrote?

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Top schools can fill their classes with students who have perfect stats many times over. I guarantee that the unhooked top stat students that you’re referring to were lacking in the bolded areas above.

The perfect stat student who wants to study computer science, engineering, business, pre-law, or pre-med, like tens of thousands of other applicants, better bring something else (more unique) to the table.

And again - if you think that a thin application package explains a shift from historical outcomes at the Big 3 for EVERY unhooked student in the top of the class - you are fooling yourself.

You are arguing something that is the current reality. We all know that schools can fill their seats with top stats kids many times over. We are trying to let people know that there has been an additional shift - that colleges made a big change after COVID - so that it is even harder for top stats kids to get into a T25. This is especially true at top private schools in DMV with student body filled with legacy, VIP, and diverse student bodies.

I am ok with the shift. But there is a marked difference - unhooked kids that used to get into those Ivy/T10/T20 colleges from Big 3 very rarely get accepted anymore (again Chicago ED is your sweet spot if your kid is ok with that).

So when DCUMers go looking at posted instagram EDs and even posted instagram RD results from Big3 (or Big 7 or Big 10) as a guide to what they can expect for their own child's outcome - they should know what's really going on. Most of those T25 acceptances have a hook behind it. Not everyone is advertising their hook - you usually find out all the hooks at the end of senior year when the kids all figure out who got in where.

Good luck to you.

No, you’re fooling yourself if you think every NCS student is entitled to a T25 seat. There are 82 graduating seniors at NCS this year. That means 41 students are in the bottom half of the class. If 40% (32) of NCS students have already been admitted to their top EA/ED school, I’m willing to bet the vast majority of those who have not are both unhooked AND in the bottom half of the class. Does this apply to every NCS student without an offer yet? Of course not, but I bet it applies to the majority of students I’m referencing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

DP. They are not talking about the bottom of the class. That is the issue. With a low GPA average the top 1/4 of the class could still not be in the running for a top 25 school despite having perfect SATs/ACT etc... I think what is really telling is kids with much lower SAT/ACT scores from certain schools with higher GPA's. They also tend to have much lower AP exam scores. Very obvious and telling.

Due to NCS’ grade deflation, that may be the case at that school. All of the unhooked students at my children’s Big 3 (not NCS) that I know, who had >3.75 GPAs and top test scores landed at a T25 or better. I’m only referring to graduating classes from the past 2 years.

I'm not buying the grade deflation claims. I think there are a good chunk of girls with GPAs over 3.7-3.8. It seems to me that the people whose kids don't have that GPA blame the school. NCS is a rigorous school, that is not news. When we toured colleges, the AO's often said that they don't compare GPAs between schools that are not similar. The school sends a School Profile, and they use that in assessing rigor and GPA. And guess what -- there isn't a magic combo for GPA and test scores. Recommendations, essays, NMSF etc all matter. Any one of those things could make a huge difference.

I know that isn't what everyone wants to hear, but it is a fact. Not everyone is going to be at the top of their class, yet there are wonderful schools outside of the top 25. The top 25 are not guaranteed to anyone and certainly there is no certainty about getting in during ED or EA. Stop sounding an alarm -- as previous posters have pointed out, it's only the end of January! Over 40% of the kids in NCS's senior class have gotten in to their top choice. That is a high percentage for early admissions at any school. Now settle down, and buck up. You are going to freak out your kids and the game isn't over.

You seem to be overly confident - can't be sure whether it's cuz you think your kid is different and will make it in the long (RD) game...or maybe just pepping yourself up? Or legacy/VIP or some other hook has you out of touch. Good luck - you may be the one that needs to settle down and buck up in the end. I hope not. I do wish you the best - but downplaying everyone else's advice as being unimportant is frankly - you being uninformed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

Ok - you seem confused. I am not talking about unhooked Big 3 across the board. Of course there are Big 3 students without hooks (and some with legacy too) - who are in the bottom half of the class and are not getting into a T25. That's not the group I referred to.

I am specifically talking about unhooked students with high stats/high rigor at Big 3 from the top of the class (like top 10%, top 20%) and got shut out of T25.

In our DC's class, all but two of the unhooked kids in the top 10-20% got shut out (unless they played the Chicago ED card). And the two unhooked that had success in Ivy or T10 were truly exceptional, probably in top 5 students overall.

Did you not read the rest of what I wrote?

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Top schools can fill their classes with students who have perfect stats many times over. I guarantee that the unhooked top stat students that you’re referring to were lacking in the bolded areas above.

The perfect stat student who wants to study computer science, engineering, business, pre-law, or pre-med, like tens of thousands of other applicants, better bring something else (more unique) to the table.

And again - if you think that a thin application package explains a shift from historical outcomes at the Big 3 for EVERY unhooked student in the top of the class - you are fooling yourself.

You are arguing something that is the current reality. We all know that schools can fill their seats with top stats kids many times over. We are trying to let people know that there has been an additional shift - that colleges made a big change after COVID - so that it is even harder for top stats kids to get into a T25. This is especially true at top private schools in DMV with student body filled with legacy, VIP, and diverse student bodies.

I am ok with the shift. But there is a marked difference - unhooked kids that used to get into those Ivy/T10/T20 colleges from Big 3 very rarely get accepted anymore (again Chicago ED is your sweet spot if your kid is ok with that).

So when DCUMers go looking at posted instagram EDs and even posted instagram RD results from Big3 (or Big 7 or Big 10) as a guide to what they can expect for their own child's outcome - they should know what's really going on. Most of those T25 acceptances have a hook behind it. Not everyone is advertising their hook - you usually find out all the hooks at the end of senior year when the kids all figure out who got in where.

Good luck to you.

No, you’re fooling yourself if you think every NCS student is entitled to a T25 seat. There are 82 graduating seniors at NCS this year. That means 41 students are in the bottom half of the class. If 40% (32) of NCS students have already been admitted to their top EA/ED school, I’m willing to bet the vast majority of those who have not are both unhooked AND in the bottom half of the class. Does this apply to every NCS student without an offer yet? Of course not, but I bet it applies to the majority of students I’m referencing.

I get your point, but it might not be as many in the bottom half as you think. Not at NCS, but my high stat STA son didn’t get the ED news he wanted from his dream school. He applied RD to a bunch and I think he’ll be fine. He’s not a unicorn, I think he’s in good company. Nothing wrong with taking the shot, but not worth whining when you don’t make it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

Ok - you seem confused. I am not talking about unhooked Big 3 across the board. Of course there are Big 3 students without hooks (and some with legacy too) - who are in the bottom half of the class and are not getting into a T25. That's not the group I referred to.

I am specifically talking about unhooked students with high stats/high rigor at Big 3 from the top of the class (like top 10%, top 20%) and got shut out of T25.

In our DC's class, all but two of the unhooked kids in the top 10-20% got shut out (unless they played the Chicago ED card). And the two unhooked that had success in Ivy or T10 were truly exceptional, probably in top 5 students overall.

Did you not read the rest of what I wrote?

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Top schools can fill their classes with students who have perfect stats many times over. I guarantee that the unhooked top stat students that you’re referring to were lacking in the bolded areas above.

The perfect stat student who wants to study computer science, engineering, business, pre-law, or pre-med, like tens of thousands of other applicants, better bring something else (more unique) to the table.

And again - if you think that a thin application package explains a shift from historical outcomes at the Big 3 for EVERY unhooked student in the top of the class - you are fooling yourself.

You are arguing something that is the current reality. We all know that schools can fill their seats with top stats kids many times over. We are trying to let people know that there has been an additional shift - that colleges made a big change after COVID - so that it is even harder for top stats kids to get into a T25. This is especially true at top private schools in DMV with student body filled with legacy, VIP, and diverse student bodies.

I am ok with the shift. But there is a marked difference - unhooked kids that used to get into those Ivy/T10/T20 colleges from Big 3 very rarely get accepted anymore (again Chicago ED is your sweet spot if your kid is ok with that).

So when DCUMers go looking at posted instagram EDs and even posted instagram RD results from Big3 (or Big 7 or Big 10) as a guide to what they can expect for their own child's outcome - they should know what's really going on. Most of those T25 acceptances have a hook behind it. Not everyone is advertising their hook - you usually find out all the hooks at the end of senior year when the kids all figure out who got in where.

Good luck to you.

No, you’re fooling yourself if you think every NCS student is entitled to a T25 seat. There are 82 graduating seniors at NCS this year. That means 41 students are in the bottom half of the class. If 40% (32) of NCS students have already been admitted to their top EA/ED school, I’m willing to bet the vast majority of those who have not are both unhooked AND in the bottom half of the class. Does this apply to every NCS student without an offer yet? Of course not, but I bet it applies to the majority of students I’m referencing.

Where - ever - do I say every student at NCS (our Big 3 is not even NCS) - or at any Big3 is entitled to a T25 seat. Where do I even say the top 10% or top 20% at Big 3 are entitled to that?

Again - you are out of touch if you think among the unhooked at the top of the class - that most got into their TOP ED/EA choice, because in our experience, most didn't even end up at their top choice by the end of RD. (Which - again - I do NOT think they are "entitled" to)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my DC's graduation year at a different Big 3 - it did NOT "all work itself out in RD for unhooked students". We also know students from NCS that year and it also didn't all work out in RD.

By this I mean.....sure, they all got in somewhere by RD and had choices - but no - they did not get into the T20/T25 (let alone T10/Ivy/T5SLAC) schools that used to be more common for unhooked students with the group of students with high stats/rigor.

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Even if you want to continue to whine on here about the fate of these student, please be honest with yourself about the likely quality of their applications.

Yeah - ok - every unhooked student had these flaws..... give me a break

No, that’s not what I said. I’m referring to unhooked Big 3 students who couldn’t get an offer from any T25 schools. You know that every Big 3 has a bottom half of the class, right? Those students have to go somewhere for college. If they’re unhooked, that college is most likely NOT a T25.

Ok - you seem confused. I am not talking about unhooked Big 3 across the board. Of course there are Big 3 students without hooks (and some with legacy too) - who are in the bottom half of the class and are not getting into a T25. That's not the group I referred to.

I am specifically talking about unhooked students with high stats/high rigor at Big 3 from the top of the class (like top 10%, top 20%) and got shut out of T25.

In our DC's class, all but two of the unhooked kids in the top 10-20% got shut out (unless they played the Chicago ED card). And the two unhooked that had success in Ivy or T10 were truly exceptional, probably in top 5 students overall.

Did you not read the rest of what I wrote?

If it didn’t work out for unhooked Big 3 students, then the issue most likely lies with said students’ grades, test scores, ECs (or lack thereof), middling recommendations, and/or the lack of a compelling narrative (eg, the students’ applications looked like thousands of others).

Top schools can fill their classes with students who have perfect stats many times over. I guarantee that the unhooked top stat students that you’re referring to were lacking in the bolded areas above.

The perfect stat student who wants to study computer science, engineering, business, pre-law, or pre-med, like tens of thousands of other applicants, better bring something else (more unique) to the table.

And again - if you think that a thin application package explains a shift from historical outcomes at the Big 3 for EVERY unhooked student in the top of the class - you are fooling yourself.

You are arguing something that is the current reality. We all know that schools can fill their seats with top stats kids many times over. We are trying to let people know that there has been an additional shift - that colleges made a big change after COVID - so that it is even harder for top stats kids to get into a T25. This is especially true at top private schools in DMV with student body filled with legacy, VIP, and diverse student bodies.

I am ok with the shift. But there is a marked difference - unhooked kids that used to get into those Ivy/T10/T20 colleges from Big 3 very rarely get accepted anymore (again Chicago ED is your sweet spot if your kid is ok with that).

So when DCUMers go looking at posted instagram EDs and even posted instagram RD results from Big3 (or Big 7 or Big 10) as a guide to what they can expect for their own child's outcome - they should know what's really going on. Most of those T25 acceptances have a hook behind it. Not everyone is advertising their hook - you usually find out all the hooks at the end of senior year when the kids all figure out who got in where.

Good luck to you.

No, you’re fooling yourself if you think every NCS student is entitled to a T25 seat. There are 82 graduating seniors at NCS this year. That means 41 students are in the bottom half of the class. If 40% (32) of NCS students have already been admitted to their top EA/ED school, I’m willing to bet the vast majority of those who have not are both unhooked AND in the bottom half of the class. Does this apply to every NCS student without an offer yet? Of course not, but I bet it applies to the majority of students I’m referencing.

No, actually opposite. Many of the girls not admitted are in the 3.7-3.9 range. They should be getting into schools ranked 10-40. Their peers at STA, GDS, etc are. Not every one but many. And yet.. no.