After all the drama, Big3 college admissions are really as strong as ever this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember that at all of these schools - the elite admissions are VERY heavily skewed to students with a hook. It isn't the school (which Big 3 or 5 or 7) that is getting the kids in, it's the hook (the HS is NOT the hook).

Yes and no. The school provides the transcript that lets the elite college say that the hooked kid is “just as good” as the unhooked kid they turned away. No class ranking, no APs, and obscure course names like “Math 1” muddy the water, making that comparison harder, which is sometimes just what the hooked kid needs.

Yes - the AOs do not seem to be taking into account the difference in work that is required (or the difference in how hard grading is ) between "Math #" series and traditional math courses (or science 1/science 1A) for two "just as good" candidates.

Schools get 90,000 applications. The readers are paid hourly. The admissions offices are staffed by graduates of that school who were at the bottom of the class themselves.

Agreed - but this is why it would help if these schools were better at communicating rigor via a transcript. To (just for colleges) create a weighted rank that takes into account rigor of a Math 1 (Chem 1A) student who gets an A- (with far more work expected) compared to the Geometry or Algebra II (Chem 1) student getting the same A- (or even an A).

correction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares if anyone of these schools' college admissions are as strong as admission?

These parents aren't sending their beloveds to the BIG 3 for entrance into top colleges. They are sending them for hte love of learning. As long as they got that love of learning, who cares how many end up at the super elite colleges.
Amiright?

You are right. Unless the kid is hooked. But then, they could have gone anywhere for HS, so it must be they chose the HS for the experience of the HS.

QED
They go to Big 3 for the HS experience and the love of learning. They are hooked and rich!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ This.
I bet that 90% of Maret's Ivy admits are hooked. The ones I know definitely are.

I would put this at 95% for Maret this year. They're great/smart kids but they got the Ivy Admit because of 1)multi generational legacy 2)athletic recruitment 3)being an URM.
If you are not 2 out of 3 of these, going to Maret is not going to help you get into the Ivy League one bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ This.
I bet that 90% of Maret's Ivy admits are hooked. The ones I know definitely are.

I would put this at 95% for Maret this year. They're great/smart kids but they got the Ivy Admit because of 1)multi generational legacy 2)athletic recruitment 3)being an URM.
If you are not 2 out of 3 of these, going to Maret is not going to help you get into the Ivy League one bit.

Since 1) and 3) are primary hooks for local privates like Maret, I don’t see why anyone is complaining. That’s how your kid got into your private in the first place, especially if they got in when they were 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ This.
I bet that 90% of Maret's Ivy admits are hooked. The ones I know definitely are.

I would put this at 95% for Maret this year. They're great/smart kids but they got the Ivy Admit because of 1)multi generational legacy 2)athletic recruitment 3)being an URM.
If you are not 2 out of 3 of these, going to Maret is not going to help you get into the Ivy League one bit.

Since 1) and 3) are primary hooks for local privates like Maret, I don’t see why anyone is complaining. That’s how your kid got into your private in the first place, especially if they got in when they were 5.

Exactly. But there are many of us at Maret without those hooks and like GDS a lot of complaining about who got in and who didn't. The kids who got in are fine but my kid had higher scores and didn't. And the counselors are all in on it. The only other unhooked who faired well paid dearly for an outside counselor and many of us in retrospect wish we did.

[Anonymous]

You can't compare rigor of GDS to Maret and colleges know this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ This.
I bet that 90% of Maret's Ivy admits are hooked. The ones I know definitely are.

I would put this at 95% for Maret this year. They're great/smart kids but they got the Ivy Admit because of 1)multi generational legacy 2)athletic recruitment 3)being an URM.
If you are not 2 out of 3 of these, going to Maret is not going to help you get into the Ivy League one bit.

Since 1) and 3) are primary hooks for local privates like Maret, I don’t see why anyone is complaining. That’s how your kid got into your private in the first place, especially if they got in when they were 5.

Exactly. But there are many of us at Maret without those hooks and like GDS a lot of complaining about who got in and who didn't. The kids who got in are fine but my kid had higher scores and didn't. And the counselors are all in on it. The only other unhooked who faired well paid dearly for an outside counselor and many of us in retrospect wish we did.

what do you think the outside counselor do that made a difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't compare rigor of GDS to Maret and colleges know this.

You are incredibly insecure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember that at all of these schools - the elite admissions are VERY heavily skewed to students with a hook. It isn't the school (which Big 3 or 5 or 7) that is getting the kids in, it's the hook (the HS is NOT the hook).

Yes and no. The school provides the transcript that lets the elite college say that the hooked kid is “just as good” as the unhooked kid they turned away. No class ranking, no APs, and obscure course names like “Math 1” muddy the water, making that comparison harder, which is sometimes just what the hooked kid needs.

Yes - the AOs do not seem to be taking into account the difference in work that is required (or the difference in how hard grading is ) between "Math #" series and traditional math courses (or science 1/science 1A) for two "just as good" candidates.

Schools get 90,000 applications. The readers are paid hourly. The admissions offices are staffed by graduates of that school who were at the bottom of the class themselves.

Agreed - but this is why it would help if these schools were better at communicating rigor via a transcript. To (just for colleges) create a weighted rank that takes into account rigor of a Math 1 (Chem 1A) student who gets an A- (with far more work expected) compared to the Geometry or Algebra II (Chem 1) student getting the same A- (or even an A).

correction

Is it true that Holton Arms indicates a higher grade on the transcript for their advanced or accelerated classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember that at all of these schools - the elite admissions are VERY heavily skewed to students with a hook. It isn't the school (which Big 3 or 5 or 7) that is getting the kids in, it's the hook (the HS is NOT the hook).

Yes and no. The school provides the transcript that lets the elite college say that the hooked kid is “just as good” as the unhooked kid they turned away. No class ranking, no APs, and obscure course names like “Math 1” muddy the water, making that comparison harder, which is sometimes just what the hooked kid needs.

Yes - the AOs do not seem to be taking into account the difference in work that is required (or the difference in how hard grading is ) between "Math #" series and traditional math courses (or science 1/science 1A) for two "just as good" candidates.

Schools get 90,000 applications. The readers are paid hourly. The admissions offices are staffed by graduates of that school who were at the bottom of the class themselves.

Agreed - but this is why it would help if these schools were better at communicating rigor via a transcript. To (just for colleges) create a weighted rank that takes into account rigor of a Math 1 (Chem 1A) student who gets an A- (with far more work expected) compared to the Geometry or Algebra II (Chem 1) student getting the same A- (or even an A).

correction

Is it true that Holton Arms indicates a higher grade on the transcript for their advanced or accelerated classes?

yes, probably why they have equally or better college placements than the big 3. AOs who have a mere minute to read each transcript is not going to know the rigor of the class unless they have a higher grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember that at all of these schools - the elite admissions are VERY heavily skewed to students with a hook. It isn't the school (which Big 3 or 5 or 7) that is getting the kids in, it's the hook (the HS is NOT the hook).

Yes and no. The school provides the transcript that lets the elite college say that the hooked kid is “just as good” as the unhooked kid they turned away. No class ranking, no APs, and obscure course names like “Math 1” muddy the water, making that comparison harder, which is sometimes just what the hooked kid needs.

Yes - the AOs do not seem to be taking into account the difference in work that is required (or the difference in how hard grading is ) between "Math #" series and traditional math courses (or science 1/science 1A) for two "just as good" candidates.

Schools get 90,000 applications. The readers are paid hourly. The admissions offices are staffed by graduates of that school who were at the bottom of the class themselves.

Agreed - but this is why it would help if these schools were better at communicating rigor via a transcript. To (just for colleges) create a weighted rank that takes into account rigor of a Math 1 (Chem 1A) student who gets an A- (with far more work expected) compared to the Geometry or Algebra II (Chem 1) student getting the same A- (or even an A).

correction

Is it true that Holton Arms indicates a higher grade on the transcript for their advanced or accelerated classes?

What does this even mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember that at all of these schools - the elite admissions are VERY heavily skewed to students with a hook. It isn't the school (which Big 3 or 5 or 7) that is getting the kids in, it's the hook (the HS is NOT the hook).

Yes and no. The school provides the transcript that lets the elite college say that the hooked kid is “just as good” as the unhooked kid they turned away. No class ranking, no APs, and obscure course names like “Math 1” muddy the water, making that comparison harder, which is sometimes just what the hooked kid needs.

Yes - the AOs do not seem to be taking into account the difference in work that is required (or the difference in how hard grading is ) between "Math #" series and traditional math courses (or science 1/science 1A) for two "just as good" candidates.

Schools get 90,000 applications. The readers are paid hourly. The admissions offices are staffed by graduates of that school who were at the bottom of the class themselves.

Agreed - but this is why it would help if these schools were better at communicating rigor via a transcript. To (just for colleges) create a weighted rank that takes into account rigor of a Math 1 (Chem 1A) student who gets an A- (with far more work expected) compared to the Geometry or Algebra II (Chem 1) student getting the same A- (or even an A).

correction

Is it true that Holton Arms indicates a higher grade on the transcript for their advanced or accelerated classes?

What does this even mean?

Holton profile verifies and explains it:

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1666104665/holtonarms/tmjzp6e174qqabcx49cs/schoolprofilesy2023_921.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember that at all of these schools - the elite admissions are VERY heavily skewed to students with a hook. It isn't the school (which Big 3 or 5 or 7) that is getting the kids in, it's the hook (the HS is NOT the hook).

Yes and no. The school provides the transcript that lets the elite college say that the hooked kid is “just as good” as the unhooked kid they turned away. No class ranking, no APs, and obscure course names like “Math 1” muddy the water, making that comparison harder, which is sometimes just what the hooked kid needs.

Yes - the AOs do not seem to be taking into account the difference in work that is required (or the difference in how hard grading is ) between "Math #" series and traditional math courses (or science 1/science 1A) for two "just as good" candidates.

Schools get 90,000 applications. The readers are paid hourly. The admissions offices are staffed by graduates of that school who were at the bottom of the class themselves.

Agreed - but this is why it would help if these schools were better at communicating rigor via a transcript. To (just for colleges) create a weighted rank that takes into account rigor of a Math 1 (Chem 1A) student who gets an A- (with far more work expected) compared to the Geometry or Algebra II (Chem 1) student getting the same A- (or even an A).

correction

Is it true that Holton Arms indicates a higher grade on the transcript for their advanced or accelerated classes?

yes, probably why they have equally or better college placements than the big 3. AOs who have a mere minute to read each transcript is not going to know the rigor of the class unless they have a higher grade

2023 Holton grads haven’t done any better than their Sidwell counterparts. Sidwell doesn’t weight grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember that at all of these schools - the elite admissions are VERY heavily skewed to students with a hook. It isn't the school (which Big 3 or 5 or 7) that is getting the kids in, it's the hook (the HS is NOT the hook).

Yes and no. The school provides the transcript that lets the elite college say that the hooked kid is “just as good” as the unhooked kid they turned away. No class ranking, no APs, and obscure course names like “Math 1” muddy the water, making that comparison harder, which is sometimes just what the hooked kid needs.

Yes - the AOs do not seem to be taking into account the difference in work that is required (or the difference in how hard grading is ) between "Math #" series and traditional math courses (or science 1/science 1A) for two "just as good" candidates.

Schools get 90,000 applications. The readers are paid hourly. The admissions offices are staffed by graduates of that school who were at the bottom of the class themselves.

Agreed - but this is why it would help if these schools were better at communicating rigor via a transcript. To (just for colleges) create a weighted rank that takes into account rigor of a Math 1 (Chem 1A) student who gets an A- (with far more work expected) compared to the Geometry or Algebra II (Chem 1) student getting the same A- (or even an A).

correction

Is it true that Holton Arms indicates a higher grade on the transcript for their advanced or accelerated classes?

no, not accurate. They give a "bump" for honors/advanced, but it's just for computing GPA. The actual grade, without the bump, goes on the transcript.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ This.
I bet that 90% of Maret's Ivy admits are hooked. The ones I know definitely are.

I would put this at 95% for Maret this year. They're great/smart kids but they got the Ivy Admit because of 1)multi generational legacy 2)athletic recruitment 3)being an URM.
If you are not 2 out of 3 of these, going to Maret is not going to help you get into the Ivy League one bit.

Since 1) and 3) are primary hooks for local privates like Maret, I don’t see why anyone is complaining. That’s how your kid got into your private in the first place, especially if they got in when they were 5.

Exactly. But there are many of us at Maret without those hooks and like GDS a lot of complaining about who got in and who didn't. The kids who got in are fine but my kid had higher scores and didn't. And the counselors are all in on it. The only other unhooked who faired well paid dearly for an outside counselor and many of us in retrospect wish we did.

Unhooked kids still got into good schools. Maybe not Ivys but top 50