Lessons learned: 2025-2026

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to conventional wisdom that says you "must apply ED" to certain schools or you won't get in. Feel free to do so if you have only one very clear favorite, but we had good luck in the RD round at schools DC loved but e didn't want to ED anywhere. Many tried to tell him not to bother applying to Tufts, UChicago or WashU in RD only, but he did and got into 2 out of 3.

No need to play these games. Be authentic and apply where you want, when you want and don't feel pushed into a binding commitment when you want or need more time to consider all options.

Couldn’t agree more. Sure, space becomes limited towards RD at many schools, but there isn’t such a thing as a “wasted application,” assuming the kid put in full effort. Let your kid apply to the schools they like and ignore the “ED-or-bust” noise.

[Anonymous]

The process is now complete for my family. We had both great and disappointing results.
-legacy matters (as does first gen)
- connection to school and campus matters
-enrollment & yield management rule this process. Every thing is based on it.
-demonstrated interest matters
-yes, you are competing against your peers
-some people will have exhilarating results, others will be shockingly short changed.
-it’s unfair
-money matters.

[Anonymous]

Based on our recent experience. My kid got into 12/14 schools:
1. Your high school matters. Better to be a stand out at your high school than to be one of hundreds of high achievers.
2. Junior year is a make it or break it year.
3. Clubs do matter when they're related to your desired major.
4.You don't need to spend thousands on a high paid consultant. Chat GPT was ours.
5. Rankings for your major do matter.
6. You can get in as test optional if your GPA is great and the rest of your application is just as great.
7. Take the most challenging classes at your high school. Colleges want to see a great GPA and high rigor.
8. think applying to no more than 10 schools is optimal for most people.
9.Be careful about who you tell where you're applying to. Jealousy is a real thing and some kids will go out of their way to sabotage your chances. We dealt with this and luckily came out of it positively.
10. Find a target or target/safety rolling admission school and apply early. My kid applied and got accepted to Pitt by October and it was the best thing. She's not going there but by then, knowing that she got into a school that she liked put less pressure on her for the next couple of months.

[Anonymous]

Having a great personality is important for private elite top 20 colleges, as it shines in letters of recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on our recent experience. My kid got into 12/14 schools:
1. Your high school matters. Better to be a stand out at your high school than to be one of hundreds of high achievers.
2. Junior year is a make it or break it year.
3. Clubs do matter when they're related to your desired major.
4.You don't need to spend thousands on a high paid consultant. Chat GPT was ours.
5. Rankings for your major do matter.
6. You can get in as test optional if your GPA is great and the rest of your application is just as great.
7. Take the most challenging classes at your high school. Colleges want to see a great GPA and high rigor.
8. think applying to no more than 10 schools is optimal for most people.
9.Be careful about who you tell where you're applying to. Jealousy is a real thing and some kids will go out of their way to sabotage your chances. We dealt with this and luckily came out of it positively.
10. Find a target or target/safety rolling admission school and apply early. My kid applied and got accepted to Pitt by October and it was the best thing. She's not going there but by then, knowing that she got into a school that she liked put less pressure on her for the next couple of months.

What happened? Can you say more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having a great personality is important for private elite top 20 colleges, as it shines in letters of recommendation.

Very very true.

[Anonymous]

Compelling successful applicants are:

- inspiring /improving society (their applications read in a way that an AO would want to have lunch with the kid)

- kids who are changing the world and are externally focused, with evidence of character

- interesting and genuine and distinctive (or uncommon).

Assume they meet the stats profile. Then try & and hit some institutional priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on our recent experience. My kid got into 12/14 schools:
1. Your high school matters. Better to be a stand out at your high school than to be one of hundreds of high achievers.
2. Junior year is a make it or break it year.
3. Clubs do matter when they're related to your desired major.
4.You don't need to spend thousands on a high paid consultant. Chat GPT was ours.
5. Rankings for your major do matter.
6. You can get in as test optional if your GPA is great and the rest of your application is just as great.
7. Take the most challenging classes at your high school. Colleges want to see a great GPA and high rigor.
8. think applying to no more than 10 schools is optimal for most people.
9.Be careful about who you tell where you're applying to. Jealousy is a real thing and some kids will go out of their way to sabotage your chances. We dealt with this and luckily came out of it positively.
10. Find a target or target/safety rolling admission school and apply early. My kid applied and got accepted to Pitt by October and it was the best thing. She's not going there but by then, knowing that she got into a school that she liked put less pressure on her for the next couple of months.

What happened? Can you say more?

I don't get this either. Unless a student has done something stupid, how does another student/parents affect another person's application?

[Anonymous]

Following a variety of college admissions pages and reading this thread helped us a lot. Could not afford private counselor. Kids attended a NOVA low ranked HS.

Kid 1: accepted to UVA. Loves it there!
Kid 2: accepted to 6 out of 8 colleges. Commited to least prestigious because it is a great fit, tuition is doable, and excellent program for their major. Happy with their choice!

Meanwhile, one of their friends, who is off the charts smart, 4 year varsity athlete, volunteers, is getting shut out of their top choices. Parents are grads of of top 20 school, but are not on social media, and as far as I know, did not hire a private counselor. I don’t think the kid had enough guidance along the way. Maybe they assumed their kid’s stats would be enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following a variety of college admissions pages and reading this thread helped us a lot. Could not afford private counselor. Kids attended a NOVA low ranked HS.

Kid 1: accepted to UVA. Loves it there!
Kid 2: accepted to 6 out of 8 colleges. Commited to least prestigious because it is a great fit, tuition is doable, and excellent program for their major. Happy with their choice!

Meanwhile, one of their friends, who is off the charts smart, 4 year varsity athlete, volunteers, is getting shut out of their top choices. Parents are grads of of top 20 school, but are not on social media, and as far as I know, did not hire a private counselor. I don’t think the kid had enough guidance along the way. Maybe they assumed their kid’s stats would be enough.

What type of advice here was valuable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following a variety of college admissions pages and reading this thread helped us a lot. Could not afford private counselor. Kids attended a NOVA low ranked HS.

Kid 1: accepted to UVA. Loves it there!
Kid 2: accepted to 6 out of 8 colleges. Commited to least prestigious because it is a great fit, tuition is doable, and excellent program for their major. Happy with their choice!

Meanwhile, one of their friends, who is off the charts smart, 4 year varsity athlete, volunteers, is getting shut out of their top choices. Parents are grads of of top 20 school, but are not on social media, and as far as I know, did not hire a private counselor. I don’t think the kid had enough guidance along the way. Maybe they assumed their kid’s stats would be enough.

Did the smart friend get into UVA at least?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on our recent experience. My kid got into 12/14 schools:
1. Your high school matters. Better to be a stand out at your high school than to be one of hundreds of high achievers.
2. Junior year is a make it or break it year.
3. Clubs do matter when they're related to your desired major.
4.You don't need to spend thousands on a high paid consultant. Chat GPT was ours.
5. Rankings for your major do matter.
6. You can get in as test optional if your GPA is great and the rest of your application is just as great.
7. Take the most challenging classes at your high school. Colleges want to see a great GPA and high rigor.
8. think applying to no more than 10 schools is optimal for most people.
9.Be careful about who you tell where you're applying to. Jealousy is a real thing and some kids will go out of their way to sabotage your chances. We dealt with this and luckily came out of it positively.
10. Find a target or target/safety rolling admission school and apply early. My kid applied and got accepted to Pitt by October and it was the best thing. She's not going there but by then, knowing that she got into a school that she liked put less pressure on her for the next couple of months.

What happened? Can you say more?

I don't get this either. Unless a student has done something stupid, how does another student/parents affect another person's application?

I’m guessing the other kid lies on their application that the other kids ECs are theirs or something.

[Anonymous]

Sibling legacy (sibling currently enrolled) does not matter ant certain Ivies even when sib applying has identical very high stats, just as great ECs, essays and recs, etc.

Everyone, including counselors and current student’s friends with their own sibs at their school, told us it would help (like twins). A bit shocked since at least got on WL at Stanford, Harvard and Princeton so application was apparently very strong. Baffled

[Anonymous]

Sometimes being in the RD pool leads to better outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following a variety of college admissions pages and reading this thread helped us a lot. Could not afford private counselor. Kids attended a NOVA low ranked HS.

Kid 1: accepted to UVA. Loves it there!
Kid 2: accepted to 6 out of 8 colleges. Commited to least prestigious because it is a great fit, tuition is doable, and excellent program for their major. Happy with their choice!

Meanwhile, one of their friends, who is off the charts smart, 4 year varsity athlete, volunteers, is getting shut out of their top choices. Parents are grads of of top 20 school, but are not on social media, and as far as I know, did not hire a private counselor. I don’t think the kid had enough guidance along the way. Maybe they assumed their kid’s stats would be enough.

Did the smart friend get into UVA at least?

Yes, in at UVA, but they don’t think they will like the Wahoowa vibe. They are not the “party hard work hard” type of kid. I tell the parent that there are all kinds of kids there, but it is hard to convince them.