All these smart kids are getting rejected across the board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

The first poster is so clueless and determined to be victimized that they think somehow THEIR kid is the one being punished. As if growing up as an URM and/or low income in this country isn't a HUGE "strike against" those kids. Colleges and universities are just trying to recognize this and even the playing field a little, but people like this poster view this through the lens of "my kid is being deprived" as if they have some god-given entitlement to compete for slots at colleges based on the terms and criteria THEY deem fair (and which, naturally, advantage themselves) rather than based on whatever criteria these institutions deem appropriate. It's gross.

Except most of the URMs they take are also upper middle class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A typical scenario:
- I have 4.5 GPAs and 10 AP courses:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special,
- I have 1550+ on the SAT:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special
- I play level 10 piano and first chair in violin:  there are thousands Asian kidsthat you do, you are not special
- I play high school sport and am a member of the varsity team:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special
- I volunteer after school:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special

- I am a rapper, tiktok and a youtube star with millions of followers:  Now you're different from other Asian kids.    Ivies will admit you.

Ivies want a kid that was not "dictated" from birth by their tiger mom, since you brought it up.

Any college (not just ivies) know when a kid has had certain help from their parents, and I am not talking about money.

They do not. They look at the app for maybe 5 minutes. Tiger parents win. Liars win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

I think because there are "white people" (ie: not brown, not yellow) who were, just one or two generations ago, who were first generation, and they got nothing.

Well, yeah. White people benefited MASSIVELY from New Deal policies aimed at creating a sustaining a white middle class, and those benefits were not equally distributed or even accessible to BIPOC.

Having a great-grandparent who didn't attend college is not a major disadvantage the way not having anyone in your family ever attend college is. As a (white) first generation college student, I faced some really specific challenges that my own kids will never have to face. It's fine with me that they don't get a bump up as a result, because their entire lives have been easier because I was able to access a college education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

I think because there are "white people" (ie: not brown, not yellow) who were, just one or two generations ago, who were first generation, and they got nothing.

My father was the first in his family to go to college and he was not a stellar student but managed to Cornell on the GI bill. Perhaps your child should try 3 years of military service?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

The first poster is so clueless and determined to be victimized that they think somehow THEIR kid is the one being punished. As if growing up as an URM and/or low income in this country isn't a HUGE "strike against" those kids. Colleges and universities are just trying to recognize this and even the playing field a little, but people like this poster view this through the lens of "my kid is being deprived" as if they have some god-given entitlement to compete for slots at colleges based on the terms and criteria THEY deem fair (and which, naturally, advantage themselves) rather than based on whatever criteria these institutions deem appropriate. It's gross.

Yes, it is gross! Those kids do not grow up with all the Extra's that many DCUM kids have. Thankfully colleges recognize that and work to have a balanced class of freshman. Someone who grew up poor, with parents who didn't attend college and work multiple jobs just to pay the bills, and they themselves had to work 20+ hours per week to help, rather than have tutors, play 3 HS sports, attend 20+ hours of SAT tutoring, and pay a college counselor to help with applications, is at a distinct advantage all the way along. My kids grew up knowing that college was the goal (and we would have modified that if kid decided on a trade school or other path), they were supported academically along the way and had every privilege available. I could help with making sure they were on track for college, because I went to college myself. For first gens they don't have that inherent help at home along the way, but that doesn't mean they are not just as smart or even smarter. I'd actually prefer to have a student/worker who has had to struggle a bit with life---they are not entitled like so many who grew up with everything are. They have a great work ethic because they have had to work for so much through life.

I want everyone to have the opportunity to attend college and am happy that most universities strive to have a balanced set of students. It would be boring to attend a college with all DCUM students. I want my kid to learn from others that are not carbon copies of themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of seniors at our school are using words like bloodbath to describe the seniors acceptances. Kids who worked hard and did everything they were supposed to are not getting in to top 20-50 schools. Too many white, UMC families who saved and can pay full price are not getting in whereas 10 years ago they would have. It's partly due to test-optional and partly due to more diversity (socio-economic and racial) being sought after at top schools.

No one ever seems to blame legacies, children of people with connections (if you think this doesn’t happen often, think again), and kids who represent geographical diversity). The previous poster almost makes it sounds like a full-pay family has more of a right to a spot than those who can’t pay in full and may need loans and/or merit scholarships.

You don’t spend much time here. We blame legacies, athletes, celebrities, and wealthy people in general. Does it bother me that URMs get in with my kid’s stats but my white kid gets rejected? A little. But at least there’s a noble reason for it. All those kids born into wealth and privilege coming from their fancy schools and $$$ coaching for their sport? That injustice infuriates me.

x100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

I think because there are "white people" (ie: not brown, not yellow) who were, just one or two generations ago, who were first generation, and they got nothing.

My father was the first in his family to go to college and he was not a stellar student but managed to Cornell on the GI bill. Perhaps your child should try 3 years of military service?

What happened during your father's time is completely irrelevant to any discussion of college admissions now except to use in a comparison of how much things have changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

+ legacies and athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless OP has young elementary students. We are in a bubble of lots of high school now but there is a much smaller cohort coming.

Op here. My kids are in elementary and preschool. I’m just surprised that these super smart kids are getting rejected from every school they applied to.

OP, I'm saying this with love, you should worry about other things right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

I think because there are "white people" (ie: not brown, not yellow) who were, just one or two generations ago, who were first generation, and they got nothing.

My father was the first in his family to go to college and he was not a stellar student but managed to Cornell on the GI bill. Perhaps your child should try 3 years of military service?

What happened during your father's time is completely irrelevant to any discussion of college admissions now except to use in a comparison of how much things have changed.

PP was complaining that previous generations didn't get any special considerations due to their circumstances the way that modern URMs, first gens, and first to go to colleges do. And why don't DCUM families consider military service as a way for their kids to stand out if the usual repertoire of grades, scores and ECs aren't enough any more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A typical scenario:
- I have 4.5 GPAs and 10 AP courses:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special,
- I have 1550+ on the SAT:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special
- I play level 10 piano and first chair in violin:  there are thousands Asian kidsthat you do, you are not special
- I play high school sport and am a member of the varsity team:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special
- I volunteer after school:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special

- I am a rapper, tiktok and a youtube star with millions of followers:  Now you're different from other Asian kids.    Ivies will admit you.

so the Asians that made up 28% of this year's class at Harvard are all in your last bucket?

Many are wealthy legacies from abroad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

+ legacies and athletes.

Mostly rich people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

I think because there are "white people" (ie: not brown, not yellow) who were, just one or two generations ago, who were first generation, and they got nothing.

Well, yeah. White people benefited MASSIVELY from New Deal policies aimed at creating a sustaining a white middle class, and those benefits were not equally distributed or even accessible to BIPOC.

Having a great-grandparent who didn't attend college is not a major disadvantage the way not having anyone in your family ever attend college is. As a (white) first generation college student, I faced some really specific challenges that my own kids will never have to face. It's fine with me that they don't get a bump up as a result, because their entire lives have been easier because I was able to access a college education.

You are fine with it. I am not. I was a true "first gen" student. I got nothing. Worked multiple jobs (and have worked since I was 14). I received zero parent/grandparent support. It was hard. Really hard. There were times i had, quite literally, hundreds of dollars as my savings. And that was after grad school and working full time. I sacrificed a lot of earning potential b/c of the things I had to do to get by.

Fast forward, my kid is dinged b/c of my hard work? We do well now but by no means are rich such that we can just bankroll college, at full cost, if DC even gets in. DC is just another UMC kid who gets painted as "privileged." It's bullsh--.

If colleges want to "shape" their class to reflect whatever their priorities are- fine. Just say it up front. They are not transparent. Not fair, either, imo (and I direct that to all sorts of classes including legacies). The whole process is effed up, imo, and to the advantages of the schools only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

The first poster is so clueless and determined to be victimized that they think somehow THEIR kid is the one being punished. As if growing up as an URM and/or low income in this country isn't a HUGE "strike against" those kids. Colleges and universities are just trying to recognize this and even the playing field a little, but people like this poster view this through the lens of "my kid is being deprived" as if they have some god-given entitlement to compete for slots at colleges based on the terms and criteria THEY deem fair (and which, naturally, advantage themselves) rather than based on whatever criteria these institutions deem appropriate. It's gross.

If more white people married URMs, then they could get a leg up. Why they keep marrying each other is a mystery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

I think because there are "white people" (ie: not brown, not yellow) who were, just one or two generations ago, who were first generation, and they got nothing.

Well, yeah. White people benefited MASSIVELY from New Deal policies aimed at creating a sustaining a white middle class, and those benefits were not equally distributed or even accessible to BIPOC.

Having a great-grandparent who didn't attend college is not a major disadvantage the way not having anyone in your family ever attend college is. As a (white) first generation college student, I faced some really specific challenges that my own kids will never have to face. It's fine with me that they don't get a bump up as a result, because their entire lives have been easier because I was able to access a college education.

You are fine with it. I am not. I was a true "first gen" student. I got nothing. Worked multiple jobs (and have worked since I was 14). I received zero parent/grandparent support. It was hard. Really hard. There were times i had, quite literally, hundreds of dollars as my savings. And that was after grad school and working full time. I sacrificed a lot of earning potential b/c of the things I had to do to get by.

Fast forward, my kid is dinged b/c of my hard work? We do well now but by no means are rich such that we can just bankroll college, at full cost, if DC even gets in. DC is just another UMC kid who gets painted as "privileged." It's bullsh--.

If colleges want to "shape" their class to reflect whatever their priorities are- fine. Just say it up front. They are not transparent. Not fair, either, imo (and I direct that to all sorts of classes including legacies). The whole process is effed up, imo, and to the advantages of the schools only.

If your story is true, that will come through in your kid's application. Your kid will have experienced what it's like to have a first gen parent, and the viewpoint that gives that is different from the typical UMC DMV white family.