If you kid got into their reach school what do think helped?

[Anonymous]

Letters of recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Full Pay

[Anonymous]

My DS was a very smart athlete.

[Anonymous]

Ok the reach part doesn’t seem a reach for the perfect text score kids etc that’s just a lottery - here’s my kid:

3.2 GPA
30 ACT
No APs
Good private
A personal story that is compelling
Full pay
White, male no help there


Got into top 50 which was a pretty big reach and is extremely happy and doing well academically and socially

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paid $150 K for private high school with well-connected college counselors who could pick up the phone, chat with the college AO, and make all the difference in the world.

BS as top private school parent that is a myth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Notre Dame Mendoza

- REA: although it's not as helpful as ED
- Being Asian: on the contrary I think it helped as the school has much lesser Asian sutents compared to other T20 schools, and it's putting more effort to make the school more diverse.

Kid is very happy there so far.

That is great, congratulations to him. What a network and wealth of alum support he’ll have!

[Anonymous]

Excellent grades/test scores/ECs
Legacy
Regional diversity
Full pay

[Anonymous]

36 on ACT
Spent a lot of time on essays
Large donor advocated for him
Hispanic

[Anonymous]

ROTC
URM

[Anonymous]

In summary-having money. Great ECs? Mostly need money. Top athlete? Nowadays def need money to play top level/travel. Full pay? Lots of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In summary-having money. Great ECs? Mostly need money. Top athlete? Nowadays def need money to play top level/travel. Full pay? Lots of money.

Yes. And money + URM is the golden ticket.

[Anonymous]

Sports

[Anonymous]

Mine in T15 and it was a complete reach. ADHD and IEP since prek. 3.4 and 1 AP (taken senior year). Did a varsity sport but had an amazing essay. He got a 29 on ACT. I put it on his list as a "what the hell." And he got in! It really believe it was the essay and the admissions counselor taking the time to really look at him. He isn't the best student but he is a great kid and a hard worker. Maybe it was his recommendations? I have younger kids so I still have access to Naviance and I love looking at the school scattergram and seeing him on there. I am sure people think it is a recruiter athlete. Nope, my kid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine in T15 and it was a complete reach. ADHD and IEP since prek. 3.4 and 1 AP (taken senior year). Did a varsity sport but had an amazing essay. He got a 29 on ACT. I put it on his list as a "what the hell." And he got in! It really believe it was the essay and the admissions counselor taking the time to really look at him. He isn't the best student but he is a great kid and a hard worker. Maybe it was his recommendations? I have younger kids so I still have access to Naviance and I love looking at the school scattergram and seeing him on there. I am sure people think it is a recruiter athlete. Nope, my kid!

I have a similar kid. Which school?

[Anonymous]

luck...luck...luck....we told our DC that with his stats (1450 SAT, 4.4 GPA, 7 APs) he earned the right to "buy a lottery ticket" and apply....after that it is all luck. He did get into his reach -- but he made 2 campus visits, one in the summer, one in the school year and included a student interview.