What was your high-stats, unhooked, ED strategy in 2024 or will it be in 2025?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

I'm wondering: How does one find out the composition of the ED round? My kid is not interested in Duke but is considering ED for another T20 school, and I am curious if we can find out this sort of information for it.

Talk to college counselors that who were formerly admissions officers at elite schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

Thanks for the response. I hope you’re wrong, but I appreciate your sharing your perspective!

Duke admits a lot of hooked super-rich kids. As someone with deep family ties and a lot of $$$ told me, it’s “one of the remaining schools where enough calls from prominent people (ie board members) can get you in.”

Not true from a legacy friend in development there...they have shared stories over the years of legacy kids whose parents offer up 6-7 figures and are handed rejection in ED due to the tactics, even students that are in the "ballpark" with stats, and at fancy private schools, even some children of very famous sports alums--rejected. Duke got even more quick to reject folks who tried offering $ after the whole varsity blues thing in 2019: now if someone "knows" someone on the inside, there are strict rules to cut off communications with anyone who has a kid entering the cycle. Legacies who have been involved over decades with volunteering and do not donate are more likely to be counted as "valued" versus a legacy who just "randomly" started donating when their kid hit high school. Before it was banned, URM legacies were the most favored. The legacy admit rate, even in ED, is LESS than 20%, just a few points higher than the overall ED rate. Most legacies are rejected. However, big-famous-people still have a leg up. That is no different than any other school, where it is a huge boost if one is from the hollywood crowd or a President's grandkid or kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Option 1.

This is a good place to revised this thread:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1176381.page

Are there more stories like this? Would be helpful to hear TO stories as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

Thanks for the response. I hope you’re wrong, but I appreciate your sharing your perspective!

Duke admits a lot of hooked super-rich kids. As someone with deep family ties and a lot of $$$ told me, it’s “one of the remaining schools where enough calls from prominent people (ie board members) can get you in.”

Not true from a legacy friend in development there...they have shared stories over the years of legacy kids whose parents offer up 6-7 figures and are handed rejection in ED due to the tactics, even students that are in the "ballpark" with stats, and at fancy private schools, even some children of very famous sports alums--rejected. Duke got even more quick to reject folks who tried offering $ after the whole varsity blues thing in 2019: now if someone "knows" someone on the inside, there are strict rules to cut off communications with anyone who has a kid entering the cycle. Legacies who have been involved over decades with volunteering and do not donate are more likely to be counted as "valued" versus a legacy who just "randomly" started donating when their kid hit high school. Before it was banned, URM legacies were the most favored. The legacy admit rate, even in ED, is LESS than 20%, just a few points higher than the overall ED rate. Most legacies are rejected. However, big-famous-people still have a leg up. That is no different than any other school, where it is a huge boost if one is from the hollywood crowd or a President's grandkid or kid.

The kid I know at Duke was at the bottom of his class at our private, a partier with no good EC whatsoever. It was one of the most outrageous admits we have ever seen. Dad is a finance guy with $500 million+ net worth (not an alum). Being from a top NYC private, most legacy kids who get in are generally good or great students but Duke really surprised everyone with this admit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

I'm wondering: How does one find out the composition of the ED round? My kid is not interested in Duke but is considering ED for another T20 school, and I am curious if we can find out this sort of information for it.

Talk to college counselors that who were formerly admissions officers at elite schools.

Better yet: hire one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

I'm wondering: How does one find out the composition of the ED round? My kid is not interested in Duke but is considering ED for another T20 school, and I am curious if we can find out this sort of information for it.

Talk to college counselors that who were formerly admissions officers at elite schools.

Better yet: hire one.

Absolutely. They know one admissions office, know nothing of post-affirmative action admissions, and got their couple years of immediate, post-grad experience 5 or so years ago — before everything changed. Heck, you would be better off hiring an ex-private school counselor, if you really stopped to think about it. Or anyone…

[Anonymous]

This year did not seem like the past three years where outcomes seemed less predictable. Test scores and other traditional criteria seem back en vogue at elite schools. I would encourage well-prepared students to apply widely and see what you get.

In 2020, our first child beat the crazy lunacy of that period by applying ED to a top school and with a great test score. That year, top kids who did not ED were mostly sorry that they did not.

This year, our second/last kid had awesome test scores, etc. and applied ED to a very selective school and was also admitted. He’s thrilled, but I think given the current environment he should have played the field. Based on the results of others at his school, I think he would have had a variety of admits in the top 10/20 that he didn’t pursue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

I'm wondering: How does one find out the composition of the ED round? My kid is not interested in Duke but is considering ED for another T20 school, and I am curious if we can find out this sort of information for it.

Talk to college counselors that who were formerly admissions officers at elite schools.

Better yet: hire one.

Absolutely. They know one admissions office, know nothing of post-affirmative action admissions, and got their couple years of immediate, post-grad experience 5 or so years ago — before everything changed. Heck, you would be better off hiring an ex-private school counselor, if you really stopped to think about it. Or anyone…

I meant the college counselors who work at private schools (and used to be former admissions officers at universities). Also, don't be so dramatic, everything didn't completely and permanently change 5 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

Thanks for the response. I hope you’re wrong, but I appreciate your sharing your perspective!

Just to clarify, I still think if Duke is first choice, your kid should definitely ED to Duke. I think that people generally overstate the benefit of ED, and I just meant to point out that that increased ED rate is deceptive because it includes a lot of people who have certain hooks (and the admission rates in the regular round are artificially low because people who are getting rejected everywhere are sending out more applications, for what its worth). Dream big!

[Anonymous]

Yes, thanks, I agree that the ED and RD numbers are deceptive in the ways you said — for all the selective schools, really. The numbers from just a few years ago, when Duke ED was around 20%, were more promising. They also are taking more kids from the Carolinas—a 25% increase in ED last year. Oh well, if he gets in to Stanford instead, that’s not so bad.

[Anonymous]

Was admissions this year more or less predictable?

Were there more or less surprises in your kids school?

[Anonymous]

I have two unhooked kids that got into T20s in recent cycles. Very different kids, but both had the grades/stats/rigor/tests scores/recs/ECs for anywhere.

But they were unhooked.

We took a look at their schools recent history with admissions. For some reason, no one ever gets into Penn. But there are other schools where students have had some success. We took a look at the schools where applying ED makes a difference for unhooked students from their high school. We were strategic about things. And we explained to both kids that if they do choose to apply ED to one of those schools, it must be one they really want to attend and will have no second thoughts about Stanford or MIT or Harvard or whatever.

So all together we visited Northwestern, Chicago, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Rice, Columbia, and Brown.

They each applied ED to one of those schools and got in. One and done for both of them. And they are both very happy with their choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

Thanks for the response. I hope you’re wrong, but I appreciate your sharing your perspective!

Duke admits a lot of hooked super-rich kids. As someone with deep family ties and a lot of $$$ told me, it’s “one of the remaining schools where enough calls from prominent people (ie board members) can get you in.”

Not true from a legacy friend in development there...they have shared stories over the years of legacy kids whose parents offer up 6-7 figures and are handed rejection in ED due to the tactics, even students that are in the "ballpark" with stats, and at fancy private schools, even some children of very famous sports alums--rejected. Duke got even more quick to reject folks who tried offering $ after the whole varsity blues thing in 2019: now if someone "knows" someone on the inside, there are strict rules to cut off communications with anyone who has a kid entering the cycle. Legacies who have been involved over decades with volunteering and do not donate are more likely to be counted as "valued" versus a legacy who just "randomly" started donating when their kid hit high school. Before it was banned, URM legacies were the most favored. The legacy admit rate, even in ED, is LESS than 20%, just a few points higher than the overall ED rate. Most legacies are rejected. However, big-famous-people still have a leg up. That is no different than any other school, where it is a huge boost if one is from the hollywood crowd or a President's grandkid or kid.

The kid I know at Duke was at the bottom of his class at our private, a partier with no good EC whatsoever. It was one of the most outrageous admits we have ever seen. Dad is a finance guy with $500 million+ net worth (not an alum). Being from a top NYC private, most legacy kids who get in are generally good or great students but Duke really surprised everyone with this admit.

It may be that some colleges admit partially on the prospect of large donations. Generally, a college development office isn't looking at files until after a student has enrolled, though it may happen prior to admission at some colleges, at least per an older article I came across yesterday quoting Dean Deacon at Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

Thanks for the response. I hope you’re wrong, but I appreciate your sharing your perspective!

Duke admits a lot of hooked super-rich kids. As someone with deep family ties and a lot of $$$ told me, it’s “one of the remaining schools where enough calls from prominent people (ie board members) can get you in.”

Not true from a legacy friend in development there...they have shared stories over the years of legacy kids whose parents offer up 6-7 figures and are handed rejection in ED due to the tactics, even students that are in the "ballpark" with stats, and at fancy private schools, even some children of very famous sports alums--rejected. Duke got even more quick to reject folks who tried offering $ after the whole varsity blues thing in 2019: now if someone "knows" someone on the inside, there are strict rules to cut off communications with anyone who has a kid entering the cycle. Legacies who have been involved over decades with volunteering and do not donate are more likely to be counted as "valued" versus a legacy who just "randomly" started donating when their kid hit high school. Before it was banned, URM legacies were the most favored. The legacy admit rate, even in ED, is LESS than 20%, just a few points higher than the overall ED rate. Most legacies are rejected. However, big-famous-people still have a leg up. That is no different than any other school, where it is a huge boost if one is from the hollywood crowd or a President's grandkid or kid.

The kid I know at Duke was at the bottom of his class at our private, a partier with no good EC whatsoever. It was one of the most outrageous admits we have ever seen. Dad is a finance guy with $500 million+ net worth (not an alum). Being from a top NYC private, most legacy kids who get in are generally good or great students but Duke really surprised everyone with this admit.

It may be that some colleges admit partially on the prospect of large donations. Generally, a college development office isn't looking at files until after a student has enrolled, though it may happen prior to admission at some colleges, at least per an older article I came across yesterday quoting Dean Deacon at Georgetown.

To add the quote: "On the fundraising side, we also have a small number of “development potential” candidates. If Bill Gates wants his kid to come to Georgetown, we’d be more than happy to have him come and talk to us." Although that was in 2007. https://www.washingtonian.com/2007/10/01/getting-in-to-top-schools/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality for unhooked kids is that applying ED, SCEA, EA, and RD is like game theory these days. I absolutely would not apply ED/SCEA to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and Duke. Toss those aside. Not happening for an unhooked kid from the DMV burbs. MIT doesn't care about ED so would apply RD if interested. But don't bother with restricted early.

I would look at your high school's college admissions from the past couple of years. Often, selective colleges are partial to certain high schools. And if your high school has had success with schools that your DC is interested in, consider it. And then you're just going to have to settle on your risk tolerance. For highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Brown, it really is carnage in the regular decision round. But early action is at least possible. But if you choose wrong, then you're consigned to the chaos of regular decision.

On the other hand, if the kid really likes something a little lower ranked and with better odds, it can be the best call to apply early there. Provided that's someplace they really want to go and they don't get stuck wondering about other possibilities.

Why are you saying ED to Duke is impossible but ED to Brown is reasonable? With an ED acceptance of 10-12% for Duke, that seems pretty good for my kid who would be competitive for any top school (doesn’t mean he’ll get in, but he has a shot: 1600 SAT, 4.00 GPA, 5.00 WGPA, MCPS magnet, state level awards in three diverse areas, etc.).

Look at the composition of the ED round at Duke. It's extremely hooked private school kids and extremely talented academic kids from TJ who have national level science and math awards. For many years, academic types, particularly math and science "nerds" have loved Duke in a way that they don't love Brown. This is not a diss on Brown by the way, but I think this is where that rumor about Duke "hating" DC private school kids in the early round started.

Thanks for the response. I hope you’re wrong, but I appreciate your sharing your perspective!

Duke admits a lot of hooked super-rich kids. As someone with deep family ties and a lot of $$$ told me, it’s “one of the remaining schools where enough calls from prominent people (ie board members) can get you in.”

Not true from a legacy friend in development there...they have shared stories over the years of legacy kids whose parents offer up 6-7 figures and are handed rejection in ED due to the tactics, even students that are in the "ballpark" with stats, and at fancy private schools, even some children of very famous sports alums--rejected. Duke got even more quick to reject folks who tried offering $ after the whole varsity blues thing in 2019: now if someone "knows" someone on the inside, there are strict rules to cut off communications with anyone who has a kid entering the cycle. Legacies who have been involved over decades with volunteering and do not donate are more likely to be counted as "valued" versus a legacy who just "randomly" started donating when their kid hit high school. Before it was banned, URM legacies were the most favored. The legacy admit rate, even in ED, is LESS than 20%, just a few points higher than the overall ED rate. Most legacies are rejected. However, big-famous-people still have a leg up. That is no different than any other school, where it is a huge boost if one is from the hollywood crowd or a President's grandkid or kid.

The kid I know at Duke was at the bottom of his class at our private, a partier with no good EC whatsoever. It was one of the most outrageous admits we have ever seen. Dad is a finance guy with $500 million+ net worth (not an alum). Being from a top NYC private, most legacy kids who get in are generally good or great students but Duke really surprised everyone with this admit.

It may be that some colleges admit partially on the prospect of large donations. Generally, a college development office isn't looking at files until after a student has enrolled, though it may happen prior to admission at some colleges, at least per an older article I came across yesterday quoting Dean Deacon at Georgetown.

To add the quote: "On the fundraising side, we also have a small number of “development potential” candidates. If Bill Gates wants his kid to come to Georgetown, we’d be more than happy to have him come and talk to us." Although that was in 2007. https://www.washingtonian.com/2007/10/01/getting-in-to-top-schools/

this is why you see so many ppl from various colleges AO checking out our linked in profiles in January and February!!