Stanford REA

[Anonymous]

My child's school is similar; several students who excelled in national math competitions, the Science Olympiad, music, achieved perfect ACT scores, conducted research, and participated in varsity sports were not admitted to Ivy League schools or other top-tier universities

[Anonymous]

I think it's very hard to get in with standard STEM ECs like robotics, math competitions, etc. You are competing with kids that are extremely strong for the "STEM slots" of the school. (Even if they say they don't admit by major they have humanities departments and don't want everyone to be a STEM major). An admissions expert on YouTube said you have to be winning BIG prizes to stand out.

People say do blacksmithing or birdwatching but you don't know if AO reading your app will care about that. It can work but you need luck too.

If you do STEM activities I think you have to be (A) winning big prizes at the top level for a good chance or (B) be very strong and have luck to get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rejected. 1590, Math Olympiad awards, on a top ranked robotics team. Literally don't know what more they could've wanted.

DC's friend too. Finalist for the largest science competition in America (you know the one...) + math awards + published research (and not the BS kind) + 1590 + 96 UW GPA with top rigor. Rejected. What else is there??

Personality.

Isn’t that the Harvard discrimination old shit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ivies no longer want all these stupid math competitions. They don’t want quizbowl. They don’t want Olympiad. Be different.

My kid got into an ivy with something similar to the blacksmith extracurricular. Obviously had the grades and the scores to meet the baseline.

You guys are all missing the point.
See the forest through the trees.

Can you share how your kid got into their extracurricular? How did they stumble on it? Did you encourage it? Did you know early on that it would help with college applications?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ivies no longer want all these stupid math competitions. They don’t want quizbowl. They don’t want Olympiad. Be different.

My kid got into an ivy with something similar to the blacksmith extracurricular. Obviously had the grades and the scores to meet the baseline.

You guys are all missing the point.
See the forest through the trees.

Can you share how your kid got into their extracurricular? How did they stumble on it? Did you encourage it? Did you know early on that it would help with college applications?

Started in middle school on own. DC was self-driven in somewhat weird niche interests (that most ppl thought were a bit bizarre back then tbh). We let DC do it - went out of our way to find summer opportunities, especially once it was clear this was a real enduring interest. But did not ever imagine it would help with college apps. More of a hobby then?

By high school, DC was an expert in this sub-field (and related genres). Just let your kid be who they are. If they have an interest (even if bizarre) nurture it. DC attended a private HS.

My 2 cents:
Don't make them do math competitions or be on the robotics team if they don't love it. My DC did do a few in-school clubs (including MUN) which helped them become a great speaker and thinker on their feet - however never won ANY MUN awards. Founded one (very small and niche) club at their school. And was a TA for a class in a science field. And then all of the rest of the ECs (other than being a member of sports teams - member not captain) were OUTSIDE of school. Things DC developed independently. As parents, we weren't involved at all. It was only the summer before the senior year that we tried to figure out how to write these things down for the EC list and you start to which ones are interrelated and a natural theme emerging.

And my kid had NO honors or awards other than employee of the month for a PT job..... (not an honor at all but DC put it there because it involved him creating something at the employer to improve efficiency).

I really don't think you can manufacture it - but you do have to give kids the space and grace to just be themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ivies no longer want all these stupid math competitions. They don’t want quizbowl. They don’t want Olympiad. Be different.

My kid got into an ivy with something similar to the blacksmith extracurricular. Obviously had the grades and the scores to meet the baseline.

You guys are all missing the point.
See the forest through the trees.

Can you share how your kid got into their extracurricular? How did they stumble on it? Did you encourage it? Did you know early on that it would help with college applications?

Started in middle school on own. DC was self-driven in somewhat weird niche interests (that most ppl thought were a bit bizarre back then tbh). We let DC do it - went out of our way to find summer opportunities, especially once it was clear this was a real enduring interest. But did not ever imagine it would help with college apps. More of a hobby then?

By high school, DC was an expert in this sub-field (and related genres). Just let your kid be who they are. If they have an interest (even if bizarre) nurture it. DC attended a private HS.

My 2 cents:
Don't make them do math competitions or be on the robotics team if they don't love it. My DC did do a few in-school clubs (including MUN) which helped them become a great speaker and thinker on their feet - however never won ANY MUN awards. Founded one (very small and niche) club at their school. And was a TA for a class in a science field. And then all of the rest of the ECs (other than being a member of sports teams - member not captain) were OUTSIDE of school. Things DC developed independently. As parents, we weren't involved at all. It was only the summer before the senior year that we tried to figure out how to write these things down for the EC list and you start to which ones are interrelated and a natural theme emerging.

And my kid had NO honors or awards other than employee of the month for a PT job..... (not an honor at all but DC put it there because it involved him creating something at the employer to improve efficiency).

I really don't think you can manufacture it - but you do have to give kids the space and grace to just be themselves.

This is the epitome of an manufactured kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ivies no longer want all these stupid math competitions. They don’t want quizbowl. They don’t want Olympiad. Be different.

My kid got into an ivy with something similar to the blacksmith extracurricular. Obviously had the grades and the scores to meet the baseline.

You guys are all missing the point.
See the forest through the trees.

Can you share how your kid got into their extracurricular? How did they stumble on it? Did you encourage it? Did you know early on that it would help with college applications?

Started in middle school on own. DC was self-driven in somewhat weird niche interests (that most ppl thought were a bit bizarre back then tbh). We let DC do it - went out of our way to find summer opportunities, especially once it was clear this was a real enduring interest. But did not ever imagine it would help with college apps. More of a hobby then?

By high school, DC was an expert in this sub-field (and related genres). Just let your kid be who they are. If they have an interest (even if bizarre) nurture it. DC attended a private HS.

My 2 cents:
Don't make them do math competitions or be on the robotics team if they don't love it. My DC did do a few in-school clubs (including MUN) which helped them become a great speaker and thinker on their feet - however never won ANY MUN awards. Founded one (very small and niche) club at their school. And was a TA for a class in a science field. And then all of the rest of the ECs (other than being a member of sports teams - member not captain) were OUTSIDE of school. Things DC developed independently. As parents, we weren't involved at all. It was only the summer before the senior year that we tried to figure out how to write these things down for the EC list and you start to which ones are interrelated and a natural theme emerging.

And my kid had NO honors or awards other than employee of the month for a PT job..... (not an honor at all but DC put it there because it involved him creating something at the employer to improve efficiency).

I really don't think you can manufacture it - but you do have to give kids the space and grace to just be themselves.

This is the epitome of a manufactured kid.

Huh? Sounds like the opposite.

Lot of butt-hurt bitter parents here.

[Anonymous]

So many sour grapes types on here. My senior knows at least 2 admits from TJ and one from another high school. Happy for them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child's school is similar; several students who excelled in national math competitions, the Science Olympiad, music, achieved perfect ACT scores, conducted research, and participated in varsity sports were not admitted to Ivy League schools or other top-tier universities

What math course did they take, either in their high school or at a local college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many sour grapes types on here. My senior knows at least 2 admits from TJ and one from another high school. Happy for them!

Girls?

[Anonymous]

No matter how incredible a student is the numbers at REA schools are just bad for unhooked kids. I am sure the same students will do great during RD at a variety of schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stanford wants to admit students who will change the world - more creative or unusual, if not an athlete.

Yes, sure. We don't need a ChatGPT bot statement like that.

It’s literally what their AOs have said. You can choose to ignore them, but they have made it fairly clear that perfect/near perfect SATs, Olympiad medals, and robotics do not really move the needle. A student with such a profile is wasting their ED/REA opportunity with Stanford.

My kid was rejected REA from Stanford a couple of years ago. 1600/4.0.

Rd — accepted to MIT and Harvard.

We are in Massachusetts so we are pretty sure it was yield protection. They knew my kid would be accepted by MIT or Harvard and would go there. Yield matters for rankings. Stanford brags they reject the perfect kids …. Because they know the perfect SAT/GPA are going to have choices and are not going to yield as it’s not ED.

So I really want to encourage those whose kids were rejected this year to tell your kids to not give up hope. Apply to the Ivies and/or MIT. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

New poster. I agree with PP-- I also know Stanford ED rejects who were accepted to MIT and Harvard RD as well as Berkeley, Ivies, etc. Keep applying and good luck!

[Anonymous]

Surprised the Jewish Blacksmith chose Stanford over W&M, which has one of the best ye old b'smith forges in the nation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ivies no longer want all these stupid math competitions. They don’t want quizbowl. They don’t want Olympiad. Be different.

My kid got into an ivy with something similar to the blacksmith extracurricular. Obviously had the grades and the scores to meet the baseline.

You guys are all missing the point.
See the forest through the trees.

Can you share how your kid got into their extracurricular? How did they stumble on it? Did you encourage it? Did you know early on that it would help with college applications?

Started in middle school on own. DC was self-driven in somewhat weird niche interests (that most ppl thought were a bit bizarre back then tbh). We let DC do it - went out of our way to find summer opportunities, especially once it was clear this was a real enduring interest. But did not ever imagine it would help with college apps. More of a hobby then?

By high school, DC was an expert in this sub-field (and related genres). Just let your kid be who they are. If they have an interest (even if bizarre) nurture it. DC attended a private HS.

My 2 cents:
Don't make them do math competitions or be on the robotics team if they don't love it. My DC did do a few in-school clubs (including MUN) which helped them become a great speaker and thinker on their feet - however never won ANY MUN awards. Founded one (very small and niche) club at their school. And was a TA for a class in a science field. And then all of the rest of the ECs (other than being a member of sports teams - member not captain) were OUTSIDE of school. Things DC developed independently. As parents, we weren't involved at all. It was only the summer before the senior year that we tried to figure out how to write these things down for the EC list and you start to which ones are interrelated and a natural theme emerging.

And my kid had NO honors or awards other than employee of the month for a PT job..... (not an honor at all but DC put it there because it involved him creating something at the employer to improve efficiency).

I really don't think you can manufacture it - but you do have to give kids the space and grace to just be themselves.

You are kind to keep posting to answer questions from the normal posters on this site. Sorry for the attacks/insults by the bitter people. Your post is helping me understand more the likelihood that my own wonderful kid won’t get in RD, and that’s useful, thank you.