Just figured I'd share because it might benefit lots of folks here...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Meh. Any college admissions officer would say that the kid who stands out at elite colleges is the one who took AP Chem while at the same time taking doing the independent music thing.

This actually isn't true. In most cases, the kid who stands out is the one with a unique story. Right now, a lot of kids have the same (overachieving, overtaxed) story.

but hasn't this been true for 10 years now? this is what they call the spike. this is why kids start fake NFPs or write AI-generated self published books on amazon. makes them sound deep into a passion! and colleges were falling for the NFPs for a while - and the books now.

Yes, but the point (I think) is, don't actually do all the other STEM AP stuff if you are deep into colonial women's history. Do the minimal amount of necessary and then do buckets and buckets of extra on the colonial history front? So yes its a spike, but showing initiative to double up on history electives could help and you don't need AP physics...Honors might be enough?

There's a guy on FB (private counselor) who has a whole thing that goes through why this is a better strategy and shows "passion" and drive. And helps not make you look like a bot.

There is no AO that gives a shit about passion projects. We don't even use that term in the admissions office. This passion project idea is just born out of the college consulting industry, with consultants who are trying to sell that this is a golden ticket. And it's smart, I suppose, because they take advantage of an incredibly opaque process with students that don't know any better. But when I was reading files, when I was in committees, I can assure you, most students did not have a passion project, and if a student did, barely any mention of it came up in the discussion of the student's admissibility.

The college consulting industry is pushing that because ...
The rigor, the gpa, the test score are determined by the kids themselves. There is nothing much consultants can do to enhance that profile, other than recommedning private tutors. And rigor, gpa, test score are the most important part of the application.
That leave the consultants' value in doubt. For kids that are weak in stats, they have to do something to have the appearance that they are adding value (same for high stats kids). Passion project, intersection woodoo, expensive packages of summer programs, these are things they try to sell.

What is ... an intersection woodoo?

[Anonymous]

T10 schools are their own thing. You need to kill AP chem even if you want to be in women’s studies. Partly bcs they don’t believe you won’t switch after you get in.

And then you need strength in your area.

After t20, sure, I think Op is right.

But also, pretty sure everyone here knows the EIC the yearbook who is also on cheer and also class Pres turns no heads. That was two generations ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:T10 schools are their own thing. You need to kill AP chem even if you want to be in women’s studies. Partly bcs they don’t believe you won’t switch after you get in.

And then you need strength in your area.

After t20, sure, I think Op is right.

But also, pretty sure everyone here knows the EIC the yearbook who is also on cheer and also class Pres turns no heads. That was two generations ago.

Student council president at our school still weigh a lot, though usually they are the top 1/2 kid as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:T10 schools are their own thing. You need to kill AP chem even if you want to be in women’s studies. Partly bcs they don’t believe you won’t switch after you get in.

And then you need strength in your area.

After t20, sure, I think Op is right.

But also, pretty sure everyone here knows the EIC the yearbook who is also on cheer and also class Pres turns no heads. That was two generations ago.

This my dc applying this year. Super involved leader at school. Very disappointing, I can't lie.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:PP here. I’m specifically thinking of Dean J at the University of Virginia, who has made clear time and again that your core subjects are considered extremely important regardless of interest or intended major. You don’t skimp on them for electives.

Public flagships have a formula. So does UNC. and UT.
I wouldn't take that to mean that's what private T10 are looking for.

It's not a "public flagship formula." UVA holds joint admissions webinars with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Wellesley (see https://admission.virginia.edu/hpuwy) and they all say this. It's insane to suggest that UVA's admissions formula is more demanding than Harvard's regardless.

College admissions 101: you don't skimp on the rigor of core subjects (math, science, English, history, foreign language) for the sake of electives, and you don't skimp on one core subject to double up on another either.

True. Advice otherwise would be misleading to younger parents.

I don't think anyone is recommending you skip a core subject. Just that you may not need AP chem and can do honors Chem if you are an archeology student aiming for Brown. Same if you are an art history major - take all core subjects ALL years, but no need for AP in all.
At our school, this kind of thing only works for non-STEM majors, though.
Also, no need to go down in rigor if your kid can easily get all As in the APs. This is really only for those kids that might end up with a B in those classes. The point is to find the rigor elsewhere.
There's a NY college counselor who definitely pushes kids in this direction and heavily pushes majors like: Anthro, Soc, Arch, Urban Studies, Medieval Studies, Folklore, Egyptology, Celtic Languages, Bagpiping (CMU!), Popular Music.

Well, my kid is applying as a business major and he has had 3 counselors tell him choosing APES over AP Bio/AP Chem/AP Physics will be a determinant to his application. This is after taking honors Bio/honors chem/honors physics. They ALL said APES is not considered very rigorous. Environmental science is interesting to a lot of kids, but god forbid kids pick a class they are actually excited about.

It is interesting but you can't take everything. I think physics, chem and bio are core and should come first

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I’m specifically thinking of Dean J at the University of Virginia, who has made clear time and again that your core subjects are considered extremely important regardless of interest or intended major. You don’t skimp on them for electives.

Public flagships have a formula. So does UNC. and UT.
I wouldn't take that to mean that's what private T10 are looking for.

It's not a "public flagship formula." UVA holds joint admissions webinars with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Wellesley (see https://admission.virginia.edu/hpuwy) and they all say this. It's insane to suggest that UVA's admissions formula is more demanding than Harvard's regardless.

College admissions 101: you don't skimp on the rigor of core subjects (math, science, English, history, foreign language) for the sake of electives, and you don't skimp on one core subject to double up on another either.

True. Advice otherwise would be misleading to younger parents.

I don't think anyone is recommending you skip a core subject. Just that you may not need AP chem and can do honors Chem if you are an archeology student aiming for Brown. Same if you are an art history major - take all core subjects ALL years, but no need for AP in all.
At our school, this kind of thing only works for non-STEM majors, though.
Also, no need to go down in rigor if your kid can easily get all As in the APs. This is really only for those kids that might end up with a B in those classes. The point is to find the rigor elsewhere.
There's a NY college counselor who definitely pushes kids in this direction and heavily pushes majors like: Anthro, Soc, Arch, Urban Studies, Medieval Studies, Folklore, Egyptology, Celtic Languages, Bagpiping (CMU!), Popular Music.

Well, my kid is applying as a business major and he has had 3 counselors tell him choosing APES over AP Bio/AP Chem/AP Physics will be a determinant to his application. This is after taking honors Bio/honors chem/honors physics. They ALL said APES is not considered very rigorous. Environmental science is interesting to a lot of kids, but god forbid kids pick a class they are actually excited about.

AP Physics I is not nearly as heavy a lift as AP Bio or Chem.

[Anonymous]

BS.

All things being equal it is basically hook.

You can have the best essay, the tippy top grades, rigor, SAT scores, APs, clubs, EC activities and you can feed the hungry etc, but if you are not hooked and if you are part of a certain demographics, you will not have a fair chance.

But, cream rises to the top in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh. Any college admissions officer would say that the kid who stands out at elite colleges is the one who took AP Chem while at the same time taking doing the independent music thing.

If you want ivy level, this. All the hardest courses, grades at or near top of class, and the arts with leadership plus leadership in a longterm activity and throw in at least a state level honor. Mine had that and a bit more plus the almost perfect scores across the board and got into multiple t10/ivy schools. They stood out at their high school; almost all unhooked kids at the ivy they picked had similar resumes and a few are even more impressive. Most hooked kids are slightly less stellar but someone has to be the bottom group of the curve especially in Stem— hooked kids help the unhooked standout once there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I’m specifically thinking of Dean J at the University of Virginia, who has made clear time and again that your core subjects are considered extremely important regardless of interest or intended major. You don’t skimp on them for electives.

Public flagships have a formula. So does UNC. and UT.
I wouldn't take that to mean that's what private T10 are looking for.

It's not a "public flagship formula." UVA holds joint admissions webinars with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Wellesley (see https://admission.virginia.edu/hpuwy) and they all say this. It's insane to suggest that UVA's admissions formula is more demanding than Harvard's regardless.

College admissions 101: you don't skimp on the rigor of core subjects (math, science, English, history, foreign language) for the sake of electives, and you don't skimp on one core subject to double up on another either.

True. Advice otherwise would be misleading to younger parents.

I don't think anyone is recommending you skip a core subject. Just that you may not need AP chem and can do honors Chem if you are an archeology student aiming for Brown. Same if you are an art history major - take all core subjects ALL years, but no need for AP in all.
At our school, this kind of thing only works for non-STEM majors, though.
Also, no need to go down in rigor if your kid can easily get all As in the APs. This is really only for those kids that might end up with a B in those classes. The point is to find the rigor elsewhere.
There's a NY college counselor who definitely pushes kids in this direction and heavily pushes majors like: Anthro, Soc, Arch, Urban Studies, Medieval Studies, Folklore, Egyptology, Celtic Languages, Bagpiping (CMU!), Popular Music.

Well, my kid is applying as a business major and he has had 3 counselors tell him choosing APES over AP Bio/AP Chem/AP Physics will be a determinant to his application. This is after taking honors Bio/honors chem/honors physics. They ALL said APES is not considered very rigorous. Environmental science is interesting to a lot of kids, but god forbid kids pick a class they are actually excited about.

This is true for any oversubscribed major (Business, Eng or CS). I would not have chosen APES. It is seen as a less rigorous class.
Now if applying for Enviro Science, it would be a plus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I’m specifically thinking of Dean J at the University of Virginia, who has made clear time and again that your core subjects are considered extremely important regardless of interest or intended major. You don’t skimp on them for electives.

Public flagships have a formula. So does UNC. and UT.
I wouldn't take that to mean that's what private T10 are looking for.

It's not a "public flagship formula." UVA holds joint admissions webinars with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Wellesley (see https://admission.virginia.edu/hpuwy) and they all say this. It's insane to suggest that UVA's admissions formula is more demanding than Harvard's regardless.

College admissions 101: you don't skimp on the rigor of core subjects (math, science, English, history, foreign language) for the sake of electives, and you don't skimp on one core subject to double up on another either.

True. Advice otherwise would be misleading to younger parents.

I don't think anyone is recommending you skip a core subject. Just that you may not need AP chem and can do honors Chem if you are an archeology student aiming for Brown. Same if you are an art history major - take all core subjects ALL years, but no need for AP in all.
At our school, this kind of thing only works for non-STEM majors, though.
Also, no need to go down in rigor if your kid can easily get all As in the APs. This is really only for those kids that might end up with a B in those classes. The point is to find the rigor elsewhere.
There's a NY college counselor who definitely pushes kids in this direction and heavily pushes majors like: Anthro, Soc, Arch, Urban Studies, Medieval Studies, Folklore, Egyptology, Celtic Languages, Bagpiping (CMU!), Popular Music.

Well, my kid is applying as a business major and he has had 3 counselors tell him choosing APES over AP Bio/AP Chem/AP Physics will be a determinant to his application. This is after taking honors Bio/honors chem/honors physics. They ALL said APES is not considered very rigorous. Environmental science is interesting to a lot of kids, but god forbid kids pick a class they are actually excited about.

It is interesting but you can't take everything. I think physics, chem and bio are core and should come first

Every student needs those 3 classes for selective (and even some not super selective schools). Do they all have to be AP is the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I’m specifically thinking of Dean J at the University of Virginia, who has made clear time and again that your core subjects are considered extremely important regardless of interest or intended major. You don’t skimp on them for electives.

Public flagships have a formula. So does UNC. and UT.
I wouldn't take that to mean that's what private T10 are looking for.

It's not a "public flagship formula." UVA holds joint admissions webinars with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Wellesley (see https://admission.virginia.edu/hpuwy) and they all say this. It's insane to suggest that UVA's admissions formula is more demanding than Harvard's regardless.

College admissions 101: you don't skimp on the rigor of core subjects (math, science, English, history, foreign language) for the sake of electives, and you don't skimp on one core subject to double up on another either.

True. Advice otherwise would be misleading to younger parents.

I don't think anyone is recommending you skip a core subject. Just that you may not need AP chem and can do honors Chem if you are an archeology student aiming for Brown. Same if you are an art history major - take all core subjects ALL years, but no need for AP in all.
At our school, this kind of thing only works for non-STEM majors, though.
Also, no need to go down in rigor if your kid can easily get all As in the APs. This is really only for those kids that might end up with a B in those classes. The point is to find the rigor elsewhere.
There's a NY college counselor who definitely pushes kids in this direction and heavily pushes majors like: Anthro, Soc, Arch, Urban Studies, Medieval Studies, Folklore, Egyptology, Celtic Languages, Bagpiping (CMU!), Popular Music.

Well, my kid is applying as a business major and he has had 3 counselors tell him choosing APES over AP Bio/AP Chem/AP Physics will be a determinant to his application. This is after taking honors Bio/honors chem/honors physics. They ALL said APES is not considered very rigorous. Environmental science is interesting to a lot of kids, but god forbid kids pick a class they are actually excited about.

It is interesting but you can't take everything. I think physics, chem and bio are core and should come first

Every student needs those 3 classes for selective (and even some not super selective schools). Do they all have to be AP is the question.

They need to be the most rigorous selection available to the student. If AP physics is offered, don't take a lower level physics course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:T10 schools are their own thing. You need to kill AP chem even if you want to be in women’s studies. Partly bcs they don’t believe you won’t switch after you get in.

And then you need strength in your area.

After t20, sure, I think Op is right.

But also, pretty sure everyone here knows the EIC the yearbook who is also on cheer and also class Pres turns no heads. That was two generations ago.

Actually, not true for our private and my DD, who applied to women's studies. We don't have AP classes, but kid was in regular/honors chem and not advanced. Got into 1 T10 (WL at another - and got called off WL in early May), and 3 other T20/25.....
Maybe because it's a private school? Who knows.

Just don't think you can make these blanket statements for all high schools in America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I’m specifically thinking of Dean J at the University of Virginia, who has made clear time and again that your core subjects are considered extremely important regardless of interest or intended major. You don’t skimp on them for electives.

Public flagships have a formula. So does UNC. and UT.
I wouldn't take that to mean that's what private T10 are looking for.

It's not a "public flagship formula." UVA holds joint admissions webinars with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Wellesley (see https://admission.virginia.edu/hpuwy) and they all say this. It's insane to suggest that UVA's admissions formula is more demanding than Harvard's regardless.

College admissions 101: you don't skimp on the rigor of core subjects (math, science, English, history, foreign language) for the sake of electives, and you don't skimp on one core subject to double up on another either.

True. Advice otherwise would be misleading to younger parents.

I don't think anyone is recommending you skip a core subject. Just that you may not need AP chem and can do honors Chem if you are an archeology student aiming for Brown. Same if you are an art history major - take all core subjects ALL years, but no need for AP in all.
At our school, this kind of thing only works for non-STEM majors, though.
Also, no need to go down in rigor if your kid can easily get all As in the APs. This is really only for those kids that might end up with a B in those classes. The point is to find the rigor elsewhere.
There's a NY college counselor who definitely pushes kids in this direction and heavily pushes majors like: Anthro, Soc, Arch, Urban Studies, Medieval Studies, Folklore, Egyptology, Celtic Languages, Bagpiping (CMU!), Popular Music.

Well, my kid is applying as a business major and he has had 3 counselors tell him choosing APES over AP Bio/AP Chem/AP Physics will be a determinant to his application. This is after taking honors Bio/honors chem/honors physics. They ALL said APES is not considered very rigorous. Environmental science is interesting to a lot of kids, but god forbid kids pick a class they are actually excited about.

It is interesting but you can't take everything. I think physics, chem and bio are core and should come first

Every student needs those 3 classes for selective (and even some not super selective schools). Do they all have to be AP is the question.

They need to be the most rigorous selection available to the student. If AP physics is offered, don't take a lower level physics course.

The student should take the level that is most appropriate for the student. Students that can succeed in the most rigorous courses available, have an indication that they might gain admission to a very competitive college if that is what they desire.

If you're not happily taking the most rigorous stem courses available to you in high school, I don't know if MIT would be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BS.

All things being equal it is basically hook.

You can have the best essay, the tippy top grades, rigor, SAT scores, APs, clubs, EC activities and you can feed the hungry etc, but if you are not hooked and if you are part of a certain demographics, you will not have a fair chance.

But, cream rises to the top in life.

What hooks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:T10 schools are their own thing. You need to kill AP chem even if you want to be in women’s studies. Partly bcs they don’t believe you won’t switch after you get in.

And then you need strength in your area.

After t20, sure, I think Op is right.

But also, pretty sure everyone here knows the EIC the yearbook who is also on cheer and also class Pres turns no heads. That was two generations ago.

Disagree. Should be obvious that the bolded is a ridiculous assertion.

Also disagree with the above poster's last paragraph.

It is clear that the above poster does not understand college admissions.