Lessons learned: 2025-2026

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Understand the role of institutional priorities and how few slots outside of that actually remain in regular decision. Lots of old links on here.

If you are early in the process, think about how you can hit a double or trifecta with some of these priorities: (legacy/donor/undersubscribed major/geo diversity/demo diversity/qualities to directly match new university programming/centers)

Some good videos on the AO review process - read the comments!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muoflMbC1IM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfb4od5j57I

Does it mean those who were deferred made it to the committee round?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Understand the role of institutional priorities and how few slots outside of that actually remain in regular decision. Lots of old links on here.

If you are early in the process, think about how you can hit a double or trifecta with some of these priorities: (legacy/donor/undersubscribed major/geo diversity/demo diversity/qualities to directly match new university programming/centers)

Some good videos on the AO review process - read the comments!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muoflMbC1IM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfb4od5j57I

Does it mean those who were deferred made it to the committee round?

Yes I think so. But the Dean would have final say on the admits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Understand the role of institutional priorities and how few slots outside of that actually remain in regular decision. Lots of old links on here.

If you are early in the process, think about how you can hit a double or trifecta with some of these priorities: (legacy/donor/undersubscribed major/geo diversity/demo diversity/qualities to directly match new university programming/centers)

Some good videos on the AO review process - read the comments!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muoflMbC1IM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfb4od5j57I

Everyone who wonders about committee review/AO reading processes should watch both of these.

Interestingly, the male with the highest test scores wasn't an admit (though I imagine in RD in the class shaping, when they need more boys, he would be). The URM girl and the $$$ girl were both admits.

They seemed to already form an opinion about each applicant and each was finding an excuse for why she should be admitted and why he should be rejected.

They lost me on the bit about her being able to handle the STEM major with her “high”(670) SAT math score. She already took AP precalc and was taking DE calc and still scored below 700?

They just didn't like his essay. I mean its a quick 2-3 min read. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to your private school counselor's advice. That's the biggest lesson I have learned this year. Do your own research.

Disagree, our private school counselor was great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Understand the role of institutional priorities and how few slots outside of that actually remain in regular decision. Lots of old links on here.

If you are early in the process, think about how you can hit a double or trifecta with some of these priorities: (legacy/donor/undersubscribed major/geo diversity/demo diversity/qualities to directly match new university programming/centers)

Let me get this right: The $$$ girl got an exceptional reference letter from that thing her parents owned???
Some good videos on the AO review process - read the comments!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muoflMbC1IM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfb4od5j57I

Everyone who wonders about committee review/AO reading processes should watch both of these.

Interestingly, the male with the highest test scores wasn't an admit (though I imagine in RD in the class shaping, when they need more boys, he would be). The URM girl and the $$$ girl were both admits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Understand the role of institutional priorities and how few slots outside of that actually remain in regular decision. Lots of old links on here.

If you are early in the process, think about how you can hit a double or trifecta with some of these priorities: (legacy/donor/undersubscribed major/geo diversity/demo diversity/qualities to directly match new university programming/centers)

Here's info on institutional priorities:
https://ingeniusprep.com/blog/athlete-legacy-admissions-advantage/

A Simplified Example: How a Class of 100 Might Be Allocated

Priority Category Approximate % of Seats

Recruited Athletes 10%
Legacy / Donor / Faculty Kids 12–15%
Full-Pay International 10%
First-Gen / Low-Income 10–15%
Underrepresented Majors 10%
Mission-Aligned Profiles 10%
Academic Standouts 25–30%

I do think one of the reasons my kid got into a T10 RD (legacy) last cycle was because DC hit 4 IPs (donor; legacy; underrepresented major; mission-aligned priorities).

what is this "Mission-Aligned Profiles"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to your private school counselor's advice. That's the biggest lesson I have learned this year. Do your own research.

Disagree, our private school counselor was great!

Ours too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Understand the role of institutional priorities and how few slots outside of that actually remain in regular decision. Lots of old links on here.

If you are early in the process, think about how you can hit a double or trifecta with some of these priorities: (legacy/donor/undersubscribed major/geo diversity/demo diversity/qualities to directly match new university programming/centers)

Let me get this right: The $$$ girl got an exceptional reference letter from that thing her parents owned???
Some good videos on the AO review process - read the comments!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muoflMbC1IM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfb4od5j57I

Everyone who wonders about committee review/AO reading processes should watch both of these.

Interestingly, the male with the highest test scores wasn't an admit (though I imagine in RD in the class shaping, when they need more boys, he would be). The URM girl and the $$$ girl were both admits.

Not sure why my text in the reply was cut…

Let me get this right: The $$$ girl got an exceptional letter from that thing her parents owned and everyone in the committee was raving about it???

[Anonymous]

1. Expect the unexpected
2. Don’t fall in love
3. Don’t apply to a reach just for the sake of it because if you get in, you’ll feel obligated to choose it (even if it’s not the right fit)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Understand the role of institutional priorities and how few slots outside of that actually remain in regular decision. Lots of old links on here.

If you are early in the process, think about how you can hit a double or trifecta with some of these priorities: (legacy/donor/undersubscribed major/geo diversity/demo diversity/qualities to directly match new university programming/centers)

Here's info on institutional priorities:
https://ingeniusprep.com/blog/athlete-legacy-admissions-advantage/

A Simplified Example: How a Class of 100 Might Be Allocated

Priority Category Approximate % of Seats

Recruited Athletes 10%
Legacy / Donor / Faculty Kids 12–15%
Full-Pay International 10%
First-Gen / Low-Income 10–15%
Underrepresented Majors 10%
Mission-Aligned Profiles 10%
Academic Standouts 25–30%

I do think one of the reasons my kid got into a T10 RD (legacy) last cycle was because DC hit 4 IPs (donor; legacy; underrepresented major; mission-aligned priorities).

what is this "Mission-Aligned Profiles"

It’s in the link

[Anonymous]

Love the school that loves you back.

Rankings don’t matter. Fit does.

[Anonymous]

Trust that you know your kid best and really be honest with yourself about what will make them thrive and be happy. Put your own shit aside. It may not be the “best” school that they can get into. Don’t give much weight to friends, family, neighbors etc that are guided by their own opinions/anxiety/judgement. You are your kids best advisor. Don’t focus on the same 15 schools everyone else is trying to get into. Let go of your own need for prestige and praise around their process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only ED to truly top choice school that you can easily afford.

Don’t ED2 out of panic. Only do if truly top at that time.

Absolutely do your own research and don’t fully rely on any 3rd party- not your school counselor, not your expensive paid private counselor, not this forum, not your other family member or friends. No one knows your kid as well as you do. No one wants what’s best for them more than you do. Get advice, sure, but don’t rely on anyone.

Jump in and read about the process. It’s different than when you went. No good place to start reading. Just start- here, online, podcasts, books. Some will be a waste of time but unfortunately you’ll have to do that. There’s no super efficient way to do this. Lots of noise out there but you’ll figure out what poles to your kid.

Rankings are stupid. Good for best fit.

Don’t talk about college list with anyone except parents and counselor. Not grandparents or friends at school. No one. It’s too stressful as it is to have others asking you about it. And everyone gives you their negative opinion about the school. It’s like naming a baby- don’t tell anyone til the baby is born - then everyone will love it!
Give kid a phrase to use when people ask -
“I’m still figuring it out” then change the subject.

Rolling and early admits are gold for self-esteem and reducing stress even in super high stats kids. Especially when the merit aid is offered too. Mine had 2 admits before getting into the ED school and I underestimated how
Much those 2 early admits would help their psyche.

No one at school knew where they were applying or where early. One of the few no k e knew anything about

The applications take a lot of time! Every part of it. In retrospect would’ve done a lighter class load senior year because of this.

It’s exhausting for the parents, even if kid is doing it all.

Kid will be emotional during the process. Tears were shed. Had to console kid more than in past several yrs all put together. They really feel their worth is tied up in this.

Make sure you still enjoy HS. HS is life too, not just a preparation for life.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This college forum is the best free entertainment known to man. It is great to read during early morning and late night bathroom trips. The level of insanity, insecurity, hang ringing, anxiety, and trolling is un matched anywhere. The fact so many people are knee shit deep invested in names, places, statistics, results, comparisons, and display two year old melt downs makes it as addictive as nicotine. Keep it coming. Now that David Lynch is gone this forum is a great place to come and peek into the surreal world on man’s insanity.

+1
My favorites are the parents who come back year after year to trash the school that denied their kid, saying over and over that their kid "deserved" to get in, that the school was a "safety," etc. Guess it wasn't a safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have posted it several times.

EA Case Western! The decision came right before the break, it's exactly the news the family needs. Once you have an acceptance, no one is too stressed. DC focused on RD supplementals during the break.

Demonstrated interest is important. Visit in-person.

I’ve also seen this suggestion a few times. But it assumes implicitly that the kids will be happy there.

There are a couple others that sent decisions before the holidays. Colorado College sent likely letters before the holidays, and followed up with the acceptance in January.