What has surprised you - as your kid comes to the end of this process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What has surprised you - that you were clueless about?

Parents continue to overestimate the strength of their student's application. Happens every year. It's a travesty of justice!!

I think that the actual truth is that they underestimate the strength and quantity of the competition. They look at the median stats and think 'we're good' not bothering to understand that 75% of the rejected applicants likely were around the median stats. It is the numbers that 'kill' not 'better applicants'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much time you’ll waste trying it understand a process that is largely unknowable as we won’t ever be able to predict institutional priorities.

+100
Just reading the early comments I am see many that show people still didn't learn but many learned a great deal.

Key take aways:

At top schools peak stats only get you onto the playing field. Once you cross the bar they are not a differentiator.

All things being equal a hooked kid has an advantage over an unhooked kid. The hooked kid has crossed the bar for #1 above just like the "higher Stats" kid.

Academic contests are just an EC unless you place well. If you reach the peak they are great but if you don't they matter less than many believe because they don't create "breadth" of excellence.

The story matters. Why your kid is an interesting person to have on campus really matters when there are thousands of similar high performing kids to choose from.

Athletic recruits aren't lesser academics at top schools. Many of them have stats which go toe to toe with anyone though there are some who are given more leeway than a NARP (loved that term) applicant.

Institutional priorities are the greatest determinant and the greatest known unknowable at top schools. They have a huge pool of qualified candidates to choose from and they pick what they want.

Large publics are among the best Engineering/CS schools

Elite SLACs provide the best undergraduate education outside of Engineering/CS

The T10 are believed by many to provide the best of both of the above.

You can get a great education at any school in the T200 so prioritize fit over 'Prestige' unless you are focused on a few specific careers such as IB/MBB.

Some people are far too focused on what they social circle will say if a kid doesn't attend the 'right school'. These people need to get a grip as their kids mental health is more important than what their friends think.

You forgot an adjective: fake, fake friends think

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Learned: 1) the system can be gamed 2) tune out the "must have highest rigor in every class" bs. Creates unnecessary stress and toxic hs experience. Just get highest uw gpa you can get. 3) lean heavily into your kids academic strengths/interest and excel in those. Go deep, show curiosity and impact beyond your hs. Don't need fancy expensive programs but need a plan. 5) Every essay should be custom. Thats the ultimate demonstrated interest- kids who can write about specific programs and resources that will help them achieve their goals. Show them how well you fit. Lead them to water, so to speak. Be reflective. 6) be distinct from your hs peers. 7) choose major and schools that tightly fit your profile. Be intentional about school fit. Applying to every ivy or t20 doesn't make sense unless you are status hunting. They are so diffferent... 8) reviewing historical data from your hs is very important when deciding where to ed. 9) most elite ed acceptances from our private were urm and legacy. Rd still tbd. 10) process will feel 'unfair' when lower stats kids get in but that's the problem with predicting outcomes under a 'holistic admissions' process. Can't control the outcome but can have a plan to increase odds

OMG this is so so spot on.
Can I ask where your kid ended up?
Mine did all of this (I almost thought I wrote this) this cycle.
So far, into Michigan OOS, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Middlebury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Learned: 1) the system can be gamed 2) tune out the "must have highest rigor in every class" bs. Creates unnecessary stress and toxic hs experience. Just get highest uw gpa you can get. 3) lean heavily into your kids academic strengths/interest and excel in those. Go deep, show curiosity and impact beyond your hs. Don't need fancy expensive programs but need a plan. 5) Every essay should be custom. Thats the ultimate demonstrated interest- kids who can write about specific programs and resources that will help them achieve their goals. Show them how well you fit. Lead them to water, so to speak. Be reflective. 6) be distinct from your hs peers. 7) choose major and schools that tightly fit your profile. Be intentional about school fit. Applying to every ivy or t20 doesn't make sense unless you are status hunting. They are so diffferent... 8) reviewing historical data from your hs is very important when deciding where to ed. 9) most elite ed acceptances from our private were urm and legacy. Rd still tbd. 10) process will feel 'unfair' when lower stats kids get in but that's the problem with predicting outcomes under a 'holistic admissions' process. Can't control the outcome but can have a plan to increase odds

This may actually be good advice for most kids but understand that it will rule them out for the very top schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Learned: 1) the system can be gamed 2) tune out the "must have highest rigor in every class" bs. Creates unnecessary stress and toxic hs experience. Just get highest uw gpa you can get. 3) lean heavily into your kids academic strengths/interest and excel in those. Go deep, show curiosity and impact beyond your hs. Don't need fancy expensive programs but need a plan. 5) Every essay should be custom. Thats the ultimate demonstrated interest- kids who can write about specific programs and resources that will help them achieve their goals. Show them how well you fit. Lead them to water, so to speak. Be reflective. 6) be distinct from your hs peers. 7) choose major and schools that tightly fit your profile. Be intentional about school fit. Applying to every ivy or t20 doesn't make sense unless you are status hunting. They are so diffferent... 8) reviewing historical data from your hs is very important when deciding where to ed. 9) most elite ed acceptances from our private were urm and legacy. Rd still tbd. 10) process will feel 'unfair' when lower stats kids get in but that's the problem with predicting outcomes under a 'holistic admissions' process. Can't control the outcome but can have a plan to increase odds

This may actually be good advice for most kids but understand that it will rule them out for the very top schools.

Not necessarily

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Learned: 1) the system can be gamed 2) tune out the "must have highest rigor in every class" bs. Creates unnecessary stress and toxic hs experience. Just get highest uw gpa you can get. 3) lean heavily into your kids academic strengths/interest and excel in those. Go deep, show curiosity and impact beyond your hs. Don't need fancy expensive programs but need a plan. 5) Every essay should be custom. Thats the ultimate demonstrated interest- kids who can write about specific programs and resources that will help them achieve their goals. Show them how well you fit. Lead them to water, so to speak. Be reflective. 6) be distinct from your hs peers. 7) choose major and schools that tightly fit your profile. Be intentional about school fit. Applying to every ivy or t20 doesn't make sense unless you are status hunting. They are so diffferent... 8) reviewing historical data from your hs is very important when deciding where to ed. 9) most elite ed acceptances from our private were urm and legacy. Rd still tbd. 10) process will feel 'unfair' when lower stats kids get in but that's the problem with predicting outcomes under a 'holistic admissions' process. Can't control the outcome but can have a plan to increase odds

OMG this is so so spot on.
Can I ask where your kid ended up?
Mine did all of this (I almost thought I wrote this) this cycle.
So far, into Michigan OOS, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Middlebury.

Upenn (only ivy they applied to). School counselor didn't think kid would get in- highest rigor in academic area of interest but not all courses and no hook. But we were very intentional about major/program and school fit and cultivated ec to support. Kid did have great grades and test scores (as do so many kids), but I believe showing strong fit and great essays created differentiation and closed the deal. Didn't use a private counselor- just an overly involved mom who reads a lot and a kid who was open to constructive feedback. I also got great tips from this website! Process is stressful and unpredictable so focus on what you can control. Good luck everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Learned: 1) the system can be gamed 2) tune out the "must have highest rigor in every class" bs. Creates unnecessary stress and toxic hs experience. Just get highest uw gpa you can get. 3) lean heavily into your kids academic strengths/interest and excel in those. Go deep, show curiosity and impact beyond your hs. Don't need fancy expensive programs but need a plan. 5) Every essay should be custom. Thats the ultimate demonstrated interest- kids who can write about specific programs and resources that will help them achieve their goals. Show them how well you fit. Lead them to water, so to speak. Be reflective. 6) be distinct from your hs peers. 7) choose major and schools that tightly fit your profile. Be intentional about school fit. Applying to every ivy or t20 doesn't make sense unless you are status hunting. They are so diffferent... 8) reviewing historical data from your hs is very important when deciding where to ed. 9) most elite ed acceptances from our private were urm and legacy. Rd still tbd. 10) process will feel 'unfair' when lower stats kids get in but that's the problem with predicting outcomes under a 'holistic admissions' process. Can't control the outcome but can have a plan to increase odds

This may actually be good advice for most kids but understand that it will rule them out for the very top schools.

Not necessarily

You have to have both unless you have something else that's exceptional

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your major matters maybe more than stats. And your “story.”

This, 100%. My kid had a very meh SAT score and great GPA due to MCPS grade inflation, and very mediocre essays and still got into a lot of good schools, including Georgia, Michigan and UCLA. I think it had to do with his story - he focused on one area for an EC, then founded a club relating to it, did 2 internships (that were, frankly, BS) and applied for the major related to it. Also helped to be full pay at OOS publics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes your kid will do better in RD than early. Maybe the application is stronger? Different competition from intra-school? Class shaping priorities? Who knows.

And it all works out.

Definitely this. Also, if there are any grade slips at all, advise waiting for 1st semester grades and applying RD. EA schools may see these grades, but they're already very far along in the process by that point.

[Anonymous]

NP. I did not understand just how much benefit kids who are ALDC get. It is shocking, like a whole different process entirely.

[Anonymous]

I think there’s a lot of assumptions colleges make from clues built into the common app that many of us don’t pay attention to, but maybe we should?

I’m noticing that the kids whose parents have big titles and are charge of potentially hiring lots of graduates … (think senior people at investment banks or consulting firms or CEOs), their offspring have an advantage in this process.

Their kids may have slightly lower pure stats but they get the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it’s for fundraising? Maybe it’s to help with graduate job placement and put the parent on advisory boards or college committees? But there seems to be more going on behind the scenes.

Relatedly, I think a family’s school pedigree matters….Where the parents went to school or graduate school. Where the older siblings go to school. I think selective colleges look at all of that and make assumptions about a candidate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I did not understand just how much benefit kids who are ALDC get. It is shocking, like a whole different process entirely.

What's ALDC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I did not understand just how much benefit kids who are ALDC get. It is shocking, like a whole different process entirely.

What's ALDC?

Athlete
Legacy
Dean’s list (donor; VIP)
Children of faculty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Learned: 1) the system can be gamed 2) tune out the "must have highest rigor in every class" bs. Creates unnecessary stress and toxic hs experience. Just get highest uw gpa you can get. 3) lean heavily into your kids academic strengths/interest and excel in those. Go deep, show curiosity and impact beyond your hs. Don't need fancy expensive programs but need a plan. 5) Every essay should be custom. Thats the ultimate demonstrated interest- kids who can write about specific programs and resources that will help them achieve their goals. Show them how well you fit. Lead them to water, so to speak. Be reflective. 6) be distinct from your hs peers. 7) choose major and schools that tightly fit your profile. Be intentional about school fit. Applying to every ivy or t20 doesn't make sense unless you are status hunting. They are so diffferent... 8) reviewing historical data from your hs is very important when deciding where to ed. 9) most elite ed acceptances from our private were urm and legacy. Rd still tbd. 10) process will feel 'unfair' when lower stats kids get in but that's the problem with predicting outcomes under a 'holistic admissions' process. Can't control the outcome but can have a plan to increase odds

OMG this is so so spot on.
Can I ask where your kid ended up?
Mine did all of this (I almost thought I wrote this) this cycle.
So far, into Michigan OOS, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Middlebury.

Michigan AND Middlebury?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Learned: 1) the system can be gamed 2) tune out the "must have highest rigor in every class" bs. Creates unnecessary stress and toxic hs experience. Just get highest uw gpa you can get. 3) lean heavily into your kids academic strengths/interest and excel in those. Go deep, show curiosity and impact beyond your hs. Don't need fancy expensive programs but need a plan. 5) Every essay should be custom. Thats the ultimate demonstrated interest- kids who can write about specific programs and resources that will help them achieve their goals. Show them how well you fit. Lead them to water, so to speak. Be reflective. 6) be distinct from your hs peers. 7) choose major and schools that tightly fit your profile. Be intentional about school fit. Applying to every ivy or t20 doesn't make sense unless you are status hunting. They are so diffferent... 8) reviewing historical data from your hs is very important when deciding where to ed. 9) most elite ed acceptances from our private were urm and legacy. Rd still tbd. 10) process will feel 'unfair' when lower stats kids get in but that's the problem with predicting outcomes under a 'holistic admissions' process. Can't control the outcome but can have a plan to increase odds

OMG this is so so spot on.
Can I ask where your kid ended up?
Mine did all of this (I almost thought I wrote this) this cycle.
So far, into Michigan OOS, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Middlebury.

Michigan AND Middlebury?

So different????