Lessons learned so far: 2024-2025

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt anyone writes Russian math and Kumon on their college apps. Lol

If they do they’re screwed!

[Anonymous]

That education has gone out the window and students are obsessed with careerism. I understand, we all need jobs, but so many tours were based on research opportunities and career offices that it didn't feel like an education anymore. At one of the schools, DS asked a faculty member about the physics department, and they just bragged that their students go into Software engineering... It was overwhelming seeing the rapid change, as when I was in college, there wasn't such disdain for the humanities or even blind trust in STEM-only education.

[Anonymous]

Top students are much less impressive than in the past but much bigger smooth talkers. Students are like mini consultants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That education has gone out the window and students are obsessed with careerism. I understand, we all need jobs, but so many tours were based on research opportunities and career offices that it didn't feel like an education anymore. At one of the schools, DS asked a faculty member about the physics department, and they just bragged that their students go into Software engineering... It was overwhelming seeing the rapid change, as when I was in college, there wasn't such disdain for the humanities or even blind trust in STEM-only education.

+1, Harvard has an issue with students even attending class now, because they are so wrapped up in their extracurriculars: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/2/3/fas-study-student-class-prioritize/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That education has gone out the window and students are obsessed with careerism. I understand, we all need jobs, but so many tours were based on research opportunities and career offices that it didn't feel like an education anymore. At one of the schools, DS asked a faculty member about the physics department, and they just bragged that their students go into Software engineering... It was overwhelming seeing the rapid change, as when I was in college, there wasn't such disdain for the humanities or even blind trust in STEM-only education.

This is why students who have a clear and authentic humanities spoke stand out and - do get in, against the odds. They want more of those kids. At least in T20…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That education has gone out the window and students are obsessed with careerism. I understand, we all need jobs, but so many tours were based on research opportunities and career offices that it didn't feel like an education anymore. At one of the schools, DS asked a faculty member about the physics department, and they just bragged that their students go into Software engineering... It was overwhelming seeing the rapid change, as when I was in college, there wasn't such disdain for the humanities or even blind trust in STEM-only education.

We do not need a million students to major in art history, gender studies and sociology.

Every STEM major also has 20-40% of the course work in humanities. It is the humanities majors who are not getting a broad education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even when schools don't track 'demonstrated interest', they still seem to look for it in supplemental essays. Make sure that supplementals convey deep knowledge of the school. Based on our experience, I think that matters more than schools are wont to convey.

How does one show deep knowledge of the school without turning the supplemental into a Mad Libs-style laundry list (classes, professors, activities)? I feel like the supplemental essay looks formulaic. Can someone post GREAT supplemental essays (why major, why us)?

thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even when schools don't track 'demonstrated interest', they still seem to look for it in supplemental essays. Make sure that supplementals convey deep knowledge of the school. Based on our experience, I think that matters more than schools are wont to convey.

How does one show deep knowledge of the school without turning the supplemental into a Mad Libs-style laundry list (classes, professors, activities)? I feel like the supplemental essay looks formulaic. Can someone post GREAT supplemental essays (why major, why us)?

thank you!

I don't feel comfortable posting my DC's essays but I hope this description helps. Tie high school EC's to specific ones at the college, the clubs/groups all have unique names, often times there are several in a category, which one would the student pick and why? Same thing for why major essay, start with something meaningful in high school learning, a novel that struck a cord, an idea that made them want to learn more, the moment when the spark lit in math etc and then pick a particular class in the course catalog that would enable deeper exploration. Doing this for each college isn't easy or formulaic because sometimes the research into the school actually turns up information on why some schools actually aren't a fit. Also helps to picture what a day in a particular college would be like, stand out classes, clubs, look at the events calendar for speakers, performances, games, annual traditions. Done well it reads like a love letter to a college.

[Anonymous]

This post was referenced in another thread and I find it very helpful. Have been reading it over 2 days.

Are there other things people are doing that they’ve learned either from this site or elsewhere for this application cycle ? If so, like what?

[Anonymous]

Supplementals are extremely time consuming. Apply to a few schools that have none. Also, to reiterate, start way earlier than you think is necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Some folks don't understand that the game is really in early action. They see early action and regular decision and think they're equal. Many, many schools have much reduced odds by doing regular decision. So if you do regular decision, the kid is doing the same work, essays, etc and have a much lower chance. I've been surprised by the amount of parents who didn't know this. Basically, go in with the mentality that all apps will be due Nov 1 (plus or minus a few weeks). Of course, some don't have early action, so reg decision is fine obviously.

2. For all of the emphasis you'll hear on demonstrated interest, I was suprised how many of the schools my kid applied to didn't track demonstrated interest (you can see on every schools "common data set" whether they consider demonstrated interest in admissions). So check common data set before you force yourself to fly across country to make sure you have demonstrated interest.

3. Before the search begins and all along the way, emphasize over and over that we're not looking for a dream school. We need to identify 4-5 schools you'd be excited to attend. Watching the "dream school" kids be disappointed even when they end up at good schools is rough.

4. Understand your budget before ever letting a kid look at a school. Schools that would never be affordable (even with merit or aid it'd be too much) aren't on the table.

Thank God we didn't follow this advice because DS #1 choice was UC Berkeley and it was simply out our price range even with merit. But he got it with merit that covered more than we could have imagined and made it cheaper than some of the other schools that were within our budget

In state or out?

Out of state.

Could you provide more information? Was it tied to need? I've not heard of large merit scholarships for OOS students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even when schools don't track 'demonstrated interest', they still seem to look for it in supplemental essays. Make sure that supplementals convey deep knowledge of the school. Based on our experience, I think that matters more than schools are wont to convey.

How does one show deep knowledge of the school without turning the supplemental into a Mad Libs-style laundry list (classes, professors, activities)? I feel like the supplemental essay looks formulaic. Can someone post GREAT supplemental essays (why major, why us)?

thank you!

Ours wrote all of their supplementals in a narrative style-similar to how you answer the common app prompt. Got into all their colleges including Princeton. Potentially just luck of the draw, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Supplementals are extremely time consuming. Apply to a few schools that have none. Also, to reiterate, start way earlier than you think is necessary.

Agree with starting early. One tip, have your student print (yep, the old fashioned way) out the supplemental prompts at the colleges they are applying to so they can sort them into 3-4 subjects, though wording varies and the word count limits differ they can all be sorted into a few headline topics, i.e. why x major, why us, why you ( IMO community, leadership questions are really all why you, how have you shown up in HS and how will you show up in college). The supplementals can seem overwhelming until you realize you are answering the same question just in short, medium and long form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even when schools don't track 'demonstrated interest', they still seem to look for it in supplemental essays. Make sure that supplementals convey deep knowledge of the school. Based on our experience, I think that matters more than schools are wont to convey.

How does one show deep knowledge of the school without turning the supplemental into a Mad Libs-style laundry list (classes, professors, activities)? I feel like the supplemental essay looks formulaic. Can someone post GREAT supplemental essays (why major, why us)?

thank you!

Ours wrote all of their supplementals in a narrative style-similar to how you answer the common app prompt. Got into all their colleges including Princeton. Potentially just luck of the draw, though.

Yes, everyone does this....with a story/hook, you mean? Did your kid not mention any professors, EC, or anything unique to Princeton in the supplementals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lessons:
Kumon/enrichment/culture/language immersion will not guarantee that your kid will get into a top college. I know plenty of kids who did one or all and are going to schools not considered to be top.

+100

All of this plus include Russian Math, Violin, Eagle Scout and 1500+ SAT. It's all just ... so what. DC is going to a basic state school after a sea of rejections.

And mine did none and is going to a top 10 school.

Crazy. Same for mine. Did none of this crazy stuff.
Just did what they loved and wrote about it. No extra math and science. No music.

no tutors at all through high school?? Because you can equate Kumon and Russian math with having a private math tutor once or twice a week. The majority of kids in upper level math classes either had a tutor or participated of these companies programs.