What is going on - really worried

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm worried too!

I have a smart kid with strong (not outstanding) GPA from academic school and high SAT. Not sure what will happen.

He's only into his safeties EA at the moment ...

Same here.

Our 2022 grad went to their safety school (WL, deferred and rejected at reaches, same for 2 targets, only accepted at U MD and 2 safetys - decided they wanted the out of state experience more than U MD). Guess what? They are happy and thriving. This kid has made lemonade out of lemons and I am so proud of them. If it happens to your kid, hopefully the same happens to them

That’s great attitude!
What are the targets if you don’t mind sharing? Thanks.
UMD was still a safety for normal top stats kids in 2022 in MoCo!

For someone not from the area, UMD is considered in the same league as schools like Rutgers and is not as good as Wisc-Madison, UDub, UIUC. But it’s much easier for a MoCo kid to get into Rutgers and definitely easier to get into the latter 3 compared to UMD now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is too much anec-data and not enough transparency around this discretionary process. We should all be worried tbh.

You can win or lose in this game, but the game has no real instructions and no consequences if AOs go rogue. It makes some kids feel like they are amazing when they don't know behind the scenes why they were given a chance, and it makes others feel hopeless when they don't know why they weren't.

It's not just about gpa/test scores. It's a sales strategy on both ends.

+1. AOs aren’t “going rogue” just because they make a decision you don’t like.

I think the OP is referring to the broad discretion and lack of accountability that AOs enjoy. They can pretty much operate as they like without any accountability. I’ve heard a story of an AO who declined all students in a particular area because he contracted food poisoning when he was visiting that area.

I’m sure many AOs are ethical and do their best to uphold the school’s institutional priorities, but I don’t think anyone can say that every single AO is devoid of personal agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is too much anec-data and not enough transparency around this discretionary process. We should all be worried tbh.

You can win or lose in this game, but the game has no real instructions and no consequences if AOs go rogue. It makes some kids feel like they are amazing when they don't know behind the scenes why they were given a chance, and it makes others feel hopeless when they don't know why they weren't.

It's not just about gpa/test scores. It's a sales strategy on both ends.

+1. AOs aren’t “going rogue” just because they make a decision you don’t like.

I think the OP is referring to the broad discretion and lack of accountability that AOs enjoy. They can pretty much operate as they like without any accountability. I’ve heard a story of an AO who declined all students in a particular area because he contracted food poisoning when he was visiting that area.

I’m sure many AOs are ethical and do their best to uphold the school’s institutional priorities, but I don’t think anyone can say that every single AO is devoid of personal agenda.

All AOs have implicit or explicit personal agenda. In most colleges, the first read is done by a single AO. They can unilaterally reject an applicant because of their personal bias.

[Anonymous]

OP: Any updates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: Any updates?

They all disappeared. Not a single one came back reporting results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm worried too!

I have a smart kid with strong (not outstanding) GPA from academic school and high SAT. Not sure what will happen.

He's only into his safeties EA at the moment ...

Same here.

Our 2022 grad went to their safety school (WL, deferred and rejected at reaches, same for 2 targets, only accepted at U MD and 2 safetys - decided they wanted the out of state experience more than U MD). Guess what? They are happy and thriving. This kid has made lemonade out of lemons and I am so proud of them. If it happens to your kid, hopefully the same happens to them

That’s great attitude!
What are the targets if you don’t mind sharing? Thanks.
UMD was still a safety for normal top stats kids in 2022 in MoCo!

Nope, it wasn't. I have a kid who graduated MCPS in 2022 and he got in ED but we knew of a number of high stats kids who were rejected that year and the following year. I've always wondered if my kid would have been accepted with a 4.5wGPA (not for a competitive major.) It has been gradually becoming more and more competitive especially from Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Who is going to college here? You, or your kids? Where do you end and where do your kids begin, as a person? It isn't "we applied" it's "he" or "she" applied. Seriously, parents today are way too enmeshed, way too up in their kids' grills. Back off and let them breathe!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is too much anec-data and not enough transparency around this discretionary process. We should all be worried tbh.

You can win or lose in this game, but the game has no real instructions and no consequences if AOs go rogue. It makes some kids feel like they are amazing when they don't know behind the scenes why they were given a chance, and it makes others feel hopeless when they don't know why they weren't.

It's not just about gpa/test scores. It's a sales strategy on both ends.

+1. AOs aren’t “going rogue” just because they make a decision you don’t like.

I think the OP is referring to the broad discretion and lack of accountability that AOs enjoy. They can pretty much operate as they like without any accountability. I’ve heard a story of an AO who declined all students in a particular area because he contracted food poisoning when he was visiting that area.

I’m sure many AOs are ethical and do their best to uphold the school’s institutional priorities, but I don’t think anyone can say that every single AO is devoid of personal agenda.

All AOs have implicit or explicit personal agenda. In most colleges, the first read is done by a single AO. They can unilaterally reject an applicant because of their personal bias.

Whatever helps you sleep at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is going to college here? You, or your kids? Where do you end and where do your kids begin, as a person? It isn't "we applied" it's "he" or "she" applied. Seriously, parents today are way too enmeshed, way too up in their kids' grills. Back off and let them breathe!

Except sadly so many factors that influence a kids admission have nothing to do with anything the kid can control. If you went back in time 30 years and told people hey getting a four year degree and graduate degree, professional job and moving to an area with good schools when you have kids will significantly diminish their chances to get into colleges ranked 20-40 slots below where you went you’d be shocked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unlikely that those reach decisions go your way unless there was a pivot in the essays from early to RD.

Passion. Drive. Umphhh.
Something different/that stands out.

That’s what they’re looking for. Be honest and re-read those apps. You’ll feel the passion or the gut punch if it’s there. If it’s not, prepare yourself.

Interesting. Do you think big state schools actually read the essays? DCs were very compelling and admitted to one of the HYPS but rejected from state schools.

UVA/Michigan and Wisconsin absolutely do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unlikely that those reach decisions go your way unless there was a pivot in the essays from early to RD.

Passion. Drive. Umphhh.
Something different/that stands out.

That’s what they’re looking for. Be honest and re-read those apps. You’ll feel the passion or the gut punch if it’s there. If it’s not, prepare yourself.

💯 this…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unlikely that those reach decisions go your way unless there was a pivot in the essays from early to RD.

Passion. Drive. Umphhh.
Something different/that stands out.

That’s what they’re looking for. Be honest and re-read those apps. You’ll feel the passion or the gut punch if it’s there. If it’s not, prepare yourself.

Interesting. Do you think big state schools actually read the essays? DCs were very compelling and admitted to one of the HYPS but rejected from state schools.

UVA/Michigan and Wisconsin absolutely do

Purdue does. Tell me how I know, haha!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is too much anec-data and not enough transparency around this discretionary process. We should all be worried tbh.

You can win or lose in this game, but the game has no real instructions and no consequences if AOs go rogue. It makes some kids feel like they are amazing when they don't know behind the scenes why they were given a chance, and it makes others feel hopeless when they don't know why they weren't.

It's not just about gpa/test scores. It's a sales strategy on both ends.

+1. AOs aren’t “going rogue” just because they make a decision you don’t like.

I think the OP is referring to the broad discretion and lack of accountability that AOs enjoy. They can pretty much operate as they like without any accountability. I’ve heard a story of an AO who declined all students in a particular area because he contracted food poisoning when he was visiting that area.

I’m sure many AOs are ethical and do their best to uphold the school’s institutional priorities, but I don’t think anyone can say that every single AO is devoid of personal agenda.

All AOs have implicit or explicit personal agenda. In most colleges, the first read is done by a single AO. They can unilaterally reject an applicant because of their personal bias.

Not true. Even in the small colleges, the first reads are done by contract seasonal workers who are told how the college wants the applications reviewed. They make the first pass, noting GPA, class rank, scores, institutional priority issues, legacy, if applicable, unique needed instrument for orchestra, etc. At this stage, speed is paramount so essays usually aren't read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unlikely that those reach decisions go your way unless there was a pivot in the essays from early to RD.

Passion. Drive. Umphhh.
Something different/that stands out.

That’s what they’re looking for. Be honest and re-read those apps. You’ll feel the passion or the gut punch if it’s there. If it’s not, prepare yourself.

Interesting. Do you think big state schools actually read the essays? DCs were very compelling and admitted to one of the HYPS but rejected from state schools.

This didn’t happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was OP's GPA a 3.7 or 3.8uw? There is a difference.

3.7uw is generally not competitive for Ivies even with ED. The guide for "private selective/feeder" HS that I've seen thrown around here tends to be mostly true (posted in other threads as well):

There’s a bit of private HS reputational variation, but here’s the general overview:
3.9+ = competitive for T10+
3.8+ = competitive for T11-20/25+
3.7+ = competitive for T25/30+

From our non-national-feeder but great DMV private, 3.7uw has no shot at T25-30, it is barely above average. 3.8uw is borderline for T25/30, have a decent shot if they have taken the most difficult courses in all areas. 3.9uw is in range for T20 yet quite borderline and not likely for T10. T10/ivy unhooked even with ED needs to have top10% GPA minimum which means one or two A-, rest A and A+, or 3.95+uw.
The OP needs to get data from their school. They likely made a poor list.

Your school has massive grade inflation. That is not typical in highly regarded private feeder high schools.

This is more typical than parents like to believe. Parents keep thinking that no one gets close to 4.0 but even in the toughest of schools, a few kids always get more than 3.95 and 3.7 to 3.8 gpa is average.

Agreed. We've been invaded by posters who say that a 3.95 is an impossible GPA at top privates but I don't think they're from the DMV. I know at both NCS and STA that a full 20% of the class is above a 3.9 or 93% (at STA). Maret too as I had a kid there. I don't know about Sidwell or GDS. I currently have an NCS junior with a 3.95 and she doesn't have the impression that her grades are unusual.

It's not impossible to get 3.95 uw at our daughter's competitive private in the SF Bay. They shared that 20% get 3.85-3.95, 20% get 3.7-3.84, and 60% get below 3.7. It's an academic HS as you needed high GPA and standardized test (SSAT) to get in in grade 8. I have no idea of whether the grading is inflationary or deflationary compared to other academic privates. But it is what it is!

+1 In our private school the GPAs are very high. For AP classes, if the kid gets a 5 on AP test, the grade for that class gets a bump often to an A, if the original grade is not an A. I would say half of the class have over 3.9 GPA. School doesn't weight GPA, average SAT is 1500. Kids start taking AP in 8-th grade (some taking Calculus AB). A 3.7 kid probably gets counseled out in 9th grade.

They are changing grades post end of year? Doubtful.

At our bay are Catholic a 3.9UW is top 5% if the UW is 4.5 due to AP classes not Honors.