What is going on - really worried

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow that's so much more generous than our private. Like I said, at our SF Bay private school, less than 20% (not 50%) get over a 3.85, and no one gets their grade bumped up to an A just for getting a 5 on the AP test. I wish they did for college entry purposes! Like I said, 60% of our class gets below a 3.7.

Yet another reason the posts from oos are so unhelpful to locals.

Are you actually naive enough to think that this is a local board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow that's so much more generous than our private. Like I said, at our SF Bay private school, less than 20% (not 50%) get over a 3.85, and no one gets their grade bumped up to an A just for getting a 5 on the AP test. I wish they did for college entry purposes! Like I said, 60% of our class gets below a 3.7.

School recognizes there are subjective elements in grades given in the class, emphasizes on the importance of standardized tests. Kids take on average 15 APs.
There is no hooks in the school, mostly immigrants' kids. A few exceptions are faculty's kids. No athletic recruits.

Sounds like Harker. Not surprised if they pulled stunts like the one that you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow that's so much more generous than our private. Like I said, at our SF Bay private school, less than 20% (not 50%) get over a 3.85, and no one gets their grade bumped up to an A just for getting a 5 on the AP test. I wish they did for college entry purposes! Like I said, 60% of our class gets below a 3.7.

School recognizes there are subjective elements in grades given in the class, emphasizes on the importance of standardized tests. Kids take on average 15 APs.
There is no hooks in the school, mostly immigrants' kids. A few exceptions are faculty's kids. No athletic recruits.

Sounds like Harker. Not surprised if they pulled stunts like the one that you are talking about.

Harker is such an exceptional school and turns out well-read, erudite students. They will succeed regardless of their university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow that's so much more generous than our private. Like I said, at our SF Bay private school, less than 20% (not 50%) get over a 3.85, and no one gets their grade bumped up to an A just for getting a 5 on the AP test. I wish they did for college entry purposes! Like I said, 60% of our class gets below a 3.7.

School recognizes there are subjective elements in grades given in the class, emphasizes on the importance of standardized tests. Kids take on average 15 APs.
There is no hooks in the school, mostly immigrants' kids. A few exceptions are faculty's kids. No athletic recruits.

Sounds like Harker. Not surprised if they pulled stunts like the one that you are talking about.

Harker is such an exceptional school and turns out well-read, erudite students. They will succeed regardless of their university.

Harker turns out little STEM grinds to please their immigrant parents. But, it is very good at what it does.

[Anonymous]

why are there so many pages on this thread???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why are there so many pages on this thread???

Maybe people don’t know what’s going on & are really worried?

[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.

💯 this…

I'd advise everyone who feels nervous to do this to prepare themselves. Read objectively (if you can). If you do feel something (powerful) after reading the entire RD app, that's good. Actually great.

Once you read a lot of application essays and even bios, you start to realize how similar they all sound. The goal is to sound different. Be different. Have entirely different interests. If your kid did that, A+

[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.

💯 this…

I'd advise everyone who feels nervous to do this to prepare themselves. Read objectively (if you can). If you do feel something (powerful) after reading the entire RD app, that's good. Actually great.

Once you read a lot of application essays and even bios, you start to realize how similar they all sound. The goal is to sound different. Be different. Have entirely different interests. If your kid did that, A+

Just to be clear, you don’t mean to be flashy, correct? Different yes, often they are quietly different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

💯 this…

I'd advise everyone who feels nervous to do this to prepare themselves. Read objectively (if you can). If you do feel something (powerful) after reading the entire RD app, that's good. Actually great.

Once you read a lot of application essays and even bios, you start to realize how similar they all sound. The goal is to sound different. Be different. Have entirely different interests. If your kid did that, A+

Just to be clear, you don’t mean to be flashy, correct? Different yes, often they are quietly different.

Not flashy at all imo. Just authentically intellectually different. When you see it, you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

💯 this…

I'd advise everyone who feels nervous to do this to prepare themselves. Read objectively (if you can). If you do feel something (powerful) after reading the entire RD app, that's good. Actually great.

Once you read a lot of application essays and even bios, you start to realize how similar they all sound. The goal is to sound different. Be different. Have entirely different interests. If your kid did that, A+

Just to be clear, you don’t mean to be flashy, correct? Different yes, often they are quietly different.

Not flashy at all imo. Just authentically intellectually different. When you see it, you know.

+1000

[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.

This didn’t happen.

Yes, it did happen. And it’s happened to other kids we know too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

💯 this…

I'd advise everyone who feels nervous to do this to prepare themselves. Read objectively (if you can). If you do feel something (powerful) after reading the entire RD app, that's good. Actually great.

Once you read a lot of application essays and even bios, you start to realize how similar they all sound. The goal is to sound different. Be different. Have entirely different interests. If your kid did that, A+

Just to be clear, you don’t mean to be flashy, correct? Different yes, often they are quietly different.

Not flashy at all imo. Just authentically intellectually different. When you see it, you know.

Just be genuine: even a generic topic can touch others when you write what you truly believe.

For someone who is truly creative and independent-minded, this thing comes naturally and easily!

[Anonymous]

Construct a balanced list based on reality

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

💯 this…

I'd advise everyone who feels nervous to do this to prepare themselves. Read objectively (if you can). If you do feel something (powerful) after reading the entire RD app, that's good. Actually great.

Once you read a lot of application essays and even bios, you start to realize how similar they all sound. The goal is to sound different. Be different. Have entirely different interests. If your kid did that, A+

Just to be clear, you don’t mean to be flashy, correct? Different yes, often they are quietly different.

Not flashy at all imo. Just authentically intellectually different. When you see it, you know.

Just be genuine: even a generic topic can touch others when you write what you truly believe.

For someone who is truly creative and independent-minded, this thing comes naturally and easily!

Comes naturally with $1000's on essay coaches and heavy parental involvement.

[Anonymous]

This is hilarious to me! And private school parents moan about "public school grade inflation"! My dc had several C+/B- grades for classes where he scored a 5 on the AP. I can't believe private schools go back and change the class grades. That's wild!