It’s easier for average kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree, OP. There definitely is a sweet spot in terms of admissibility to most schools. A 3.8 (unweighted), 3-5 APs, and a 30/1300 will get you into the majority of schools out there, and there is a lot less pressure on these kids to get into a top 20 school (which is a crapshoot no matter what your stats are).

This is the correct take. High-stats kids don’t inherit those stats like a trust fund. They work for them. The work is stressful and often requires the kids to forego most of the stuff that makes life worth living. Then they spend senior year wondering if all that sacrifice was worth it.

If you’re already a senior, it’s better to be high-stats. If you’re in 8th grade, the question is whether it’s worth the effort to accumulate them. And I increasingly think that, if you can be the 3.8/1300 kid while maintaining a normal sleep schedule and happy life, it is actually unwise to shoot for the higher stats.

If your high schooler does not maintain a healthy sleep schedule and normal HS relationships, then I can definitely, 100%, say it’s not worth it. Even for HYPS. I don’t know people wear over-industriousness like a badge of honor. It’s not. Scarcity mindset and status obsession are ruining our adolescents lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the piece of OP’s post that people are ignoring is that kids with very high stats are not getting into schools that you would expect they would because of yield protection. Schools assume the stats are high, the kid will have other options, so the kid does not get into the school where they are at or above the 75% level. Meanwhile, the same kid is also rejected from all the “lottery” schools, so is left with few options. A different kid with stats at the 50% level for the school May actually be in a better position, because the school won’t yield protect that kid. With respect to that point, OP makes sense.

Agree but DCUM doesn’t want to hear it. Kids who have done well at school and tests and EC are not getting into some safeties and targets this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same ole' hand-wringing and angst-ridden posts every years. You can buy a tropical vacation, unique summer internships, infinite SAT prep sessions.....but you can't simply buy your way into T10 schools. The rest of us know this and aren't whining about it. Deal. With. It.

+1

[Anonymous]

those "average" kids are happy. That is what matters not the school you get to say your kid goes to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yield protection is real though for 1550+ Kids

I see what you are saying. But, if they showed 0 interest (for the schools that track that, which if you think they are so likely, they probably do) and they did not do optional essays and other similar things-- can we call it yield protection? Yes, in the sense that the school probably does not think the kid is coming. But the school also maybe thinks the kid does not want to go there. That can also be true. And colleges certainly can and should pick the kids that are really into them. That's not quite, or only, yield protection. That's building a class that wants to be there.

When a parent laments that a kid was rejected, we may "know" their scores, ECs, etc. are fantastic--- but we do not know the quality of the application itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yield protection is real though for 1550+ Kids

Or it's a way for some people to feel better when they don't get in.

My 1580, 4.0UW DC has gotten in everywhere so far except for a reach ED Ivy and Hopkins. Got into Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, Northeastern EA, UMichigan EA, Pitt, Vermont, Macalester, Wisconsin, Penn State, OSU, Loyola, and Depaul.

These are all schools DC really really liked so demonstrated interest. When there were supplemental essays, they put a lot of time into them.

I think "yield protection" may exist a little bit but it's not the "you get thrown out if you're high stats." Rather "if you're high stats and you treat us like a safety don't count on us." And that is how it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yield protection is real though for 1550+ Kids

Or it's a way for some people to feel better when they don't get in.

My 1580, 4.0UW DC has gotten in everywhere so far except for a reach ED Ivy and Hopkins. Got into Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, Northeastern EA, UMichigan EA, Pitt, Vermont, Macalester, Wisconsin, Penn State, OSU, Loyola, and Depaul.

These are all schools DC really really liked so demonstrated interest. When there were supplemental essays, they put a lot of time into them.

I think "yield protection" may exist a little bit but it's not the "you get thrown out if you're high stats." Rather "if you're high stats and you treat us like a safety don't count on us." And that is how it should be.

THIS^is the truth. Especially the last part about effort. And the fact that the PP's DC applied to wide ranging schools from safeties to targets. Kudos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High stats kids have so much competition for the schools they want to attend. Then they are yield protected at lower level schools. In some ways a kid with a 1350 has it a lot easier and a smoother road to their college picks than a kid with 1550.

High stats kid should apply to a few Ivy+ reaches, but also mid-tier schools where they will woo him with a full ride scholarship. Sure, Northeastern and Tulane will probably yield protect your kid but their juice isn't worth the squeeze IMHO.

High stats kids should feel fortunate because they will have SO MANY OPTIONS if they play their cards right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the piece of OP’s post that people are ignoring is that kids with very high stats are not getting into schools that you would expect they would because of yield protection. Schools assume the stats are high, the kid will have other options, so the kid does not get into the school where they are at or above the 75% level. Meanwhile, the same kid is also rejected from all the “lottery” schools, so is left with few options. A different kid with stats at the 50% level for the school May actually be in a better position, because the school won’t yield protect that kid. With respect to that point, OP makes sense.

Agree but DCUM doesn’t want to hear it. Kids who have done well at school and tests and EC are not getting into some safeties and targets this year.

Perhaps those were really not safeties/targets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yield protection is real though for 1550+ Kids

Or it's a way for some people to feel better when they don't get in.

My 1580, 4.0UW DC has gotten in everywhere so far except for a reach ED Ivy and Hopkins. Got into Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, Northeastern EA, UMichigan EA, Pitt, Vermont, Macalester, Wisconsin, Penn State, OSU, Loyola, and Depaul.

These are all schools DC really really liked so demonstrated interest. When there were supplemental essays, they put a lot of time into them.

I think "yield protection" may exist a little bit but it's not the "you get thrown out if you're high stats." Rather "if you're high stats and you treat us like a safety don't count on us." And that is how it should be.

I know a kid a couple of years ago who got deferred/WLed (however they do it) in Michigan EA, which was hurting as he had gotten deferred at his ED1 and was only into one of the New England state schools. The mom was shocked. The son said to her, "Mom, I deserve it. I did NOTHING to demonstrate interest. Nothing. And they replied accordingly." One of the best admissions lines I've heard the last few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the piece of OP’s post that people are ignoring is that kids with very high stats are not getting into schools that you would expect they would because of yield protection. Schools assume the stats are high, the kid will have other options, so the kid does not get into the school where they are at or above the 75% level. Meanwhile, the same kid is also rejected from all the “lottery” schools, so is left with few options. A different kid with stats at the 50% level for the school May actually be in a better position, because the school won’t yield protect that kid. With respect to that point, OP makes sense.

Agree but DCUM doesn’t want to hear it. Kids who have done well at school and tests and EC are not getting into some safeties and targets this year.

Perhaps those were really not safeties/targets.

Well, they were based on data from recent previous years. That’s the point. It’s also a wrong assumption that the kids didn’t show interest in the schools but it is a par for the course response to this problem on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Average kids only have it easier if their parents have money, otherwise average means no merit aid and no shot at truly need blind schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yield protection is real though for 1550+ Kids

Or it's a way for some people to feel better when they don't get in.

My 1580, 4.0UW DC has gotten in everywhere so far except for a reach ED Ivy and Hopkins. Got into Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, Northeastern EA, UMichigan EA, Pitt, Vermont, Macalester, Wisconsin, Penn State, OSU, Loyola, and Depaul.

These are all schools DC really really liked so demonstrated interest. When there were supplemental essays, they put a lot of time into them.

I think "yield protection" may exist a little bit but it's not the "you get thrown out if you're high stats." Rather "if you're high stats and you treat us like a safety don't count on us." And that is how it should be.

You did this the right way. Congratulations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yield protection is real though for 1550+ Kids

Or it's a way for some people to feel better when they don't get in.

My 1580, 4.0UW DC has gotten in everywhere so far except for a reach ED Ivy and Hopkins. Got into Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, Northeastern EA, UMichigan EA, Pitt, Vermont, Macalester, Wisconsin, Penn State, OSU, Loyola, and Depaul.

These are all schools DC really really liked so demonstrated interest. When there were supplemental essays, they put a lot of time into them.

I think "yield protection" may exist a little bit but it's not the "you get thrown out if you're high stats." Rather "if you're high stats and you treat us like a safety don't count on us." And that is how it should be.

You did this the right way. Congratulations.

Thanks. I might add that the one of the reasons DC really really liked all of these schools is because they recognize that very smart kids go to all kinds of schools, and the teaching/professors/opportunities are also are excellent at most. So they were able to focus on attributes other than rankings. Yes, the prestige of the Ivy League surely entered into the decision to apply ED to that school but they knew it was a long shot and are excited by the options they have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yield protection is real though for 1550+ Kids

Or it's a way for some people to feel better when they don't get in.

My 1580, 4.0UW DC has gotten in everywhere so far except for a reach ED Ivy and Hopkins. Got into Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, Northeastern EA, UMichigan EA, Pitt, Vermont, Macalester, Wisconsin, Penn State, OSU, Loyola, and Depaul.

These are all schools DC really really liked so demonstrated interest. When there were supplemental essays, they put a lot of time into them.

I think "yield protection" may exist a little bit but it's not the "you get thrown out if you're high stats." Rather "if you're high stats and you treat us like a safety don't count on us." And that is how it should be.

Congrats to your DC! Where would they choose out of the ones they've already been accepted to??