Where are the top unhooked kids at your Big3 going this year (not legacy, URM or sports recruit).

[Anonymous]

What connections does attending an Ivy offer a big 5 grad that they don’t already have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Athletes from these schools really don't have much of a "hook" getting into the "top" schools. Going through the process now with my kid. Highy desired by coaches almost universally, but can't get past the pre-reads because they're around the 25th percentile for the very academic schools. Middle of the pack "big 3" student and athletics not the hook everyone thinks it is.

Yeah, I don't think people understand that for the schools everyone on this Board worries about, you still need really strong academics to get into the top D3 schools, and to get into an Ivy, you need both the academics and to be a good enough athlete to compete at the D1 level. Everyone acts like that's nothing. I don't get it. When DC graduated a Big3 several years ago two classmates were recruited to play a sport at top Ivies. They were really strong athletes, who had worked really hard at their sports, but also had always taken the hardest classes and had high GPAs. It was not as if they just wandered in and said "here I am."

I don’t think you understand the amount of parental time and resources a kid needs to have access to in order to be recruitable for most d1, d2 (often forgotten!), and d3 sports. Additionally, a lot of the sports that you can get recruited for garner no fanfare whatsoever.

Okay cool. What does that have to do with the misperception that athletes going to high academic schools have a "hook" and are less qualified academically? I'll answer that: nothing.

I’d like to abolish athletic preference in admissions, especially for sports that don’t generate revenue.

Of course you would! You would like for elite colleges to focus exclusively on children just like your own, just like every other parent who thinks it is unfair that kids they deem inferior were accepted to schools that rejected those parents’ children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Athletes from these schools really don't have much of a "hook" getting into the "top" schools. Going through the process now with my kid. Highy desired by coaches almost universally, but can't get past the pre-reads because they're around the 25th percentile for the very academic schools. Middle of the pack "big 3" student and athletics not the hook everyone thinks it is.

Yeah, I don't think people understand that for the schools everyone on this Board worries about, you still need really strong academics to get into the top D3 schools, and to get into an Ivy, you need both the academics and to be a good enough athlete to compete at the D1 level. Everyone acts like that's nothing. I don't get it. When DC graduated a Big3 several years ago two classmates were recruited to play a sport at top Ivies. They were really strong athletes, who had worked really hard at their sports, but also had always taken the hardest classes and had high GPAs. It was not as if they just wandered in and said "here I am."

I don’t think you understand the amount of parental time and resources a kid needs to have access to in order to be recruitable for most d1, d2 (often forgotten!), and d3 sports. Additionally, a lot of the sports that you can get recruited for garner no fanfare whatsoever.

Okay cool. What does that have to do with the misperception that athletes going to high academic schools have a "hook" and are less qualified academically? I'll answer that: nothing.

I’d like to abolish athletic preference in admissions, especially for sports that don’t generate revenue.

Of course you would! You would like for elite colleges to focus exclusively on children just like your own, just like every other parent who thinks it is unfair that kids they deem inferior were accepted to schools that rejected those parents’ children.

Not at all. I would like admissions to also focus on children that couldn’t access club swimming or travel soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have lower school but the grooming is real. Kids in fencing since age 5, cello since age 4, goalie camps for soccer or lax since age 6, math tutors every year, soccer year round.

Oh and activism, that has to be a given for Ivy League now. It good enough to volunteer, you must lead protests, challenge authority, fight for what’s right.

You mean organize one rally your junior year and then be done. But check the box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was admitted to HYPS on so-called "academic merit" and you know what? Many of the recruited athletes in my classes were getting just as good if not better grades than me. They have elite work ethic and time management skills so don't sound surprised that it often spills over to studying too. Stop it with the stereotypes.

Exactly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Athletes from these schools really don't have much of a "hook" getting into the "top" schools. Going through the process now with my kid. Highy desired by coaches almost universally, but can't get past the pre-reads because they're around the 25th percentile for the very academic schools. Middle of the pack "big 3" student and athletics not the hook everyone thinks it is.

Yeah, I don't think people understand that for the schools everyone on this Board worries about, you still need really strong academics to get into the top D3 schools, and to get into an Ivy, you need both the academics and to be a good enough athlete to compete at the D1 level. Everyone acts like that's nothing. I don't get it. When DC graduated a Big3 several years ago two classmates were recruited to play a sport at top Ivies. They were really strong athletes, who had worked really hard at their sports, but also had always taken the hardest classes and had high GPAs. It was not as if they just wandered in and said "here I am."

I don’t think you understand the amount of parental time and resources a kid needs to have access to in order to be recruitable for most d1, d2 (often forgotten!), and d3 sports. Additionally, a lot of the sports that you can get recruited for garner no fanfare whatsoever.

Okay cool. What does that have to do with the misperception that athletes going to high academic schools have a "hook" and are less qualified academically? I'll answer that: nothing.

I’d like to abolish athletic preference in admissions, especially for sports that don’t generate revenue.

Of course you would! You would like for elite colleges to focus exclusively on children just like your own, just like every other parent who thinks it is unfair that kids they deem inferior were accepted to schools that rejected those parents’ children.

Not at all. I would like admissions to also focus on children that couldn’t access club swimming or travel soccer.

Are you going to apply the same standards to academics? Like schools shouldn’t take into account AP classes since many families can’t afford the kinds of schools that have them? Or test scores since they have been proven to be so biased?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Athletes from these schools really don't have much of a "hook" getting into the "top" schools. Going through the process now with my kid. Highy desired by coaches almost universally, but can't get past the pre-reads because they're around the 25th percentile for the very academic schools. Middle of the pack "big 3" student and athletics not the hook everyone thinks it is.

My son has a different take. He used to tutor a kid early in high school who was admitted to an Ivy for sports. My kid, the tutor, would not get into an Ivy (despite 1550 SAT, highest rigor, and high grades) but this kid did for sports. Based on DS’ interactions with the recruit, he is pretty sure his stats are on the lower side and knows he takes easier classes.

Fwiw, my kid recognizes the athletic talent of this kid, which is worth something too. And, he is happy for his success. But the system seems a bit out of whack when a kid who is smart enough to teach the other kids, can’t even get a look from the same schools.

Well Ivies are pretty clear that character matters, maybe the fact that your kid has so little ethics that he’d gossip about someone he tutors shone through in his application.

Gimme a break. My kid talked to me about it. And, as I mentioned, he was happy for the kid - that is why he brought it up to me. Please read more carefully.

Oh sorry he’s not an asshole. He’s just someone with no judgement about who is safe to talk to and who will betray his confidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Athletes from these schools really don't have much of a "hook" getting into the "top" schools. Going through the process now with my kid. Highy desired by coaches almost universally, but can't get past the pre-reads because they're around the 25th percentile for the very academic schools. Middle of the pack "big 3" student and athletics not the hook everyone thinks it is.

Yeah, I don't think people understand that for the schools everyone on this Board worries about, you still need really strong academics to get into the top D3 schools, and to get into an Ivy, you need both the academics and to be a good enough athlete to compete at the D1 level. Everyone acts like that's nothing. I don't get it. When DC graduated a Big3 several years ago two classmates were recruited to play a sport at top Ivies. They were really strong athletes, who had worked really hard at their sports, but also had always taken the hardest classes and had high GPAs. It was not as if they just wandered in and said "here I am."

I don’t think you understand the amount of parental time and resources a kid needs to have access to in order to be recruitable for most d1, d2 (often forgotten!), and d3 sports. Additionally, a lot of the sports that you can get recruited for garner no fanfare whatsoever.

Okay cool. What does that have to do with the misperception that athletes going to high academic schools have a "hook" and are less qualified academically? I'll answer that: nothing.

I’d like to abolish athletic preference in admissions, especially for sports that don’t generate revenue.

Of course you would! You would like for elite colleges to focus exclusively on children just like your own, just like every other parent who thinks it is unfair that kids they deem inferior were accepted to schools that rejected those parents’ children.

Not at all. I would like admissions to also focus on children that couldn’t access club swimming or travel soccer.

Are you going to apply the same standards to academics? Like schools shouldn’t take into account AP classes since many families can’t afford the kinds of schools that have them? Or test scores since they have been proven to be so biased?

Not the pp, but indeed colleges were going to adjust SAT scores based on socio-economic factors before the pandemic hit. That would be fair. And many private schools now don't do AP classes. So, talking sports aways can and should be done for college admissions. They rightly belong to clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Athletes from these schools really don't have much of a "hook" getting into the "top" schools. Going through the process now with my kid. Highy desired by coaches almost universally, but can't get past the pre-reads because they're around the 25th percentile for the very academic schools. Middle of the pack "big 3" student and athletics not the hook everyone thinks it is.

Yeah, I don't think people understand that for the schools everyone on this Board worries about, you still need really strong academics to get into the top D3 schools, and to get into an Ivy, you need both the academics and to be a good enough athlete to compete at the D1 level. Everyone acts like that's nothing. I don't get it. When DC graduated a Big3 several years ago two classmates were recruited to play a sport at top Ivies. They were really strong athletes, who had worked really hard at their sports, but also had always taken the hardest classes and had high GPAs. It was not as if they just wandered in and said "here I am."

I don’t think you understand the amount of parental time and resources a kid needs to have access to in order to be recruitable for most d1, d2 (often forgotten!), and d3 sports. Additionally, a lot of the sports that you can get recruited for garner no fanfare whatsoever.

Okay cool. What does that have to do with the misperception that athletes going to high academic schools have a "hook" and are less qualified academically? I'll answer that: nothing.

I’d like to abolish athletic preference in admissions, especially for sports that don’t generate revenue.

Of course you would! You would like for elite colleges to focus exclusively on children just like your own, just like every other parent who thinks it is unfair that kids they deem inferior were accepted to schools that rejected those parents’ children.

Not at all. I would like admissions to also focus on children that couldn’t access club swimming or travel soccer.

Are you going to apply the same standards to academics? Like schools shouldn’t take into account AP classes since many families can’t afford the kinds of schools that have them? Or test scores since they have been proven to be so biased?

Until AP tests are made completely free to all students regardless of family income (including those who don’t qualify for a waiver), I don’t think AP tests should be taken into account in the admissions process.

I’m not really against the SAT or ACT.

[Anonymous]

Our neighbor's DC scored Harvard admission. The parents have three Harvard grad degrees between them. But there was ZERO legacy preference because only graduates of Harvard College are considered legacies for admissions purposes. Harvard grad/prof degrees aren't even "hooks."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re the athletic hook, this year my DC's "big 3" there is NO overlap between the students who are recruited athletes and the students who are graduating "cum laude" (the top 20% of the class).

In another well known private, my DC was most definitely in the top 20 and was not nominated for cum laude. I have no idea what criteria they used to select students. I was actually pissed at the school (still am) until the college results came out because DC did really, really well compared to some that were on the cum laude list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Athletes from these schools really don't have much of a "hook" getting into the "top" schools. Going through the process now with my kid. Highy desired by coaches almost universally, but can't get past the pre-reads because they're around the 25th percentile for the very academic schools. Middle of the pack "big 3" student and athletics not the hook everyone thinks it is.

My son has a different take. He used to tutor a kid early in high school who was admitted to an Ivy for sports. My kid, the tutor, would not get into an Ivy (despite 1550 SAT, highest rigor, and high grades) but this kid did for sports. Based on DS’ interactions with the recruit, he is pretty sure his stats are on the lower side and knows he takes easier classes.

Fwiw, my kid recognizes the athletic talent of this kid, which is worth something too. And, he is happy for his success. But the system seems a bit out of whack when a kid who is smart enough to teach the other kids, can’t even get a look from the same schools.

Well Ivies are pretty clear that character matters, maybe the fact that your kid has so little ethics that he’d gossip about someone he tutors shone through in his application.

Gimme a break. My kid talked to me about it. And, as I mentioned, he was happy for the kid - that is why he brought it up to me. Please read more carefully.

Oh sorry he’s not an asshole. He’s just someone with no judgement about who is safe to talk to and who will betray his confidence.

Okay, thanks. Good reminder to never post anything on an anonymous board in an attempt to have a thoughtful dialogue. Here I was thinking that an anon board would be a good place to think about the issue since I would never bring it up to anyone IRL. Duly noted. Thank you again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If u think big 3 are bad, Maret is an abomination. As in, people wouldn’t apply if they knew the results.

JFC, WTH is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Athletes from these schools really don't have much of a "hook" getting into the "top" schools. Going through the process now with my kid. Highy desired by coaches almost universally, but can't get past the pre-reads because they're around the 25th percentile for the very academic schools. Middle of the pack "big 3" student and athletics not the hook everyone thinks it is.

My son has a different take. He used to tutor a kid early in high school who was admitted to an Ivy for sports. My kid, the tutor, would not get into an Ivy (despite 1550 SAT, highest rigor, and high grades) but this kid did for sports. Based on DS’ interactions with the recruit, he is pretty sure his stats are on the lower side and knows he takes easier classes.

Fwiw, my kid recognizes the athletic talent of this kid, which is worth something too. And, he is happy for his success. But the system seems a bit out of whack when a kid who is smart enough to teach the other kids, can’t even get a look from the same schools.

Well Ivies are pretty clear that character matters, maybe the fact that your kid has so little ethics that he’d gossip about someone he tutors shone through in his application.

Gimme a break. My kid talked to me about it. And, as I mentioned, he was happy for the kid - that is why he brought it up to me. Please read more carefully.

Oh sorry he’s not an asshole. He’s just someone with no judgement about who is safe to talk to and who will betray his confidence.

Okay, thanks. Good reminder to never post anything on an anonymous board in an attempt to have a thoughtful dialogue. Here I was thinking that an anon board would be a good place to think about the issue since I would never bring it up to anyone IRL. Duly noted. Thank you again.

Ignore her. There are some very rabid sports moms on this board who take huge umbrage if you say colleges shouldn’t recruit for sports. It invalidâtes their entire existence.

[Anonymous]

Not at a big 3, but so far our admits are looking better than some of the big 3.

Three to ivy league schools w/o hooks. Several others w/ hooks. Not listing that number because I don't want to identify the school.

Other schools that I'm seeing come up often:
-UChicago x4
-Duke x3
-Georgetown
-Univ. of Michigan
-GA Tech
-Vanderbilt
-USC
-UVA x 9
-W&L x 2
-Tufts x 3
-Tulane
-Spelman
-Rice