All these smart kids are getting rejected across the board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

I think because there are "white people" (ie: not brown, not yellow) who were, just one or two generations ago, who were first generation, and they got nothing.

Well, yeah. White people benefited MASSIVELY from New Deal policies aimed at creating a sustaining a white middle class, and those benefits were not equally distributed or even accessible to BIPOC.

Having a great-grandparent who didn't attend college is not a major disadvantage the way not having anyone in your family ever attend college is. As a (white) first generation college student, I faced some really specific challenges that my own kids will never have to face. It's fine with me that they don't get a bump up as a result, because their entire lives have been easier because I was able to access a college education.

You are fine with it. I am not. I was a true "first gen" student. I got nothing. Worked multiple jobs (and have worked since I was 14). I received zero parent/grandparent support. It was hard. Really hard. There were times i had, quite literally, hundreds of dollars as my savings. And that was after grad school and working full time. I sacrificed a lot of earning potential b/c of the things I had to do to get by.

Fast forward, my kid is dinged b/c of my hard work? We do well now but by no means are rich such that we can just bankroll college, at full cost, if DC even gets in. DC is just another UMC kid who gets painted as "privileged." It's bullsh--.

If colleges want to "shape" their class to reflect whatever their priorities are- fine. Just say it up front. They are not transparent. Not fair, either, imo (and I direct that to all sorts of classes including legacies). The whole process is effed up, imo, and to the advantages of the schools only.

I am confused by your post. This is a thread about admissions, right? You were admitted to college and grad school, presumably at least partially because you were a first generation scholar. What do you mean when you say you "got nothing"? Financial aid? Financial support from your parents? And how is your kid "dinged by your hard work"? You mean they won't get an admissions boost for being first generation? You already enjoyed that privilege, if it can be called that, since you had no assistance from your family at all. Your children did benefit from your college and grad school education because presumably they have grown up with advantages that your parents couldn't provide you.

I certainly can relate to your complaints about the cost of college. My best friend's kid is passing up two highly regarded flagship universities this year for financial reasons. it's heartbreaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A typical scenario:
- I have 4.5 GPAs and 10 AP courses:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special,
- I have 1550+ on the SAT:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special
- I play level 10 piano and first chair in violin:  there are thousands Asian kidsthat you do, you are not special
- I play high school sport and am a member of the varsity team:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special
- I volunteer after school:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special

- I am a rapper, tiktok and a youtube star with millions of followers:  Now you're different from other Asian kids.    Ivies will admit you.

so the Asians that made up 28% of this year's class at Harvard are all in your last bucket?

Many are wealthy legacies from abroad.

'

i'm sure you think all Asian people come from abroad, but look around, we live here and many of us were born here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

I think because there are "white people" (ie: not brown, not yellow) who were, just one or two generations ago, who were first generation, and they got nothing.

Well, yeah. White people benefited MASSIVELY from New Deal policies aimed at creating a sustaining a white middle class, and those benefits were not equally distributed or even accessible to BIPOC.

Having a great-grandparent who didn't attend college is not a major disadvantage the way not having anyone in your family ever attend college is. As a (white) first generation college student, I faced some really specific challenges that my own kids will never have to face. It's fine with me that they don't get a bump up as a result, because their entire lives have been easier because I was able to access a college education.

You are fine with it. I am not. I was a true "first gen" student. I got nothing. Worked multiple jobs (and have worked since I was 14). I received zero parent/grandparent support. It was hard. Really hard. There were times i had, quite literally, hundreds of dollars as my savings. And that was after grad school and working full time. I sacrificed a lot of earning potential b/c of the things I had to do to get by.

Fast forward, my kid is dinged b/c of my hard work? We do well now but by no means are rich such that we can just bankroll college, at full cost, if DC even gets in. DC is just another UMC kid who gets painted as "privileged." It's bullsh--.

If colleges want to "shape" their class to reflect whatever their priorities are- fine. Just say it up front. They are not transparent. Not fair, either, imo (and I direct that to all sorts of classes including legacies). The whole process is effed up, imo, and to the advantages of the schools only.

I wasn’t even first gen and still paid for everything myself and worked two jobs through all 6 years of my undergrad and took out loans. But to colleges, my kids are entitled UMC white kids who deserve nothing but also aren’t wealthy or privileged enough to be the kind of student they love to admit.

[Anonymous]

How have you all missed all the talk about first gen students in college presentations? About the importance of diversity?

The colleges have been up front about special factors that receive consideration. Those populations still aren't getting the bulk of admissions offers. Most of the admissions acceptances are going to white kids with means at most schools.

[Anonymous]

The problem is that there are so many "top" students with great grades, APs, DEs, extra curriculars... they can't all go to the "top" colleges. It's a lottery. But the parents feel like the kids "deserve" a spot at these schools and the kids end up not applying to non-lottery matches. It doesn't help that parents in this area are ridiculously biased against really good schools that aren't in the 1% of good schools. Comments like, "never heard of it" and stuff like that. It's so harmful.

[Anonymous]

I think I was just also know that private schools inflate grades

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that there are so many "top" students with great grades, APs, DEs, extra curriculars... they can't all go to the "top" colleges. It's a lottery. But the parents feel like the kids "deserve" a spot at these schools and the kids end up not applying to non-lottery matches. It doesn't help that parents in this area are ridiculously biased against really good schools that aren't in the 1% of good schools. Comments like, "never heard of it" and stuff like that. It's so harmful.

So if all those "top" students are going to "second-tier" schools, then they aren't really second-tier, are they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, because DC is not URM, and we are not low income, that's a strike against DC.

This often repeated line just isn't true. Our private admissions counselor said only first gen kids are getting a bump (in addition to recruited athletes, major donors, geographic diversity etc). There are just so many variable now that you really can't predict what will help or hurt your kid. An Asian male applying to CS or Engineering with have tough competition from other Asian males, but that same kid might have an advantage if he wants to be a nurse or a teacher.

white people are going to blame URMs no matter what you say.

I think because there are "white people" (ie: not brown, not yellow) who were, just one or two generations ago, who were first generation, and they got nothing.

Well, yeah. White people benefited MASSIVELY from New Deal policies aimed at creating a sustaining a white middle class, and those benefits were not equally distributed or even accessible to BIPOC.

Having a great-grandparent who didn't attend college is not a major disadvantage the way not having anyone in your family ever attend college is. As a (white) first generation college student, I faced some really specific challenges that my own kids will never have to face. It's fine with me that they don't get a bump up as a result, because their entire lives have been easier because I was able to access a college education.

You are fine with it. I am not. I was a true "first gen" student. I got nothing. Worked multiple jobs (and have worked since I was 14). I received zero parent/grandparent support. It was hard. Really hard. There were times i had, quite literally, hundreds of dollars as my savings. And that was after grad school and working full time. I sacrificed a lot of earning potential b/c of the things I had to do to get by.

Fast forward, my kid is dinged b/c of my hard work? We do well now but by no means are rich such that we can just bankroll college, at full cost, if DC even gets in. DC is just another UMC kid who gets painted as "privileged." It's bullsh--.

If colleges want to "shape" their class to reflect whatever their priorities are- fine. Just say it up front. They are not transparent. Not fair, either, imo (and I direct that to all sorts of classes including legacies). The whole process is effed up, imo, and to the advantages of the schools only.

If your story is true, that will come through in your kid's application. Your kid will have experienced what it's like to have a first gen parent, and the viewpoint that gives that is different from the typical UMC DMV white family.

? do college apps ask if your parent is first gen college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless OP has young elementary students. We are in a bubble of lots of high school now but there is a much smaller cohort coming.

Op here. My kids are in elementary and preschool. I’m just surprised that these super smart kids are getting rejected from every school they applied to.

These kids are a DIME a DOZEN. That's not something folks seem to grasp. Previously, the combo worked for certain folks...then other folks really improved within the established paradigm, and the first folks freaked out. Now, everyone is jockeying for the same slots, but so many people have maximized the paradigm, it means much less. As other PPs said - widen the net, get creative. Straight As, AP classes and community service won't cut it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I was just also know that private schools inflate grades

And some deflate them. My kid got the highest grade in a notoriously difficult 9th grade class with an infamously difficult teacher. We moved here and that no longer mattered. He was compared to kids who were allowed to retest.

[Anonymous]

How have you all missed all the talk about first gen students in college presentations? About the importance of diversity? The colleges have been up front about special factors that receive consideration. Those populations still aren't getting the bulk of admissions offers. Most of the admissions acceptances are going to white kids with means at most schools.

100% what we've seen and heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A typical scenario:
- I have 4.5 GPAs and 10 AP courses:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special,
- I have 1550+ on the SAT:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special
- I play level 10 piano and first chair in violin:  there are thousands Asian kidsthat you do, you are not special
- I play high school sport and am a member of the varsity team:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special
- I volunteer after school:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special

- I am a rapper, tiktok and a youtube star with millions of followers:  Now you're different from other Asian kids.    Ivies will admit you.

so the Asians that made up 28% of this year's class at Harvard are all in your last bucket?

Without some of the 'guard rails' from the Ivies the full entering classes would be Asian. That's been fact for about 15 years. Those schools just let legacies, etc think they were on par. You know to keep that harmony.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A typical scenario:
- I have 4.5 GPAs and 10 AP courses:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special,
- I have 1550+ on the SAT:  there are ten thousands Asian kids with the same stat, you are not special
- I play level 10 piano and first chair in violin:  there are thousands Asian kidsthat you do, you are not special
- I play high school sport and am a member of the varsity team:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special
- I volunteer after school:  there are thousands Asian kids that do what you do, you are not special

- I am a rapper, tiktok and a youtube star with millions of followers:  Now you're different from other Asian kids.    Ivies will admit you.

so the Asians that made up 28% of this year's class at Harvard are all in your last bucket?

Without some of the 'guard rails' from the Ivies the full entering classes would be Asian. That's been fact for about 15 years. Those schools just let legacies, etc think they were on par. You know to keep that harmony.

Another bitter Asian parent heard from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that there are so many "top" students with great grades, APs, DEs, extra curriculars... they can't all go to the "top" colleges. It's a lottery. But the parents feel like the kids "deserve" a spot at these schools and the kids end up not applying to non-lottery matches. It doesn't help that parents in this area are ridiculously biased against really good schools that aren't in the 1% of good schools. Comments like, "never heard of it" and stuff like that. It's so harmful.

So if all those "top" students are going to "second-tier" schools, then they aren't really second-tier, are they?

What would be considered second tier?

My 45 year old self would consider Boston University second tier and Northeastern third tier. Now it seems anything in the top 100 is top tier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that there are so many "top" students with great grades, APs, DEs, extra curriculars... they can't all go to the "top" colleges. It's a lottery. But the parents feel like the kids "deserve" a spot at these schools and the kids end up not applying to non-lottery matches. It doesn't help that parents in this area are ridiculously biased against really good schools that aren't in the 1% of good schools. Comments like, "never heard of it" and stuff like that. It's so harmful.

It is and we regret moving here before he graduated. Toxic competition and status-seeking.