Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[google]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sense from our college counselor is that you can take a 1550/1560 and feel comfortable being in the mix at all schools including HYPS. But your question presupposes that it is SAT scores that make the difference for unhooked kids. I think GPA and class rigor matter more, with good ECs also making a big difference. But my kid is a junior so I have no direct experience and would love people’s take on my thoughts.

Common data sets for all top 20 schools say test scores are considered while GPA, rigor and ECs are very important.

Yep, it's the ECs + major. My DC with 1580, 4.0/4.92 from a magnet was shut out of T20s. Ended up UMD as a dual CS/math major. Their ECS were lackluster. They are super smart but didn't have much motivation in HS.

Your DC sounds amazing. And anyone with a 4.0 is motivated! My DC has a similar profile (gpa is a bit lower), and has strong hobby interests but just isn’t into the sorts of ECs that seem to land kids at top schools. I am letting them be who they are, and the college chips will fall where they will.

Seriously? She said: “Their ECS were lackluster. They are super smart but didn't have much motivation in HS.”

This doesn’t sound like an amazing kid. Sounds like a smart but unmotivated kid who didn’t do much outside if school.

What do you think makes this kid sound amazing?

Please. You know that most of the "amazing" kids have a bunch of fictional ECs curated by their college counselors, right?

Not sure this relates to this point. Nothing in this post made the kid sound amazing. The follow up answer to my question was a long list of assumptions. Kid may be amazing but the express language of the post did not say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really curious what the “lackluster ECs” are for the maybe-amazing kid of PP.

Is there *any* leniency on ECs for unhooked at t20? Sounds like no, no matter how high the stats/rigor.

to get into T20, you need like national award type ECs, or start an organization (a real one), done published researched, student body president, or something else spectacular.

Normal ECs like debate, mock trial, robotics club .. these aren't going to cut it, even with high stats.

This is just not true. My dc was admitted to multiple ivies this year and has none of the first group. He did do a LOT of the second type and put a ton of energy into them.

DP with the same experience. DC has several unhooked friends headed to Ivies and other T20s from public high schools with scores in this range and this same “BMOC” EC profile. At least one STEM major, too. Maybe it takes crazy ECs from a few hyper-competitive high schools in the DMV but not for most people from most places. And we are in the DMV too, just not in a school zone where people move “for the excellent schools.”

[Anonymous]

DC fits that profile exactly. Rising senior, will report back this time next year. We are fully prepared for them to attend our flagship.

[Anonymous]

What is “BMOC?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is “BMOC?”

Big man on campus. It’s an old initialism. The type of person we’ve been describing who’s deeply involved in several school-related ECs (pick from: sports, student government, drama, debate, robotics, newspaper, etc.), with leadership roles in a few, and so knows most everyone in their graduating class, but isn’t winning the kind of national awards DCUM obsesses over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really curious what the “lackluster ECs” are for the maybe-amazing kid of PP.

Is there *any* leniency on ECs for unhooked at t20? Sounds like no, no matter how high the stats/rigor.

to get into T20, you need like national award type ECs, or start an organization (a real one), done published researched, student body president, or something else spectacular.

Normal ECs like debate, mock trial, robotics club .. these aren't going to cut it, even with high stats.

This is just not true. My dc was admitted to multiple ivies this year and has none of the first group. He did do a LOT of the second type and put a ton of energy into them.

DP with the same experience. DC has several unhooked friends headed to Ivies and other T20s from public high schools with scores in this range and this same “BMOC” EC profile. At least one STEM major, too. Maybe it takes crazy ECs from a few hyper-competitive high schools in the DMV but not for most people from most places. And we are in the DMV too, just not in a school zone where people move “for the excellent schools.”

This is key. Remember, the applicant is competing with those from the same area/school.

We joke we should've moved to Podunk, Nowhere so that DC could've gotten into a T10. But, DC said they liked that they were challenged in HS. They would've been incredible bored at a non magnet, and possibly, have lost interest in academics.

As you stated, if your DC was a BMOC profile then that makes them stand out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really curious what the “lackluster ECs” are for the maybe-amazing kid of PP.

Is there *any* leniency on ECs for unhooked at t20? Sounds like no, no matter how high the stats/rigor.

to get into T20, you need like national award type ECs, or start an organization (a real one), done published researched, student body president, or something else spectacular.

Normal ECs like debate, mock trial, robotics club .. these aren't going to cut it, even with high stats.

This is just not true. My dc was admitted to multiple ivies this year and has none of the first group. He did do a LOT of the second type and put a ton of energy into them.

DP with the same experience. DC has several unhooked friends headed to Ivies and other T20s from public high schools with scores in this range and this same “BMOC” EC profile. At least one STEM major, too. Maybe it takes crazy ECs from a few hyper-competitive high schools in the DMV but not for most people from most places. And we are in the DMV too, just not in a school zone where people move “for the excellent schools.”

This is key. Remember, the applicant is competing with those from the same area/school.

We joke we should've moved to Podunk, Nowhere so that DC could've gotten into a T10. But, DC said they liked that they were challenged in HS. They would've been incredible bored at a non magnet, and possibly, have lost interest in academics.

As you stated, if your DC was a BMOC profile then that makes them stand out.

Just to reemphasize, we are also in the DMV. Just not in the kind of schools that attract parents who are always optimizing for every little thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really curious what the “lackluster ECs” are for the maybe-amazing kid of PP.

Is there *any* leniency on ECs for unhooked at t20? Sounds like no, no matter how high the stats/rigor.

to get into T20, you need like national award type ECs, or start an organization (a real one), done published researched, student body president, or something else spectacular.

Normal ECs like debate, mock trial, robotics club .. these aren't going to cut it, even with high stats.

This is just not true. My dc was admitted to multiple ivies this year and has none of the first group. He did do a LOT of the second type and put a ton of energy into them.

DP with the same experience. DC has several unhooked friends headed to Ivies and other T20s from public high schools with scores in this range and this same “BMOC” EC profile. At least one STEM major, too. Maybe it takes crazy ECs from a few hyper-competitive high schools in the DMV but not for most people from most places. And we are in the DMV too, just not in a school zone where people move “for the excellent schools.”

This is key. Remember, the applicant is competing with those from the same area/school.

We joke we should've moved to Podunk, Nowhere so that DC could've gotten into a T10. But, DC said they liked that they were challenged in HS. They would've been incredible bored at a non magnet, and possibly, have lost interest in academics.

As you stated, if your DC was a BMOC profile then that makes them stand out.

my kid's roommate at HYP is from Podunk, Montana and puts a lie to that it's easy to walk into t10s schools from these places. he's incredibly impressive and even more impressive because he had to initiate so much of his own way. kids at magnets have it laid out for them - they have to do the work, but they dont have to create the path. he did, in many areas: academically they had to develop interests on their own and then find mentors to support them (in this case, not even in the country .. did it over zoom). and their ECs aren't debate or something that's right in the school or included in a email from the school, things they did in their own, not even in their community. including mountaineering/field rescue/expedition and high altitude rescue which was a real thing that took hundreds of hours, real strength/skill/strategy/training. Got a scholarship on their own to train in Nepal. All out of a middle class tract home in the not fancy part of Montana.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really curious what the “lackluster ECs” are for the maybe-amazing kid of PP.

Is there *any* leniency on ECs for unhooked at t20? Sounds like no, no matter how high the stats/rigor.

to get into T20, you need like national award type ECs, or start an organization (a real one), done published researched, student body president, or something else spectacular.

Normal ECs like debate, mock trial, robotics club .. these aren't going to cut it, even with high stats.

This is just not true. My dc was admitted to multiple ivies this year and has none of the first group. He did do a LOT of the second type and put a ton of energy into them.

DP with the same experience. DC has several unhooked friends headed to Ivies and other T20s from public high schools with scores in this range and this same “BMOC” EC profile. At least one STEM major, too. Maybe it takes crazy ECs from a few hyper-competitive high schools in the DMV but not for most people from most places. And we are in the DMV too, just not in a school zone where people move “for the excellent schools.”

This is key. Remember, the applicant is competing with those from the same area/school.

We joke we should've moved to Podunk, Nowhere so that DC could've gotten into a T10. But, DC said they liked that they were challenged in HS. They would've been incredible bored at a non magnet, and possibly, have lost interest in academics.

As you stated, if your DC was a BMOC profile then that makes them stand out.

my kid's roommate at HYP is from Podunk, Montana and puts a lie to that it's easy to walk into t10s schools from these places. he's incredibly impressive and even more impressive because he had to initiate so much of his own way. kids at magnets have it laid out for them - they have to do the work, but they dont have to create the path. he did, in many areas: academically they had to develop interests on their own and then find mentors to support them (in this case, not even in the country .. did it over zoom). and their ECs aren't debate or something that's right in the school or included in a email from the school, things they did in their own, not even in their community. including mountaineering/field rescue/expedition and high altitude rescue which was a real thing that took hundreds of hours, real strength/skill/strategy/training. Got a scholarship on their own to train in Nepal. All out of a middle class tract home in the not fancy part of Montana.

People dont realize that even if they move to podunk usa their kids would still have to compete with motivated kids. Those kids are in many place and not just in NY, DC, CA etc.

[Anonymous]

St Andrews and NYU. Going to St Andrews

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really curious what the “lackluster ECs” are for the maybe-amazing kid of PP.

Is there *any* leniency on ECs for unhooked at t20? Sounds like no, no matter how high the stats/rigor.

to get into T20, you need like national award type ECs, or start an organization (a real one), done published researched, student body president, or something else spectacular.

Normal ECs like debate, mock trial, robotics club .. these aren't going to cut it, even with high stats.

This is just not true. My dc was admitted to multiple ivies this year and has none of the first group. He did do a LOT of the second type and put a ton of energy into them.

DP with the same experience. DC has several unhooked friends headed to Ivies and other T20s from public high schools with scores in this range and this same “BMOC” EC profile. At least one STEM major, too. Maybe it takes crazy ECs from a few hyper-competitive high schools in the DMV but not for most people from most places. And we are in the DMV too, just not in a school zone where people move “for the excellent schools.”

This is key. Remember, the applicant is competing with those from the same area/school.

We joke we should've moved to Podunk, Nowhere so that DC could've gotten into a T10. But, DC said they liked that they were challenged in HS. They would've been incredible bored at a non magnet, and possibly, have lost interest in academics.

As you stated, if your DC was a BMOC profile then that makes them stand out.

my kid's roommate at HYP is from Podunk, Montana and puts a lie to that it's easy to walk into t10s schools from these places. he's incredibly impressive and even more impressive because he had to initiate so much of his own way. kids at magnets have it laid out for them - they have to do the work, but they dont have to create the path. he did, in many areas: academically they had to develop interests on their own and then find mentors to support them (in this case, not even in the country .. did it over zoom). and their ECs aren't debate or something that's right in the school or included in a email from the school, things they did in their own, not even in their community. including mountaineering/field rescue/expedition and high altitude rescue which was a real thing that took hundreds of hours, real strength/skill/strategy/training. Got a scholarship on their own to train in Nepal. All out of a middle class tract home in the not fancy part of Montana.

People dont realize that even if they move to podunk usa their kids would still have to compete with motivated kids. Those kids are in many place and not just in NY, DC, CA etc.

Yup.
People think that they're kid - who isn't the top kid in their HS class - would be the top kid in an entire state. And feed their kid this insanity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really curious what the “lackluster ECs” are for the maybe-amazing kid of PP.

Is there *any* leniency on ECs for unhooked at t20? Sounds like no, no matter how high the stats/rigor.

to get into T20, you need like national award type ECs, or start an organization (a real one), done published researched, student body president, or something else spectacular.

Normal ECs like debate, mock trial, robotics club .. these aren't going to cut it, even with high stats.

What? Is this at a non-feeder public schools? You don’t need these coming from a good private. Also “start an organization” is looked down upon. It’s the new humanitarian trip in Haiti.

[Anonymous]

1580 off to UT Austin Turing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really curious what the “lackluster ECs” are for the maybe-amazing kid of PP.

Is there *any* leniency on ECs for unhooked at t20? Sounds like no, no matter how high the stats/rigor.

to get into T20, you need like national award type ECs, or start an organization (a real one), done published researched, student body president, or something else spectacular.

Normal ECs like debate, mock trial, robotics club .. these aren't going to cut it, even with high stats.

This is just not true. My dc was admitted to multiple ivies this year and has none of the first group. He did do a LOT of the second type and put a ton of energy into them.

DP with the same experience. DC has several unhooked friends headed to Ivies and other T20s from public high schools with scores in this range and this same “BMOC” EC profile. At least one STEM major, too. Maybe it takes crazy ECs from a few hyper-competitive high schools in the DMV but not for most people from most places. And we are in the DMV too, just not in a school zone where people move “for the excellent schools.”

This is key. Remember, the applicant is competing with those from the same area/school.

We joke we should've moved to Podunk, Nowhere so that DC could've gotten into a T10. But, DC said they liked that they were challenged in HS. They would've been incredible bored at a non magnet, and possibly, have lost interest in academics.

As you stated, if your DC was a BMOC profile then that makes them stand out.

my kid's roommate at HYP is from Podunk, Montana and puts a lie to that it's easy to walk into t10s schools from these places. he's incredibly impressive and even more impressive because he had to initiate so much of his own way. kids at magnets have it laid out for them - they have to do the work, but they dont have to create the path. he did, in many areas: academically they had to develop interests on their own and then find mentors to support them (in this case, not even in the country .. did it over zoom). and their ECs aren't debate or something that's right in the school or included in a email from the school, things they did in their own, not even in their community. including mountaineering/field rescue/expedition and high altitude rescue which was a real thing that took hundreds of hours, real strength/skill/strategy/training. Got a scholarship on their own to train in Nepal. All out of a middle class tract home in the not fancy part of Montana.

People dont realize that even if they move to podunk usa their kids would still have to compete with motivated kids. Those kids are in many place and not just in NY, DC, CA etc.

Eh, my rural living niece goes to a HS with more APs than fcps offers to freshman BUT then you realize the math offered is a max of AP precalc (not even ab or bc) and then stats and that’s it. So it’s a different level of competition…

[Anonymous]

Why are colleges in this post worse than the ones mentioned in the 1300-1400 post?