Now that decisions are out.....where are the non-perfect kids getting accepted

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also have a junior this year, but I wanted to chime in that my straight A, AP class taking, terrible at standardized tests nephew in VA got accepted to JMU, ODU, CNU, WVU, Bucknell, and NC State. He has a sister at JMU but no other relatives who went there. Is not a URM either.

SIL said WVU, CNU, and UC Boulder were his safeties but he was actually rejected at UC Boulder.

Ohio State was my safety and I got rejected. Big state schools are weird.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind, everyone, that this is NOT just about GPA and test scores. Selective colleges do read essays and they do read recommendation letters. And they are balancing their classes in various ways you cannot predict. ("Oh wait, we already accepted six South Asian female cellists from McLean who also play volleyball! No more! Let's see if we can find some black Oboe players from Richmond!").

I tell my kids: if you get your heart set on any one school you will likely be disappointed, even if Naviance tells you your scores and grades make you a competitive candidate. If you apply to a reasonable mix of reaches, safeties and ballpark schools and would be okay going to any of them, you will almost certainly end up with reasonable choices.

[Anonymous]

What could be a nice and informative thread takes a weird turn, as always happens on DCUM. Why does anyone care what you did in the 90s? Tell me one thing that dominated in the 90s that does today? Also true with college admissions, things change, and just not what this thread started out as, but also so true of DCUM where so many people have a hard time understanding that . . . times have changed. And the person who said their kid was denied at W&M but admitted to Williams and Amherst, I doubt that is true and never understand why people lie about things on this anonymous blog. But if it is true, you should be high-fiving all around assuming you can afford it, but then again, if you can't Williams and Amherst with their financial aid policies would probably be cheaper so not only are they better schools (not for all kids but for most) but cheaper, how is that not a major win? Anyway be kind and most of all, be honest.

[Anonymous]

I guess parents of "non-perfect kids" aren't posting to avoid the regular DCUM abuse??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine has a 4.0 uw, all honors and AP classes, student government plus other EC clubs, and was terrible at SAT but slightly better at ACT (1190 vs 33).

She’s in at JMU, Penn State, Amherst, Williams, and Boston College.

Was a no at UVA and W&M.

That seems crazy - in at Williams but not W&M?

SLACs love that 4.0 GPA.

Still bit making sense. My DD had 4.0 uw plus 1550 and was wl and rejected at all top 10 SLACs save one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine has a 4.0 uw, all honors and AP classes, student government plus other EC clubs, and was terrible at SAT but slightly better at ACT (1190 vs 33).

She’s in at JMU, Penn State, Amherst, Williams, and Boston College.

Was a no at UVA and W&M.

That seems crazy - in at Williams but not W&M?

SLACs love that 4.0 GPA.

Still bit making sense. My DD had 4.0 uw plus 1550 and was wl and rejected at all top 10 SLACs save one.

Should read still not making sense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine has a 4.0 uw, all honors and AP classes, student government plus other EC clubs, and was terrible at SAT but slightly better at ACT (1190 vs 33).

She’s in at JMU, Penn State, Amherst, Williams, and Boston College.

Was a no at UVA and W&M.

That seems crazy - in at Williams but not W&M?

SLACs love that 4.0 GPA.

Still bit making sense. My DD had 4.0 uw plus 1550 and was wl and rejected at all top 10 SLACs save one.

Should read still not making sense

There are more applicants than spots. So it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a lot of great kids getting rejected from places. My child has high GPA but not test scores to match (below 1400 on SAT)-- so good but not great. Hoping our admissions process is not as scary as some of these posts make it sound

[Anonymous]

It is not as long as you are not driven by USNWR rankings.

Drown out those types and try to help your child find their own way. That is a great life lesson. What works for someone else may not bring YOU happiness/fulfillment.

The CTCL lecture (that my child and I attended in early or mid high school) was good at justifying this approach. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was NOT the marketing dog and pony show I expected. It set my child and I up to conduct a very healthy college search. Highly recommended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What could be a nice and informative thread takes a weird turn, as always happens on DCUM. Why does anyone care what you did in the 90s? Tell me one thing that dominated in the 90s that does today? Also true with college admissions, things change, and just not what this thread started out as, but also so true of DCUM where so many people have a hard time understanding that . . . times have changed. And the person who said their kid was denied at W&M but admitted to Williams and Amherst, I doubt that is true and never understand why people lie about things on this anonymous blog. But if it is true, you should be high-fiving all around assuming you can afford it, but then again, if you can't Williams and Amherst with their financial aid policies would probably be cheaper so not only are they better schools (not for all kids but for most) but cheaper, how is that not a major win? Anyway be kind and most of all, be honest.

Holy ****! What a F&&&A$$ you are! What a pontification to others! And what did you contribute to the thread in the direction OP was seeking? Nothing, other than insulting others (see bold and underline segments above). You even insulted the kid who didn't even post by writing "not for all kids but most", implying that Williams and Amherst may not be good for that kid (i.e. may be he isn't good enough for those schools). You insulted the poster saying she lied about her kid getting admission at Williams and Amherst. What proof do you have she is lying? You even wrote, "But if it is true". And you end with "Anyway be kind and most of all, be honest". Again implying the PP wasn't honest! Does your medicine of "be kind" applies only to others? Were you kind in what you posted? Is this how you make your life happy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine has a 4.0 uw, all honors and AP classes, student government plus other EC clubs, and was terrible at SAT but slightly better at ACT (1190 vs 33).

She’s in at JMU, Penn State, Amherst, Williams, and Boston College.

Was a no at UVA and W&M.

That seems crazy - in at Williams but not W&M?

SLACs love that 4.0 GPA.

Still bit making sense. My DD had 4.0 uw plus 1550 and was wl and rejected at all top 10 SLACs save one.

Should read still not making sense

I'm not sure how someone got into Amherst and Williams, and rejected at UVA and W&M. Really surprised your dc got into those two schools with that SAT, but hey, congrats!

[Anonymous]

Admissions results this year are so crazy (in a bad way) that I can almost believe anything...

[Anonymous]

I wonder if Amherst and Williams come through with the $$$ for RD admits.

[Anonymous]

DS is a junior. 3.6w and 1180 SAT that he doesn't want to take for the third time. Mostly honors classes and a few IB. Average ECs (band, one club sport, decent volunteering). So, I think he fits the non-perfect definition more than the 4.2w/1450s being mentioned. Obviously, had hoped to follow this thread. Oh well, I'll chime in next year.

FTR, his #1 is GMU. I'd like to think that's realistic:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Amherst and Williams come through with the $$$ for RD admits.

Amherst and Williams meet 100% of demonstrated need for RD admits, same as for early admits.

However they may not view demonstrated need the same way the applicant's family does. That, however, is knowable ahead of time from the NPC.