Forecast - College admissions for Class of 2022?

[Anonymous]

I think there are a lot of parents of high scoring kids on here who cannot comprehend that the score is not the be all end all. I get it. You feel threatened. My own kid had a difference between score and grade point (score much higher than grade point). I would feel threatened, too, but I do think there truly are kids who are bright and would do well in college, despite not having a 1500+. The evidence is there. Schools have been doing test optional for many years. I get it that it would be great to deny and pretend that the test score is supreme. It just isn’t with all of the prepping that goes on. If you want an example, look at FCPS AAP, which has become completely watered down because people Prep their kids and go to “certain” psychologists for IQ tests. (Yes, my kid was in AAP without prep and an IQ test.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there are a lot of parents of high scoring kids on here who cannot comprehend that the score is not the be all end all. I get it. You feel threatened. My own kid had a difference between score and grade point (score much higher than grade point). I would feel threatened, too, but I do think there truly are kids who are bright and would do well in college, despite not having a 1500+. The evidence is there. Schools have been doing test optional for many years. I get it that it would be great to deny and pretend that the test score is supreme. It just isn’t with all of the prepping that goes on. If you want an example, look at FCPS AAP, which has become completely watered down because people Prep their kids and go to “certain” psychologists for IQ tests. (Yes, my kid was in AAP without prep and an IQ test.)

NP. The uncertainty factor. Moreso than feeling threatened, perhaps there is a feeling that the rug has been pulled out from under them. Whatever level of certainty anyone had about college admission chances pre-pandemic, admission chances are less certain now. Even conceiving a list of reaches, matches, and safeties is different than it was, with little objective data to rely on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are a lot of parents of high scoring kids on here who cannot comprehend that the score is not the be all end all. I get it. You feel threatened. My own kid had a difference between score and grade point (score much higher than grade point). I would feel threatened, too, but I do think there truly are kids who are bright and would do well in college, despite not having a 1500+. The evidence is there. Schools have been doing test optional for many years. I get it that it would be great to deny and pretend that the test score is supreme. It just isn’t with all of the prepping that goes on. If you want an example, look at FCPS AAP, which has become completely watered down because people Prep their kids and go to “certain” psychologists for IQ tests. (Yes, my kid was in AAP without prep and an IQ test.)

NP. The uncertainty factor. Moreso than feeling threatened, perhaps there is a feeling that the rug has been pulled out from under them. Whatever level of certainty anyone had about college admission chances pre-pandemic, admission chances are less certain now. Even conceiving a list of reaches, matches, and safeties is different than it was, with little objective data to rely on.

That makes sense. The thing is that there really are enough college seats to go around. Just not in 25 particular schools. People need to look beyond those schools, too. The kids that I’ve heard about who got “shut out” applied to very few, if any, real safeties or failed to demonstrate interest when the school said they consider that. Someone who applies to every single Ivy is prestige hunting (they are so different). Some kids feel they are entitled to a spot and it’s really just not true, even if you have a 1600/36. It just doesn’t work that way and hasn’t for many years. The schools are emphasizing other things. I truly get your predictability point, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are a lot of parents of high scoring kids on here who cannot comprehend that the score is not the be all end all. I get it. You feel threatened. My own kid had a difference between score and grade point (score much higher than grade point). I would feel threatened, too, but I do think there truly are kids who are bright and would do well in college, despite not having a 1500+. The evidence is there. Schools have been doing test optional for many years. I get it that it would be great to deny and pretend that the test score is supreme. It just isn’t with all of the prepping that goes on. If you want an example, look at FCPS AAP, which has become completely watered down because people Prep their kids and go to “certain” psychologists for IQ tests. (Yes, my kid was in AAP without prep and an IQ test.)

NP. The uncertainty factor. Moreso than feeling threatened, perhaps there is a feeling that the rug has been pulled out from under them. Whatever level of certainty anyone had about college admission chances pre-pandemic, admission chances are less certain now. Even conceiving a list of reaches, matches, and safeties is different than it was, with little objective data to rely on.

+1

It's the Goldilocks situation. DCs with too high test scores and GPAs get waitlisted or denied due to yield protection. At the same time, DCs with no test scores and lower GPAs get into these same schools.

If DCs could have a bit more certainty about where to apply that is "not too hot, not too cold" then DCs and their parents would be less frustrated. But certainty has gone out the door this year, and stressed everyone out.

And no, telling such DCs to go to community college or schools where almost every applicant is accepted are not blanket solutions. These solutions can be part of the answer (including going into the military, which I never see suggested here, even though veterans get preferences) but they are not everyone.

[Anonymous]

And no, telling such DCs to go to community college or schools where almost every applicant is accepted is not a blanket solution. These solutions can be part of the answer (including going into the military, which I never see suggested here, even though veterans get preferences) but they are not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And no, telling such DCs to go to community college or schools where almost every applicant is accepted is not a blanket solution. These solutions can be part of the answer (including going into the military, which I never see suggested here, even though veterans get preferences) but they are not for everyone.

I don’t think anyone suggested that, did they?

[Anonymous]

If you read through these threads in this section, there will inevitably be suggestions that the college system is completely absurd and DCs should go to community college or their functional equivalent.

[Anonymous]

There is a wide range of colleges between Ivies and CC. Surely your child can find something appropriate out of those 3.000 or so colleges. Such much unnecessary drama!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you read through these threads in this section, there will inevitably be suggestions that the college system is completely absurd and DCs should go to community college or their functional equivalent.

Right, which can be good advice. No advice is good for everyone.

[Anonymous]

For my kid, here is how the chips are falling...

Not in favor -
- Pandemic induced random selections by college admissions office
- Asian-American male.
- Most peers in the magnet school are also preternaturally gifted.
- Wants to do CS/Engineering/Maths. Highly competitive majors
- Does not want to go to red states and party schools (so no Florida and Alabama)

In favor -
- Killer SAT and GPA (weighted and unweighted)
- Most rigorous curriculum in school
- 8-12 APs in all core subject areas with 4s and 5s
- Set up Pandemic Relief work
- Research internships
- Did several interesting individual projects and courses during lockdown
- Unique ECs, great rapport with teachers/counselors
- Published work
- Academic/scholastic honors (awards, honor society, competitions)
- Leadership positions in 2 clubs.
- Hundreds of hours of work with disadvantaged youth that is documented.
- Can afford full pay

For us the only difference now is going to be that instead of applying in just 7 schools as originally planned, my son will apply to 15 in EA/ED round and probably several more if he does not get in anywhere in RA. He is going to be ok.

I don't think test optional schools are not test aware/blind. In the end, schools want paying students who are intelligent and will not drop out of college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For my kid, here is how the chips are falling...

Not in favor -
- Pandemic induced random selections by college admissions office
- Asian-American male.
- Most peers in the magnet school are also preternaturally gifted.
- Wants to do CS/Engineering/Maths. Highly competitive majors
- Does not want to go to red states and party schools (so no Florida and Alabama)

In favor -
- Killer SAT and GPA (weighted and unweighted)
- Most rigorous curriculum in school
- 8-12 APs in all core subject areas with 4s and 5s
- Set up Pandemic Relief work
- Research internships
- Did several interesting individual projects and courses during lockdown
- Unique ECs, great rapport with teachers/counselors
- Published work
- Academic/scholastic honors (awards, honor society, competitions)
- Leadership positions in 2 clubs.
- Hundreds of hours of work with disadvantaged youth that is documented.
- Can afford full pay

For us the only difference now is going to be that instead of applying in just 7 schools as originally planned, my son will apply to 15 in EA/ED round and probably several more if he does not get in anywhere in RA. He is going to be ok.

I don't think test optional schools are not test aware/blind. In the end, schools want paying students who are intelligent and will not drop out of college.

Sorry for the confusing statement. I meant to say "Test optional schools are not test blind. They are test aware."

[Anonymous]

I am absolutely ok with test optional being a permanent thing. Not saying test blind, just test optional. So many kids don't do well in the SATs but are good students nonetheless and they deserve a chance too.

[Anonymous]

We need to wait for a bit longer to see how many got accepted in all universities before we start even formulating a strategy. There is still movements in the waitlists etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there are a lot of parents of high scoring kids on here who cannot comprehend that the score is not the be all end all. I get it. You feel threatened. My own kid had a difference between score and grade point (score much higher than grade point). I would feel threatened, too, but I do think there truly are kids who are bright and would do well in college, despite not having a 1500+. The evidence is there. Schools have been doing test optional for many years. I get it that it would be great to deny and pretend that the test score is supreme. It just isn’t with all of the prepping that goes on. If you want an example, look at FCPS AAP, which has become completely watered down because people Prep their kids and go to “certain” psychologists for IQ tests. (Yes, my kid was in AAP without prep and an IQ test.)

High stats students are not feeling threatened by low or medium stat students. They are fearful that admissions seem to be random. Still, the truth is that in these uncertain times it is better to be high stats and full paying. Rest remains the crapshoot that it is.

High Stat students need to lock in the best school for them by going ED. If your top choice is also a safety? Apply ED.

[Anonymous]

Full-pay is king. It could mean you get waitlisted instead of rejected outright.