Why even waste the effort to apply to the top colleges at this point?

[Anonymous]

I was linked to this profile by Amherst College, a prestigious liberal arts college with a 14% admit rate: https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/669797

According to this,

75% of applicants with SAT critical reading scores of 750-800 were turned down.
78% of those with SAT math scores of 750-800 were ultimately turned down.
77% of those with SAT writing scores of 750-800 were ultimately turned down.
77% of those with ACT scores of 34-36 were ultimately turned down.

It becomes worse on the lower end (85% of 700-740s or 30-33s ultimately turned down).

What's the point in wasting $60-$80 in applying to colleges like Stanford, Ivies, U'Chicago, Amherst, Pomona, etc. when doing the absolute best you can isn't enough to get in? When so many of the slots are taken by athletes, legacies, students of color, or low-income students? I just find this appalling, honestly. I know test scores aren't the best predictors, but most of these kids rank in the top of their class and have great extracurricular involvements to boot. Is the average valedictorian just not good enough for the top schools at this day and time?

[Anonymous]

They are good enough. There are just many many more of them applying than there used to be. More kids across the country and the world applying to the same number of top schools. I think for some of these the admissions people must just toss a coin.

[Anonymous]

The top colleges are essentially just a lottery now for highly qualified students. There's really no rhyme or reason why one gets admitted vs. another.

[Anonymous]

OP you are forgetting the millions of foreign students, especially from China and India who are coming to the U.S. to study. They apply with perfect scores and get in because the colleges want diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you are forgetting the millions of foreign students, especially from China and India who are coming to the U.S. to study. They apply with perfect scores and get in because the colleges want diversity.

Amherst only admitted 5% of international students (https://www.amherst.edu/admission/apply/international/enrollment)

[Anonymous]

Over the decades of rewriting the SAT the scores have drifted up. Everyone feels good but the compression at the top helps no one.
chicken and egg. Everyone knows it is a crap shoot so everyone applies to many. Which does creases the probability of getting into any one... People with those scores all get into at least one elite school. It sucks for those of limited means.

[Anonymous]

Well, everyone should have a reach school. DC's isn't going to be one of those named in the OP, more like a couple with 14-18% acceptance rates.
Even those are extremely difficult these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you are forgetting the millions of foreign students, especially from China and India who are coming to the U.S. to study. They apply with perfect scores and get in because the colleges want diversity.

Millions? I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Because they have to accept somebody. Also, test scores aren't everything. We're already looking for ways our HS freshman can stand out by the time she's a senior, beyond test scores and grades, probably by starting her own business or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they have to accept somebody. Also, test scores aren't everything. We're already looking for ways our HS freshman can stand out by the time she's a senior, beyond test scores and grades, probably by starting her own business or something.

What does she want to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they have to accept somebody. Also, test scores aren't everything. We're already looking for ways our HS freshman can stand out by the time she's a senior, beyond test scores and grades, probably by starting her own business or something.

What does she want to do?

She makes jewelry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they have to accept somebody. Also, test scores aren't everything. We're already looking for ways our HS freshman can stand out by the time she's a senior, beyond test scores and grades, probably by starting her own business or something.

What does she want to do?

She makes jewelry.

Sorry, that's her business. She wants to be a scientist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you are forgetting the millions of foreign students, especially from China and India who are coming to the U.S. to study. They apply with perfect scores and get in because the colleges want diversity.

More likely the full pay tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they have to accept somebody. Also, test scores aren't everything. We're already looking for ways our HS freshman can stand out by the time she's a senior, beyond test scores and grades, probably by starting her own business or something.

What does she want to do?

She makes jewelry.

Check out Babson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they have to accept somebody. Also, test scores aren't everything. We're already looking for ways our HS freshman can stand out by the time she's a senior, beyond test scores and grades, probably by starting her own business or something.

What does she want to do?

She makes jewelry.

Check out Babson.

86 this for science... i thought she wanted to run a jewelry store.