Ivy Day. Good luck everyone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brown: Rejected
UPen: accepted
Harvard: accepted
4.6 GPA
11 APs all 5s
1540 SAT
Great EC

These are the same stats as students rejected from Emery and Rice. Does it all boil down to ECs? Essays that catch someone’s eye? Recommendation letters? I don’t view it as a lottery but a very subjective process. (Although congratulations to your DC & hoping she has a wonderful college experience!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brown: Rejected
UPen: accepted
Harvard: accepted
4.6 GPA
11 APs all 5s
1540 SAT
Great EC

What is a Great EC?[/quote

What 17 year old really has great EC if they have those grades and those AP scores
would love to know exactly what those EC are..please elaborate

12 years of girl scout
12 years of soccer
4 years of school bands (2 years as a leader) - never took formal music lessons.
elected student representative ( 2 years)
8 years of active church volunteer (homeless shelters, hospices, daycares, elderly facilities, tree planting, etc..)

Also, Took BC Calculus and AP physics in 11 grade

Jesus those are some boring ECs

LISTEN TO YOURSELF. Hang your head in shame

shame about what?They are still super boring. I makes me want to give up it really does. How turgid does your kid have to be to get into an Ivy? Highly turgid.

What's boring about it? Not being a cookie cutter kid and doing for others would get an Ivy's attention quicker than yet another main stream kid who did the exact same thing as every other kid applying. If you think it's boring the Ivy would find you boring. Maybe focus on your entitled attitude since they didn't want your close minded attitude

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brown: Rejected
UPen: accepted
Harvard: accepted
4.6 GPA
11 APs all 5s
1540 SAT
Great EC

These are the same stats as students rejected from Emery and Rice. Does it all boil down to ECs? Essays that catch someone’s eye? Recommendation letters? I don’t view it as a lottery but a very subjective process. (Although congratulations to your DC & hoping she has a wonderful college experience!)

And lots of colleges in T20-30!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

music though I think is the real EC schools like to see even if it's not national level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

music though I think is the real EC schools like to see even if it's not national level.

Where is your evidence for this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

music though I think is the real EC schools like to see even if it's not national level.

Where is your evidence for this?

Yes, I'd wonder about thus. But Harvard does like well rounded and especially looks for commitment to service. Still think PP's kid is probably not applying from DMV though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

music though I think is the real EC schools like to see even if it's not national level.

Where is your evidence for this?

Yes, I'd wonder about thus. But Harvard does like well rounded and especially looks for commitment to service. Still think PP's kid is probably not applying from DMV though.

Ahh. That’s a good point. OP - can you share approximate location, if public or private, and any other demographics you feel comfortable with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

music though I think is the real EC schools like to see even if it's not national level.

Where is your evidence for this?

Yes, I'd wonder about thus. But Harvard does like well rounded and especially looks for commitment to service. Still think PP's kid is probably not applying from DMV though.

I also think there are hooks we're not be told about. My kid with these kind of stats and ECs was competing with classmates with patents for detecting eye diseases or who had discovered solutions to math mysteries that university professors hadn't been able to solve in the last 100 years. I also wonder about whether participation in girl scouts and bumble bee soccer in kindergarten should count.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

music though I think is the real EC schools like to see even if it's not national level.

Where is your evidence for this?

Yes, I'd wonder about thus. But Harvard does like well rounded and especially looks for commitment to service. Still think PP's kid is probably not applying from DMV though.

I also think there are hooks we're not be told about. My kid with these kind of stats and ECs was competing with classmates with patents for detecting eye diseases or who had discovered solutions to math mysteries that university professors hadn't been able to solve in the last 100 years. I also wonder about whether participation in girl scouts and bumble bee soccer in kindergarten should count.

If commitment to GS is serious, on track for silver or gold award, that definitely counts. Just like Eagle Scout is taken seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

music though I think is the real EC schools like to see even if it's not national level.

Where is your evidence for this?

Yes, I'd wonder about thus. But Harvard does like well rounded and especially looks for commitment to service. Still think PP's kid is probably not applying from DMV though.

I also think there are hooks we're not be told about. My kid with these kind of stats and ECs was competing with classmates with patents for detecting eye diseases or who had discovered solutions to math mysteries that university professors hadn't been able to solve in the last 100 years. I also wonder about whether participation in girl scouts and bumble bee soccer in kindergarten should count.

NP here. I will say up front that my kid goes to a DC private, which many say is a hook in itself. But the kids accepted to Ivies are very smart but no one has a patent and a lot have what I would consider good ECs (student government, varsity athlete, plays instrument) but all interests at the school. Maybe we are talking past each other on math because some Ivy kids were taking extremely high level math but many simply had BC Calc. And there are also athletes, who are not always top kids (some are) but have a lot of sports talent and will be able to manage the academics just as they have in HS. Legacy does seem to help but not all admitted kids are legacy.

Anyway, I think there are way more qualified kids than spots so many worthy kids are denied. But the myth of the “super student” is inflated on this board, imo. You would find all of them impressive but they haven’t cured cancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

The Ivys seek to assemble a diverse, well-rounded class overall. So a few scouts and a few sprinters are all in the mix. It's like making gumbo. You throw in whatever's missing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brown: Rejected
UPen: accepted
Harvard: accepted
4.6 GPA
11 APs all 5s
1540 SAT
Great EC

These are the same stats as students rejected from Emery and Rice. Does it all boil down to ECs? Essays that catch someone’s eye? Recommendation letters? I don’t view it as a lottery but a very subjective process. (Although congratulations to your DC & hoping she has a wonderful college experience!)

I wrote above about my DS who was waitlisted at Harvard, Penn, and Brown. He has basically these same stats with a 1580 SAT. Also great ECs, and most likely great recommendations. Who knows what the difference was in the decision making at these schools, but to get into 2, I feel like there must be another hook. No sour grapes as he’ll be fine at UVA, but just posting stats like this isn’t the full picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brown: Rejected
UPen: accepted
Harvard: accepted
4.6 GPA
11 APs all 5s
1540 SAT
Great EC

These are the same stats as students rejected from Emery and Rice. Does it all boil down to ECs? Essays that catch someone’s eye? Recommendation letters? I don’t view it as a lottery but a very subjective process. (Although congratulations to your DC & hoping she has a wonderful college experience!)

Yes, and yes. Getting into the schools with the lowest acceptance rate is NOT about "perfect stats." Tons of kids with perfect stats get turned down and kids with imperfect stats get in all the time. If GPA/SAT were the basis of admission it could done by computer. Really really good GPA/test scores get you to the next round and that is where the holistic admissions process kicks in. And that is the essay/ECs/letter piece. Those are essential for the most in-demand schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

music though I think is the real EC schools like to see even if it's not national level.

Where is your evidence for this?

Yes, I'd wonder about thus. But Harvard does like well rounded and especially looks for commitment to service. Still think PP's kid is probably not applying from DMV though.

I also think there are hooks we're not be told about. My kid with these kind of stats and ECs was competing with classmates with patents for detecting eye diseases or who had discovered solutions to math mysteries that university professors hadn't been able to solve in the last 100 years. I also wonder about whether participation in girl scouts and bumble bee soccer in kindergarten should count.

NP here. I will say up front that my kid goes to a DC private, which many say is a hook in itself. But the kids accepted to Ivies are very smart but no one has a patent and a lot have what I would consider good ECs (student government, varsity athlete, plays instrument) but all interests at the school. Maybe we are talking past each other on math because some Ivy kids were taking extremely high level math but many simply had BC Calc. And there are also athletes, who are not always top kids (some are) but have a lot of sports talent and will be able to manage the academics just as they have in HS. Legacy does seem to help but not all admitted kids are legacy.

Anyway, I think there are way more qualified kids than spots so many worthy kids are denied. But the myth of the “super student” is inflated on this board, imo. You would find all of them impressive but they haven’t cured cancer.

When your kid goes to a magnet high school these things aren't a myth. In reality some students were looking for treatments for brain tumors and had filed for patents. That is why there are discussions about whether you might be better off being a star at your base school if you are less than a super student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If that’s what people on here mean when they say “Great ECs” my kid has a better shot than I thought. I though “Great ECs” meant State champion sprinter and Academic Decathalon 2d Place. The stuff listed by pp is attainable!

music though I think is the real EC schools like to see even if it's not national level.

Where is your evidence for this?

Yes, I'd wonder about thus. But Harvard does like well rounded and especially looks for commitment to service. Still think PP's kid is probably not applying from DMV though.

I also think there are hooks we're not be told about. My kid with these kind of stats and ECs was competing with classmates with patents for detecting eye diseases or who had discovered solutions to math mysteries that university professors hadn't been able to solve in the last 100 years. I also wonder about whether participation in girl scouts and bumble bee soccer in kindergarten should count.

NP here. I will say up front that my kid goes to a DC private, which many say is a hook in itself. But the kids accepted to Ivies are very smart but no one has a patent and a lot have what I would consider good ECs (student government, varsity athlete, plays instrument) but all interests at the school. Maybe we are talking past each other on math because some Ivy kids were taking extremely high level math but many simply had BC Calc. And there are also athletes, who are not always top kids (some are) but have a lot of sports talent and will be able to manage the academics just as they have in HS. Legacy does seem to help but not all admitted kids are legacy.

Anyway, I think there are way more qualified kids than spots so many worthy kids are denied. But the myth of the “super student” is inflated on this board, imo. You would find all of them impressive but they haven’t cured cancer.

When your kid goes to a magnet high school these things aren't a myth. In reality some students were looking for treatments for brain tumors and had filed for patents. That is why there are discussions about whether you might be better off being a star at your base school if you are less than a super student.

What is perhaps not so obvious to the general public about a magnet like TJ is the incredible infrastructure they have in place to get their students research opportunities with colleges and industry mentors to partake in these kinds of ECs. My kid was interested in Regeneron and I thought had a good idea, but all the administrative hurdles that the my kid / school had to to do in order to pursue the idea were quite unexpected and would have required a ton of effort just to be able to start the project. TJ, Blair, etc. I imagine have all that infrastructure well established...no kid has to create that from scratch as mine would have had to do.