Was your competitive kid get shut out from all top 40 schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

This is my kid, too, but my kid is from a magnet with super high stats. There aren't *that* many kids with the same stats and rigor.

It just seems like after a certain threshold, it becomes like a lottery.

My kid also from a magnet. Honestly, I have no idea what happened. I think perhaps it was hard from their application to assess the rigor. STEM kid so essays not a strong suit.

Essay quality is a big deal for top schools. I think most high starts kids get sunk because their profiles are too similar. These schools want artists and English majors too. So much stem, stem, stem around here. They’re all competing with each other.

+1

You need a sob story essay, most applicants do not realize that.

Yes overcoming hardship is a solid hook but usually not easy to plug into around here.

They want a URM sob story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

Are you implying that some kids got in who didn't write their own essays??

NP but I’m not implying that, I will say outright that some kids who got in didn’t write their own essays.

Of course not! They would not have been admitted with their own essays, and their parents know that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

This is my kid, too, but my kid is from a magnet with super high stats. There aren't *that* many kids with the same stats and rigor.

It just seems like after a certain threshold, it becomes like a lottery.

+1

For non-URM it is absolutely a lottery.

This is why I don't understand the Asian outrage, because there are white kids being shut out, too. Asians do not corner the market on smart people (though they might on prep).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

Are you implying that some kids got in who didn't write their own essays??

NP but I’m not implying that, I will say outright that some kids who got in didn’t write their own essays.

Of course not! They would not have been admitted with their own essays, and their parents know that!

A friend just casually mentioned they spent $5k on a college consultant. Part of their duties was to “help with essays.” I was shocked but guess I shouldn’t have been!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

Are you implying that some kids got in who didn't write their own essays??

NP but I’m not implying that, I will say outright that some kids who got in didn’t write their own essays.

Super common amongst International students also.. including college counselors who "build profile" by coaching the kids on what activities they need to do and helping them set up non-profits, news articles etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

Are you implying that some kids got in who didn't write their own essays??

NP but I’m not implying that, I will say outright that some kids who got in didn’t write their own essays.

Of course not! They would not have been admitted with their own essays, and their parents know that!

A friend just casually mentioned they spent $5k on a college consultant. Part of their duties was to “help with essays.” I was shocked but guess I shouldn’t have been!

I should change professions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

Are you implying that some kids got in who didn't write their own essays??

NP but I’m not implying that, I will say outright that some kids who got in didn’t write their own essays.

Super common amongst International students also.. including college counselors who "build profile" by coaching the kids on what activities they need to do and helping them set up non-profits, news articles etc.

And here comes the xenophobe. I was an international applicant, back in the day, and wrote my own essay. Every international student I know wrote his or her own essay as well!

Things haven't changed much since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

Are you implying that some kids got in who didn't write their own essays??

NP but I’m not implying that, I will say outright that some kids who got in didn’t write their own essays.

Super common amongst International students also.. including college counselors who "build profile" by coaching the kids on what activities they need to do and helping them set up non-profits, news articles etc.

And here comes the xenophobe. I was an international applicant, back in the day, and wrote my own essay. Every international student I know wrote his or her own essay as well!

Things haven't changed much since.

Nice try! I am an international as well came here for my Top 20 MBA (after engineering), wrote my own essays. I was casually speaking with my BIL, my nephew wants to pursue engineering in US (surprise!) and he mentioned that he would be working with a college consultant and they would provide end to end services .. college selection, profile building, heavy essay editing, recommendation letters format etc.. and the teachers would then just need to sign and put it in sealer envelopes, assistance with visa etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

Are you implying that some kids got in who didn't write their own essays??

Most kids I know have their essays edited by their parents, relatives, friends, teachers, school counselors or paid private counselors. It goes from just a quick read without much commentary, to a complete re-write. I have to say that often, editing is rather heavy! Be careful with that, because it does't mean the kid has better chances. College admissions officers know how to detect a voice. If the essay reads like a patchwork of voices, it will take the application down a few notches. Don't think heavy editing always helps.

I don’t think this is true. Google essays that worked (JHU is one). These essays are better than most short stories I read. My kids essay sounded like a -7 year old and reject / waitlist city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got locked out despite what looked like the whole package (stats / EC / class rigor). Not sure if the essays or recommendations were off. Kids getting in from the same school with less rigor and lower scores seem to generally have some hook (i.e. sports, URM, etc.). My kid was truthful on their application and wrote all their own essays. Will never know if something was off on the application or if just too many kids wth similar profile.

Are you implying that some kids got in who didn't write their own essays??

Most kids I know have their essays edited by their parents, relatives, friends, teachers, school counselors or paid private counselors. It goes from just a quick read without much commentary, to a complete re-write. I have to say that often, editing is rather heavy! Be careful with that, because it does't mean the kid has better chances. College admissions officers know how to detect a voice. If the essay reads like a patchwork of voices, it will take the application down a few notches. Don't think heavy editing always helps.

I don’t think this is true. Google essays that worked (JHU is one). These essays are better than most short stories I read. My kids essay sounded like a -7 year old and reject / waitlist city.

*17 year old

[Anonymous]

Yep.. voice is so overblown. Our public school has horrific instruction in LA, so I had my DS sign up for writing classes over summer. His writing is so much better, he also has scholastic regional awards. By the time he is ready to work on his essays, I am sure he will be more articulate than me (English is not my first language)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC's latest report card shows wgpa 4.92, will probably graduate with 4.95.

uwgpa 4.0
magnet
1580 SAT (800 math)

Shut out T40.

DD had 13 APs and scores all 4s and 5s
wgpa of 3.8
1500 SAT (800 reading — or whatever it’s officially called)
Eagle Scout (first girl in her troop)
National awards and scholarships in specific EC

Waitlisted at 4 top 20 schools. In at school ranked about 50ish and will go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid - high stats, Asian, female, decent ECs (but no nonprofits, books, research, cancer cures etc).

In at two T20s and waitlisted at one more. Obviously she didn’t get in everywhere but it was a very good outcome for her. A lot of the kids in her class are happy with their choices and they don’t seem out of line with years past.

Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont know if any are "Top 40" (number seems arbitrary).
Rejected: Harvard, Penn
Waitlist: NEU, UVA
Accepted: WM, CWRU, Lehigh, BU, UMD, UMN, OSU, Pitt

Poster above. AMAZINGLY collegevine.com was exactly right in predicting DS's outcomes. Rejected from reaches, waitlisted at 2 of 3 hard targets and accepted to 1 hard target and all targets and safeties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont know if any are "Top 40" (number seems arbitrary).
Rejected: Harvard, Penn
Waitlist: NEU, UVA
Accepted: WM, CWRU, Lehigh, BU, UMD, UMN, OSU, Pitt

Poster above. AMAZINGLY collegevine.com was exactly right in predicting DS's outcomes. Rejected from reaches, waitlisted at 2 of 3 hard targets and accepted to 1 hard target and all targets and safeties.

Congrats! what major?