Stop the Speculations :)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how does the admissions team organize the applications for review. Are all the applicants sorted first by which high school attend so that that group of applicants are considered together (assuming that the college doesn't intend to take too may students from the same high school)?

Yes

This is concerning because it allows the schools to potentially push one kid over the other.

What are you referring to??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how does the admissions team organize the applications for review. Are all the applicants sorted first by which high school attend so that that group of applicants are considered together (assuming that the college doesn't intend to take too may students from the same high school)?

Yes

This is concerning because it allows the schools to potentially push one kid over the other.

I suspect (have no proof) that the counselor letters provide all of the behind the scenes data, even for privates that don’t list a GPA or class rank. How else can colleges know who has the highest rigor, etc? Our school profile provides very little useful information. It has to come from somewhere!

Of course it comes from that letter! It’s not innocuous.

Even if there is no ranking, they have to check whether or not the student is “one of the most exceptional they’ve ever seen in the school” or ranks somewhere else. There also our quartiles for them to check, even if no ranking exists.

All of the info you describe is in the profile sent by the high school to the college. It takes all of a few seconds for a reader to figure how estimated rank and how rigorous the academic load

Have you seen a picture of the form? There are boxes for the counselor to fill out as it relates to the candidate. Very specific boxes of where the counselor would put the candidate.
I saw it on a zoom and took pictures of it.

[Anonymous]

I think this is the college counseling form. Look at pg 2.
https://www.pdffiller.com/415176353--SCHOOL-REPORTCOUNSELOR-RECOMMENDATION-

even if the school does not rank they do have to fill out the quartiles - every school uses this form (through common app)….

[Anonymous]

Yup and it was concerning because a box could be checked and it could be subjective depending on if the counselor wanted to push a candidate or not. One was rank how a candidate is respected hey teacher? Exactly what is the criteria?

[Anonymous]

respected by teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how does the admissions team organize the applications for review. Are all the applicants sorted first by which high school attend so that that group of applicants are considered together (assuming that the college doesn't intend to take too may students from the same high school)?

Yes

This is concerning because it allows the schools to potentially push one kid over the other.

I suspect (have no proof) that the counselor letters provide all of the behind the scenes data, even for privates that don’t list a GPA or class rank. How else can colleges know who has the highest rigor, etc? Our school profile provides very little useful information. It has to come from somewhere!

This sounds like Potomac.

Every school has to fill out the form. Same….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the college counseling form. Look at pg 2.
https://www.pdffiller.com/415176353--SCHOOL-REPORTCOUNSELOR-RECOMMENDATION-

even if the school does not rank they do have to fill out the quartiles - every school uses this form (through common app)….

makes no sense because a 3.9 with no honors is not a 3.9 with honors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup and it was concerning because a box could be checked and it could be subjective depending on if the counselor wanted to push a candidate or not. One was rank how a candidate is respected hey teacher? Exactly what is the criteria?

It is what it is. Who knew the kids should’ve been kissing ass with the college counselors starting freshman year.

[Anonymous]

Just found other colleges CCO form Online. Yes it’s all the same

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You comment specifically about MIT. There is no similar school in the Top 20. Therefore, you are likely referring to MIT.

nah, MIT requires affirmative vote from whole panel, not just 2. Plus several other differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how does the admissions team organize the applications for review. Are all the applicants sorted first by which high school attend so that that group of applicants are considered together (assuming that the college doesn't intend to take too may students from the same high school)?

Yes

This is concerning because it allows the schools to potentially push one kid over the other.

I suspect (have no proof) that the counselor letters provide all of the behind the scenes data, even for privates that don’t list a GPA or class rank. How else can colleges know who has the highest rigor, etc? Our school profile provides very little useful information. It has to come from somewhere!

Our private HS requires all kids to take the AP exam for their AP courses or they fail the course.

At a junior class meeting they said our HS is known as very rigorous/strong and mentioned the profile has on AP exam results for the HS that colleges see too. My son scored 5s on every single AP exam. If you look at the national pass rate or # scoring 5s for certain subjects —it’s abysmally low across the US. Talking with classmates- almost all are scoring 4s and 5s. This also speaks to school rigor, as well as standardized test scores, curriculum, rigor backed up by test results, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how does the admissions team organize the applications for review. Are all the applicants sorted first by which high school attend so that that group of applicants are considered together (assuming that the college doesn't intend to take too may students from the same high school)?

Not all sort by school. (MIT does not)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how does the admissions team organize the applications for review. Are all the applicants sorted first by which high school attend so that that group of applicants are considered together (assuming that the college doesn't intend to take too may students from the same high school)?

Yes

This is concerning because it allows the schools to potentially push one kid over the other.

I suspect (have no proof) that the counselor letters provide all of the behind the scenes data, even for privates that don’t list a GPA or class rank. How else can colleges know who has the highest rigor, etc? Our school profile provides very little useful information. It has to come from somewhere!

Our private HS requires all kids to take the AP exam for their AP courses or they fail the course.

At a junior class meeting they said our HS is known as very rigorous/strong and mentioned the profile has on AP exam results for the HS that colleges see too. My son scored 5s on every single AP exam. If you look at the national pass rate or # scoring 5s for certain subjects —it’s abysmally low across the US. Talking with classmates- almost all are scoring 4s and 5s. This also speaks to school rigor, as well as standardized test scores, curriculum, rigor backed up by test results, etc.

You hope that AP exam results would matter, but many claim they don’t (for admission purposes anyway…)

The takeaway seems to be that your kid could do everything right stats-wise and still not get in for reasons you will never understand or agree with because they don’t fit whatever the college is looking for. It’s all in a black box.

[Anonymous]

I really like the work that College Essay Guy has done. This is one video/interview he did this year with two admissions officers:
https://youtu.be/QF6eayfmW_Y?si=TzQ6nBDKQFmlwOUF

And this one is also really good. It was done this fall, and it’s about the process at highly selective schools. It confirms a lot of what OP wrote.
https://youtu.be/nB9YRK23buY?si=Ku14sILLm8FURdvy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup and it was concerning because a box could be checked and it could be subjective depending on if the counselor wanted to push a candidate or not. One was rank how a candidate is respected hey teacher? Exactly what is the criteria?

This information on counselor weight solidifies my belief on how my child was selected to Top 20 school. I believe the counselors relationship with certain colleges help them identify what those schools want in a student. So they know when a kid would be a good fit or not. Counselors see transcripts but students also have a reputation from faculty that circles back to a counselor. They know when a stand out student has the drive and passion to make a difference (not being pushed by parents planning out their academic transcript since 8th grade or kids who just check 20 boxes for the sake of putting more on paper) Counselors can make or break that admission. 100%