What has surprised you - as your kid comes to the end of this process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD, did national debate circuit. Yes that is a huge commitment travel, overnight stays, judging . But most of schools and students she competed against went to T15 schools and she became friends with across the nation. Funny some one mentioned TX, CA, its the sheer volume of schools.

It's beyond that. I know of a Country Day school in the Bay area that has kids competing nationally in middle school. I've seen their 8 graders dismantle teams from elite colleges.

As a parent of a kid in a well-regarded Bay Area high school where I’ve been underwhelmed by the academics, I’d love to know the school you’re talking about.

Almaden Country Day.... They have a teacher who has been a national level debate coach for decades so it is just a part of what they do. The best of them usually feed into Mitty.

Excellent; thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Life outside the MD/DC/VA bubble is very, very different.

In our highly rated public school in a suburb of a smallish city, only 15-20% of kids, at most, are even considering T10 schools. Most are looking at the various state schools and mid-tier privates within a 4-6 hour drive, at most.

It’s a very different world than the DV area. Less of a pressure cooker. But also less information and help available locally. And our school is certainly not a “pipeline” to any T25. But our top kids with top credentials have done well over the years. Fingers crossed for the classes of 2025 and 2026.

This is extremely dependent on where you are. Suburban Texas, Bay Area, New York, Miami and Boston Suburbs are much worse than the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:‘24. The role of hooks, narratives, and packaging.

Thanks to DCUM, I know what hooks are. And I think I finally understand what "narratives" are. But what is packaging? What does that mean? Can you put that in example???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hooks matter more than anything else at the top 20 schools, and especially the Ivies. A kid at the top of the class, with perfect grades and scores and impressive, unique ECs, will almost always lose out to a kid without those things who has a hook. I heard this so many times but did not fully absorb it without personal experience.

Is being URM (like Hispanic or black) still considered a hook?

[Anonymous]

DS is already in college but I want to post my thoughts for mainly Asian-American parents who will go through this process. For us, frankly, there were no surprises. We were very clear about what we wanted and what we were against. We knew quite early that the entire system is biased against Asian-American (especially males), and we prepared accordingly throughout his academic career. In fact, our entire planning was to make up for the various bamboo ceilings that he would encounter, and give him any edge regarding academics, ECs, health, support system, socialization, finances that we could.

- Financially - we saved for college and decided that our kids will never have student debt, even if we were subsisting on rice and beans.
- Prestige - we concentrated on the major/research/course offering and not the college. Eventually, he did not get into his top choice (MIT) but got into second choice (UMD) that he chose over other strong STEM schools like UMich and GTech.
- Academics - kid was in STEM magnet, had 4.0 GPA, 4.8 wGPA, 1590 SAT, NMS finalist, Foreign language for 5 years culminating in AP FL- from MS till HS, 12 APs with 5s. Strong ECs, scientific competitions, volunteer work and co-author on published paper after research internship. There were no faults in his resume and achievements.

What is important is not getting into a college, but, being able to thrive in college - academically, socially and mentally. They need to get a holistic education, they need to develop as an individual, they need to be able to strategize and plan for their future.

Even in college, with such a bleak job market they need to be able to - do well academically, have hobbies and skills, form close friendships, embrace new experiences and interests, get internships/jobs to get experience, network, develop skills, prioritize their physical, mental and emotional health - for future.

Getting into college is not the end-all. There is a whole lot more adulting needed once they go to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try not to be a stem major

Is math (pure or applied) considered a stem major? In most of the universities, math seems to be in the College rather than the Engr schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:‘24. The role of hooks, narratives, and packaging.

Thanks to DCUM, I know what hooks are. And I think I finally understand what "narratives" are. But what is packaging? What does that mean? Can you put that in example???

The impression that you want to create of the student on the AO so they get selected. The whole package - from essays, the narrative, the story, the ECs etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprising ? How “state school” has been rebranded to “public FLAGSHIP dammit” in just 3-4 years’ time.

Look, Beth, we all knew your kid was never going to apply, let alone attend, UW-Stevens Point. Just say your kid is applying to “several state schools” and chose “Wisconsin.”

FLAGSHIP dammit is the new North Bethesda North Potomac Hill East

It works. And those of us who lived there/studied there back in the day appreciate the increased love. Because all the seeds of success were there in the wayback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hooks matter more than anything else at the top 20 schools, and especially the Ivies. A kid at the top of the class, with perfect grades and scores and impressive, unique ECs, will almost always lose out to a kid without those things who has a hook. I heard this so many times but did not fully absorb it without personal experience.

Terrible take. Hooks with those stats are what you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pleasantly surprised that there are plenty of T50 schools that accept strong, well rounded applicants. DD got in everywhere she applied with a good GPA, solid (but not exceptional) SAT scores, varsity sports, leadership and service.

Because she is a female. C'mon, your should know that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life outside the MD/DC/VA bubble is very, very different.

In our highly rated public school in a suburb of a smallish city, only 15-20% of kids, at most, are even considering T10 schools. Most are looking at the various state schools and mid-tier privates within a 4-6 hour drive, at most.

It’s a very different world than the DV area. Less of a pressure cooker. But also less information and help available locally. And our school is certainly not a “pipeline” to any T25. But our top kids with top credentials have done well over the years. Fingers crossed for the classes of 2025 and 2026.

This is extremely dependent on where you are. Suburban Texas, Bay Area, New York, Miami and Boston Suburbs are much worse than the DMV.

Wow. You have knowledge/experience with a number of places. I need to get out more

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Learned that unless your kid is a recruited athlete, their playing varsity all throughout high school and being named as captain for multiple seasons is not going to make a difference in any way from any other EC.

Unless you're talking service academies, in which case it's pretty much a basic requirement. Yeah, I know, niche, but wanted to throw that out there for potential academy parents - need a varsity sport (or two).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:‘24. The role of hooks, narratives, and packaging.

Thanks to DCUM, I know what hooks are. And I think I finally understand what "narratives" are. But what is packaging? What does that mean? Can you put that in example???

how you tie it all together. its the marketing.
https://www.collegebasics.com/applying-to-college/the-basics-on-qpackagingq-your-college-application/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:‘24. The role of hooks, narratives, and packaging.

Thanks to DCUM, I know what hooks are. And I think I finally understand what "narratives" are. But what is packaging? What does that mean? Can you put that in example???

this is a good illustration:
https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/t/packaging-an-applicant-with-disparate-ecs-interests/3668637

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life outside the MD/DC/VA bubble is very, very different.

In our highly rated public school in a suburb of a smallish city, only 15-20% of kids, at most, are even considering T10 schools. Most are looking at the various state schools and mid-tier privates within a 4-6 hour drive, at most.

It’s a very different world than the DV area. Less of a pressure cooker. But also less information and help available locally. And our school is certainly not a “pipeline” to any T25. But our top kids with top credentials have done well over the years. Fingers crossed for the classes of 2025 and 2026.

This is extremely dependent on where you are. Suburban Texas, Bay Area, New York, Miami and Boston Suburbs are much worse than the DMV.

Wow. You have knowledge/experience with a number of places. I need to get out more

I actually do! Grew up in Texas, family friends are from the bay, family spent part of high school in New York. Boston suburbs are from tales of many friends growing up in the area, and the few Boston families we keep ties with. I will say Miami is extrapolation.