ED Strategy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he's good for anything outside HYP. My DF's kid with similar stats (also valedictorian) did not get into HYP but got in everywhere else including a couple of Ivies (she did not apply to Duke).

Just wonder, what else do you think HYP want besides this kid's stats and activities?

Something unusual, something that stands out. OP said it herself - sports captains and class presidents are a dime a dozen. There are the traditional hooks - URM, FIGLI, geography. Or have the stats listed above and ALSO pursued multiple, very different passions at a high level. Think: Broadway actress AND did 3 years of science research at a top lab. Won Math Olympiads AND wrote original compositions for the bassoon that were performed at Carnegie Hall. Get the idea?

I disagree. Assuming these are all actual single awards (as opposed to multiple captains, tons of valedictorians etc), I think your kids’ profile is appealing. A football captain (which a lot cooler than my kids’ cross country captaincy, for example) who is class president (not just any random club) with legit high SAT and valedictorian (assuming it is actual class rank not just a 4.0 that 25% of kids have) is actually not that common. I think a lot of places would salivate at that profile over a bassoon player or Math Olympiad. To me, all those activities were made up so kids could compete with the valedictorian football captain class presidents. These kids are absolute leaders in their communities and I believe colleges want that.

So I say your kid should take his shot and ED at whatever school is his absolute first choice.

I don't disagree that a lot of schools will salivate over this kid, likely including Duke and Penn. But I don't think it's a strong enough profile for HYP.

You are clueless. Any kid Duke and Penn would salivate over is a strong candidate for HYPS. Duke and Penn will not salivate over this kid. The salivation starts a few rungs down from that - think Michigan, Berkeley, UCLA or Virginia, or Chicago ED1 - and that is only enough to moisten a dry throat.

Duke and Penn both lower on the totem pole than Uchicago

If your kid is seriously into football, like to hobnob with rich kids (tons of them at Duke) and fancies southern vibes then choose Duke.

If your kid is a striver, doesn’t mind toxicity and revels in oneupmanship / backstabbing: choose UPenn.

For someone with a true passion to learn amongst brilliant and collaborative minds
in a world class city ought to choose Uchicago…

Chicago booster is active in every thread...

This kid has some options, including ED Duke or Penn.

Chicago is for kids who don't have any better ED options. With the endless ED rounds Chicago has to offer, this kid can ED2 Chicago if he happens to like Chicago and becomes desparate after his ED1 reject.

Chicago hater is active in every thread...

LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP but why are so many posters trying to minimize the accomplishments of this obviously hardworking kid? It’s so vicious and I don’t understand.

He’s a great kid I’m sure but people are being honest that even with this profile neither Duke nor Penn is super likely. Possible, yes. He may get lucky. But the people who are saying top schools will “salivate” are being unrealistic. The non recruits who go to HYP from our public are generally world class violinists or stone cold geniuses. The student body president is usuallly a great kid who goes somewhere “regular.”

This kid is also valedictorian of a large public high school from outside a metro area. And football captain. And 1540. I dunno. Seems to have a hyp resume. They’d see him as a breath of fresh air from all the violin playing fencers that are applying.

I see. You are the breath of fresh air lady...

Misogyny isn’t a good look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he's good for anything outside HYP. My DF's kid with similar stats (also valedictorian) did not get into HYP but got in everywhere else including a couple of Ivies (she did not apply to Duke).

Just wonder, what else do you think HYP want besides this kid's stats and activities?

Something unusual, something that stands out. OP said it herself - sports captains and class presidents are a dime a dozen. There are the traditional hooks - URM, FIGLI, geography. Or have the stats listed above and ALSO pursued multiple, very different passions at a high level. Think: Broadway actress AND did 3 years of science research at a top lab. Won Math Olympiads AND wrote original compositions for the bassoon that were performed at Carnegie Hall. Get the idea?

I disagree. Assuming these are all actual single awards (as opposed to multiple captains, tons of valedictorians etc), I think your kids’ profile is appealing. A football captain (which a lot cooler than my kids’ cross country captaincy, for example) who is class president (not just any random club) with legit high SAT and valedictorian (assuming it is actual class rank not just a 4.0 that 25% of kids have) is actually not that common. I think a lot of places would salivate at that profile over a bassoon player or Math Olympiad. To me, all those activities were made up so kids could compete with the valedictorian football captain class presidents. These kids are absolute leaders in their communities and I believe colleges want that.

So I say your kid should take his shot and ED at whatever school is his absolute first choice.

+100 This kid is the dream for top20 colleges these days! A unicorn. A super high stats male, athletic, obviously charismatic leader, who is not going to be sitting in his room playing video games. Guarantee he is not socially awkward or geeky. He will be a successful alum.

Lady. You need to get out more.

Misogynistic. Please do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP but why are so many posters trying to minimize the accomplishments of this obviously hardworking kid? It’s so vicious and I don’t understand.

He’s a great kid I’m sure but people are being honest that even with this profile neither Duke nor Penn is super likely. Possible, yes. He may get lucky. But the people who are saying top schools will “salivate” are being unrealistic. The non recruits who go to HYP from our public are generally world class violinists or stone cold geniuses. The student body president is usuallly a great kid who goes somewhere “regular.”

This kid is also valedictorian of a large public high school from outside a metro area. And football captain. And 1540. I dunno. Seems to have a hyp resume. They’d see him as a breath of fresh air from all the violin playing fencers that are applying.

Actually, that is not a HYP resume today. The valedictorian/football captain/class president with the 1540 is way too well-rounded for HYP, which is for very hooked and very pointy students today. But this student is obviously great. Duke and Penn still take bright and unhooked students. He should choose whichever he prefers for the ED app - but he should check the data from his high school over the past five years first. I also think this student would have a very good chance at Stanford, Vanderbilt, Brown, Rice, Cornell, and Notre Dame. And he sounds perfect for West Point and Annapolis, if so inclined. In the end, I'm sure this student will have great options outside of HYP.

Penn is a very difficult admit from DMV, unhooked.

Duke and Vandy are great fit for this kid. Academies are great fit too.

Stanford looks for something extraordinary other than stats, entrepreneurship, great talents in sports or music. I don't see it in this kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he's good for anything outside HYP. My DF's kid with similar stats (also valedictorian) did not get into HYP but got in everywhere else including a couple of Ivies (she did not apply to Duke).

Just wonder, what else do you think HYP want besides this kid's stats and activities?

Something unusual, something that stands out. OP said it herself - sports captains and class presidents are a dime a dozen. There are the traditional hooks - URM, FIGLI, geography. Or have the stats listed above and ALSO pursued multiple, very different passions at a high level. Think: Broadway actress AND did 3 years of science research at a top lab. Won Math Olympiads AND wrote original compositions for the bassoon that were performed at Carnegie Hall. Get the idea?

I disagree. Assuming these are all actual single awards (as opposed to multiple captains, tons of valedictorians etc), I think your kids’ profile is appealing. A football captain (which a lot cooler than my kids’ cross country captaincy, for example) who is class president (not just any random club) with legit high SAT and valedictorian (assuming it is actual class rank not just a 4.0 that 25% of kids have) is actually not that common. I think a lot of places would salivate at that profile over a bassoon player or Math Olympiad. To me, all those activities were made up so kids could compete with the valedictorian football captain class presidents. These kids are absolute leaders in their communities and I believe colleges want that.

So I say your kid should take his shot and ED at whatever school is his absolute first choice.

+100 This kid is the dream for top20 colleges these days! A unicorn. A super high stats male, athletic, obviously charismatic leader, who is not going to be sitting in his room playing video games. Guarantee he is not socially awkward or geeky. He will be a successful alum.

Lady. You need to get out more.

Misogynistic. Please do better.

Touch grass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP but why are so many posters trying to minimize the accomplishments of this obviously hardworking kid? It’s so vicious and I don’t understand.

He’s a great kid I’m sure but people are being honest that even with this profile neither Duke nor Penn is super likely. Possible, yes. He may get lucky. But the people who are saying top schools will “salivate” are being unrealistic. The non recruits who go to HYP from our public are generally world class violinists or stone cold geniuses. The student body president is usuallly a great kid who goes somewhere “regular.”

This kid is also valedictorian of a large public high school from outside a metro area. And football captain. And 1540. I dunno. Seems to have a hyp resume. They’d see him as a breath of fresh air from all the violin playing fencers that are applying.

Unless it’s a low income or rural high school, colleges actually prefer high schools they are familiar with

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP but why are so many posters trying to minimize the accomplishments of this obviously hardworking kid? It’s so vicious and I don’t understand.

He’s a great kid I’m sure but people are being honest that even with this profile neither Duke nor Penn is super likely. Possible, yes. He may get lucky. But the people who are saying top schools will “salivate” are being unrealistic. The non recruits who go to HYP from our public are generally world class violinists or stone cold geniuses. The student body president is usuallly a great kid who goes somewhere “regular.”

This kid is also valedictorian of a large public high school from outside a metro area. And football captain. And 1540. I dunno. Seems to have a hyp resume. They’d see him as a breath of fresh air from all the violin playing fencers that are applying.

I’m sure op’s kid is a great kid and will do very well in life. Being a sports captain and school president is great way to show leadership Top applicants will also have other significant extracurricular involvement that shows sustained commitment. Some of the captains of sports teams at our school also lead major clubs, like editor and chief of paper, MUN, etc … and have a particular area where they have focused on for a volunteer service. SAT scores are great, but would put op’s son aground 50 percent mark for the tip top schools. He definitely has a chance at Penn and Duke, but is not a shoo on or a unicorn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP but why are so many posters trying to minimize the accomplishments of this obviously hardworking kid? It’s so vicious and I don’t understand.

He’s a great kid I’m sure but people are being honest that even with this profile neither Duke nor Penn is super likely. Possible, yes. He may get lucky. But the people who are saying top schools will “salivate” are being unrealistic. The non recruits who go to HYP from our public are generally world class violinists or stone cold geniuses. The student body president is usuallly a great kid who goes somewhere “regular.”

This kid is also valedictorian of a large public high school from outside a metro area. And football captain. And 1540. I dunno. Seems to have a hyp resume. They’d see him as a breath of fresh air from all the violin playing fencers that are applying.

I find this board amusing: seasoned veterans telling people how things are, and newbies and the naïf telling people how things should be.

So true. I’ve been in this board for a few cycles, and there is always tremendous optimism from the first timers until about December. By February and March, there will be multiple threads angrily decrying college admissions. Like clockwork.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP but why are so many posters trying to minimize the accomplishments of this obviously hardworking kid? It’s so vicious and I don’t understand.

He’s a great kid I’m sure but people are being honest that even with this profile neither Duke nor Penn is super likely. Possible, yes. He may get lucky. But the people who are saying top schools will “salivate” are being unrealistic. The non recruits who go to HYP from our public are generally world class violinists or stone cold geniuses. The student body president is usuallly a great kid who goes somewhere “regular.”

This kid is also valedictorian of a large public high school from outside a metro area. And football captain. And 1540. I dunno. Seems to have a hyp resume. They’d see him as a breath of fresh air from all the violin playing fencers that are applying.

Actually, that is not a HYP resume today. The valedictorian/football captain/class president with the 1540 is way too well-rounded for HYP, which is for very hooked and very pointy students today. But this student is obviously great. Duke and Penn still take bright and unhooked students. He should choose whichever he prefers for the ED app - but he should check the data from his high school over the past five years first. I also think this student would have a very good chance at Stanford, Vanderbilt, Brown, Rice, Cornell, and Notre Dame. And he sounds perfect for West Point and Annapolis, if so inclined. In the end, I'm sure this student will have great options outside of HYP.

The two kids I know personally who were admitted to Yale in the last couple of years were very similar to OP’s kid: really smart, well-rounded, average-excellent kids from two different big public schools. Great grades, great test scores, strong leadership, lots of activities.

I absolutely believe people who say these kids don’t get into Yale from their schools. And none of us knows the admissions history of OP’s kid’s school. But asserting that OP’s kid doesn’t have a chance based on any of our narrow experiences is pretty silly.

[Anonymous]

Depends on major. If upenn wharton, its a lottery tbh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP but why are so many posters trying to minimize the accomplishments of this obviously hardworking kid? It’s so vicious and I don’t understand.

He’s a great kid I’m sure but people are being honest that even with this profile neither Duke nor Penn is super likely. Possible, yes. He may get lucky. But the people who are saying top schools will “salivate” are being unrealistic. The non recruits who go to HYP from our public are generally world class violinists or stone cold geniuses. The student body president is usuallly a great kid who goes somewhere “regular.”

This kid is also valedictorian of a large public high school from outside a metro area. And football captain. And 1540. I dunno. Seems to have a hyp resume. They’d see him as a breath of fresh air from all the violin playing fencers that are applying.

I find this board amusing: seasoned veterans telling people how things are, and newbies and the naïf telling people how things should be.

So true. I’ve been in this board for a few cycles, and there is always tremendous optimism from the first timers until about December. By February and March, there will be multiple threads angrily decrying college admissions. Like clockwork.

I just posted above about the two kids I know who got into Yale. Influenced by DCUM, I went into that cycle thinking both of them had no chance or admission. Then they both got in REA. Some of us have been around and know to take the cynicism on this board with a grain of salt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP but why are so many posters trying to minimize the accomplishments of this obviously hardworking kid? It’s so vicious and I don’t understand.

He’s a great kid I’m sure but people are being honest that even with this profile neither Duke nor Penn is super likely. Possible, yes. He may get lucky. But the people who are saying top schools will “salivate” are being unrealistic. The non recruits who go to HYP from our public are generally world class violinists or stone cold geniuses. The student body president is usuallly a great kid who goes somewhere “regular.”

This kid is also valedictorian of a large public high school from outside a metro area. And football captain. And 1540. I dunno. Seems to have a hyp resume. They’d see him as a breath of fresh air from all the violin playing fencers that are applying.

Actually, that is not a HYP resume today. The valedictorian/football captain/class president with the 1540 is way too well-rounded for HYP, which is for very hooked and very pointy students today. But this student is obviously great. Duke and Penn still take bright and unhooked students. He should choose whichever he prefers for the ED app - but he should check the data from his high school over the past five years first. I also think this student would have a very good chance at Stanford, Vanderbilt, Brown, Rice, Cornell, and Notre Dame. And he sounds perfect for West Point and Annapolis, if so inclined. In the end, I'm sure this student will have great options outside of HYP.

The two kids I know personally who were admitted to Yale in the last couple of years were very similar to OP’s kid: really smart, well-rounded, average-excellent kids from two different big public schools. Great grades, great test scores, strong leadership, lots of activities.

I absolutely believe people who say these kids don’t get into Yale from their schools. And none of us knows the admissions history of OP’s kid’s school. But asserting that OP’s kid doesn’t have a chance based on any of our narrow experiences is pretty silly.

And not one person said that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP but why are so many posters trying to minimize the accomplishments of this obviously hardworking kid? It’s so vicious and I don’t understand.

He’s a great kid I’m sure but people are being honest that even with this profile neither Duke nor Penn is super likely. Possible, yes. He may get lucky. But the people who are saying top schools will “salivate” are being unrealistic. The non recruits who go to HYP from our public are generally world class violinists or stone cold geniuses. The student body president is usuallly a great kid who goes somewhere “regular.”

This kid is also valedictorian of a large public high school from outside a metro area. And football captain. And 1540. I dunno. Seems to have a hyp resume. They’d see him as a breath of fresh air from all the violin playing fencers that are applying.

Actually, that is not a HYP resume today. The valedictorian/football captain/class president with the 1540 is way too well-rounded for HYP, which is for very hooked and very pointy students today. But this student is obviously great. Duke and Penn still take bright and unhooked students. He should choose whichever he prefers for the ED app - but he should check the data from his high school over the past five years first. I also think this student would have a very good chance at Stanford, Vanderbilt, Brown, Rice, Cornell, and Notre Dame. And he sounds perfect for West Point and Annapolis, if so inclined. In the end, I'm sure this student will have great options outside of HYP.

The two kids I know personally who were admitted to Yale in the last couple of years were very similar to OP’s kid: really smart, well-rounded, average-excellent kids from two different big public schools. Great grades, great test scores, strong leadership, lots of activities.

I absolutely believe people who say these kids don’t get into Yale from their schools. And none of us knows the admissions history of OP’s kid’s school. But asserting that OP’s kid doesn’t have a chance based on any of our narrow experiences is pretty silly.

I think the point that several people have made is the breadth of activities is a weakness in op’s kid app, but no one said he shouldn’t apply.