So much disappointment this week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to know stats and schools and finances.

My unhooked white ds with 1330/3.8 at a crappy public has gotten in everywhere. Top 30-50. Full pay.

Name the schools or it didn’t happen PP

NP and absolutely, this is my son too. Key words are DS and full pay. Many of these schools, even T50, need these most of all.

For the love of Christ, you can not get into a full pay anything without the stats. Stop repeating the same BS.

Yes, but "stats" are not as high as people here would have you believe. I'm here to tell you that T 30-50 schools WILL accept Big 3/ private school students (boys?) with a 3.3 and a 1400-ish SAT score. Many of them. Ask me how I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tulane
Miami
FSU
Georgia
SMU
TCU

UT auto admit

So you live in Tennessee, that explains it. Very different applicant pool than the DMV. Still, congrats to your kid.

[Anonymous]

I think that person meant UT-Austin, not Tennessee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all these “high stat” kids, how many of you are also submitting 4’s or 5’s from
Your AP tests to show that you actually earned the A? Thay may be the difference in many cases. Lots and lots of public high schools are handing out A’s way too easily. And as for SAT scores, does anyone find it weird that 1400
And 1500 scores seem like a dime a dozen these days? The curve is unreal which is even making those seem less valuable. You have to show you earned those A’s so you need AP Scores and you need excellent teacher recommendations.

+1. For anybody reading this who has not had a kid go through the process, a "high stats" gpa--and gpa is very important--at a public in fcps or mcps is a 4.0 uw. If your kid is below that have realistic expectations. It doesn't mean they won't get into a selective school, but they need options. For anybody "unhooked", regardless of their stats, make sure they have a couple of safeties they are excited about attending.

This is true. If you don't have straight As, you are in for a world of hurt. Sadly, this isn't going to help the mental health of highly capable students for years to come. The pressure of one test is nothing compared to the day in day out pressure to never make a mistake or have a bad day. I think colleges have just made the whole mental health problem much, much worse.

Just for the record, this is only true if your DC is coming from a public school. Private school kids are given more leeway on their GPAs. My 3.3 GPA, 1420 SAT DC at a Big 3 did just fine.

This year? Or is this from the past? What school?

I have big 3 kid 3.2 GPA and 1450 SAT did well this year. In at all safeties and targets and a few reaches.

You aren't saying anything here unless people know what you consider a safety, target, and reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why apply to so many out of state $chools when there are plenty of terrific in-state options. My senior applied to only one out-of-state university, the rest were in state. Didn't get into the out of state school but got into a state flagship just fine.

I think families are applying out of state for bragging rights, and ending up with nothing.

My high achiever kid didn’t get into the state flagship or the state tech school. You can’t assume those are options nowadays.

and I assume you mean UVA and VA Tech....perhaps the essays sucked and reflected no effort because those were the "safeties". I don't know certainly but I did hear the story on this board of a high stats kid who did get into both and spent alot of time on those PITA essays. I don't think high stats kids realize the importance of anything other than stats for the sake of stats.

NP - we really can’t make the assumptions you made when we simply don’t know.
One of my kids is at one of those schools. It has plenty of downsides. If we had more money, I’d have pushed for OOS just for a change in social scenery. Tho once out of NOVA, Virginia is a change of social scenery.

yes I'm assuming but there as a recent post that sounded like the same stats and did not get into those two schools, which is why I made the potential assumption. Yes I have a kid at UVA and i know it's not the perfect place, but frankly its all we could afford. We knew that, set that expectation that DS could go anywhere as long as it cost no more than VA instate at W&M (the most executive instate) and they developed their list around that. Not hard. Would I have loved to have said, you can go anywhere, I've $350K reserved for you? Sure, but it was not true and he is happy where he is though like all transitions, it can have its challenges. Not the least of which is its very competitive AT UVA, not just to get in. Getting into clubs, both social and athletic, is not easy even once you're there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why apply to so many out of state $chools when there are plenty of terrific in-state options. My senior applied to only one out-of-state university, the rest were in state. Didn't get into the out of state school but got into a state flagship just fine.

I think families are applying out of state for bragging rights, and ending up with nothing.

My high achiever kid didn’t get into the state flagship or the state tech school. You can’t assume those are options nowadays.

and I assume you mean UVA and VA Tech....perhaps the essays sucked and reflected no effort because those were the "safeties". I don't know certainly but I did hear the story on this board of a high stats kid who did get into both and spent alot of time on those PITA essays. I don't think high stats kids realize the importance of anything other than stats for the sake of stats.

NP - we really can’t make the assumptions you made when we simply don’t know.
One of my kids is at one of those schools. It has plenty of downsides. If we had more money, I’d have pushed for OOS just for a change in social scenery. Tho once out of NOVA, Virginia is a change of social scenery.

yes I'm assuming but there as a recent post that sounded like the same stats and did not get into those two schools, which is why I made the potential assumption. Yes I have a kid at UVA and i know it's not the perfect place, but frankly its all we could afford. We knew that, set that expectation that DS could go anywhere as long as it cost no more than VA instate at W&M (the most expensive instate) and they developed their list around that. Not hard. Would I have loved to have said, you can go anywhere, I've $350K reserved for you? Sure, but it was not true and he is happy where he is though like all transitions, it can have its challenges. Not the least of which is its very competitive AT UVA, not just to get in. Getting into clubs, both social and athletic, is not easy even once you're there.

[Anonymous]

OP-Read the response posted to this thread:

"how do you feel when other kids getting in to better schools?"

at 11:59 today.

May your child be as pleasantly surprised by their experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all these “high stat” kids, how many of you are also submitting 4’s or 5’s from
Your AP tests to show that you actually earned the A? Thay may be the difference in many cases. Lots and lots of public high schools are handing out A’s way too easily. And as for SAT scores, does anyone find it weird that 1400
And 1500 scores seem like a dime a dozen these days? The curve is unreal which is even making those seem less valuable. You have to show you earned those A’s so you need AP Scores and you need excellent teacher recommendations.

+1. For anybody reading this who has not had a kid go through the process, a "high stats" gpa--and gpa is very important--at a public in fcps or mcps is a 4.0 uw. If your kid is below that have realistic expectations. It doesn't mean they won't get into a selective school, but they need options. For anybody "unhooked", regardless of their stats, make sure they have a couple of safeties they are excited about attending.

This is true. If you don't have straight As, you are in for a world of hurt. Sadly, this isn't going to help the mental health of highly capable students for years to come. The pressure of one test is nothing compared to the day in day out pressure to never make a mistake or have a bad day. I think colleges have just made the whole mental health problem much, much worse.

Just for the record, this is only true if your DC is coming from a public school. Private school kids are given more leeway on their GPAs. My 3.3 GPA, 1420 SAT DC at a Big 3 did just fine.

This year? Or is this from the past? What school?

I have big 3 kid 3.2 GPA and 1450 SAT did well this year. In at all safeties and targets and a few reaches.

You aren't saying anything here unless people know what you consider a safety, target, and reach.

CCO treats every school that’s 20% or less acceptance as a reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry OP. All this is good advice but it’s still hard to see your kid disappointed.

NP here saying the same thing as another PP- my DD wound up at one of her safeties and has loved it! Socially and academically it’s been a great fit- and we were not sure of that at all going in! Agree too that transferring is ok, too. Ask around to functional adults you know and many of them didn’t finish at the school they started at. And most didn’t go to these tippy top schools. DCUM gives a skewed view of the world. It’s really going to be ok. Start getting excited about the safety.

Agree! Give them a day or so to be disappointed, then start pumping up the reasons they put the safety on this list. Go visit it if you have not (or again). Buy swag. Genuinely get excited about it so she can, too. Don’t see it as a consolation prize!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all these “high stat” kids, how many of you are also submitting 4’s or 5’s from
Your AP tests to show that you actually earned the A? Thay may be the difference in many cases. Lots and lots of public high schools are handing out A’s way too easily. And as for SAT scores, does anyone find it weird that 1400
And 1500 scores seem like a dime a dozen these days? The curve is unreal which is even making those seem less valuable. You have to show you earned those A’s so you need AP Scores and you need excellent teacher recommendations.

+1. For anybody reading this who has not had a kid go through the process, a "high stats" gpa--and gpa is very important--at a public in fcps or mcps is a 4.0 uw. If your kid is below that have realistic expectations. It doesn't mean they won't get into a selective school, but they need options. For anybody "unhooked", regardless of their stats, make sure they have a couple of safeties they are excited about attending.

This is true. If you don't have straight As, you are in for a world of hurt. Sadly, this isn't going to help the mental health of highly capable students for years to come. The pressure of one test is nothing compared to the day in day out pressure to never make a mistake or have a bad day. I think colleges have just made the whole mental health problem much, much worse.

+1.

My next kid is not interested in any of this. He took calc BC as a soph, but is choosing fewer weighted classes than he could for junior year. He has a 4.0 uw and will likely have a high standardized test score. He seems to be opting out of aspiring for highly selective schools, i.e. rejects the idea of playing the game. Does not want the stress of the competition to get there, nor a competitive atmosphere when he does. (Which reminds me, "collaborative rather than competitive" is now a factor for his college search, whenever that begins.)

My “high stats” DD did the same. She was at a pressure cooker school and hated the competition. She didn’t apply to T25 because she had no desire to go to school with competitive gunners who are all about the grade. She chose a less selective (but still great) school and could not be happier. She found her place and her people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all these “high stat” kids, how many of you are also submitting 4’s or 5’s from
Your AP tests to show that you actually earned the A? Thay may be the difference in many cases. Lots and lots of public high schools are handing out A’s way too easily. And as for SAT scores, does anyone find it weird that 1400
And 1500 scores seem like a dime a dozen these days? The curve is unreal which is even making those seem less valuable. You have to show you earned those A’s so you need AP Scores and you need excellent teacher recommendations.

+1. For anybody reading this who has not had a kid go through the process, a "high stats" gpa--and gpa is very important--at a public in fcps or mcps is a 4.0 uw. If your kid is below that have realistic expectations. It doesn't mean they won't get into a selective school, but they need options. For anybody "unhooked", regardless of their stats, make sure they have a couple of safeties they are excited about attending.

This is true. If you don't have straight As, you are in for a world of hurt. Sadly, this isn't going to help the mental health of highly capable students for years to come. The pressure of one test is nothing compared to the day in day out pressure to never make a mistake or have a bad day. I think colleges have just made the whole mental health problem much, much worse.

+1.

My next kid is not interested in any of this. He took calc BC as a soph, but is choosing fewer weighted classes than he could for junior year. He has a 4.0 uw and will likely have a high standardized test score. He seems to be opting out of aspiring for highly selective schools, i.e. rejects the idea of playing the game. Does not want the stress of the competition to get there, nor a competitive atmosphere when he does. (Which reminds me, "collaborative rather than competitive" is now a factor for his college search, whenever that begins.)

My “high stats” DD did the same. She was at a pressure cooker school and hated the competition. She didn’t apply to T25 because she had no desire to go to school with competitive gunners who are all about the grade. She chose a less selective (but still great) school and could not be happier. She found her place and her people.

Same which is why even though the rejections hurt - a lot - and dream school dreams are gone, it’s been easier to embrace the match school. DC coming from Langley and wants nothing to do with that same kind of environment again.

[Anonymous]

It's flat out depressing. I feel like I failed my child and I am not sure what else could have been done but all those years of striving for excellence, working so hard, dong so many ECs, choosing the hardest classes possible to impress colleges - it was all for nothing. With a virtual perfect academic record and a host of passionate ECs, he's rejected/wl everywhere he really wants to go.

He is in a safety schools that literally the class clowns get accepted to. I'm so sick of talking to people about it, everyone in our community assumed he was going to a T5 school - he is practically famous for being so smart - like photographic memory genius smart and they ask me about it constantly. They cant conceal their shock when I tell them the options. I cant deal with the reactions anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's flat out depressing. I feel like I failed my child and I am not sure what else could have been done but all those years of striving for excellence, working so hard, dong so many ECs, choosing the hardest classes possible to impress colleges - it was all for nothing. With a virtual perfect academic record and a host of passionate ECs, he's rejected/wl everywhere he really wants to go.

He is in a safety schools that literally the class clowns get accepted to. I'm so sick of talking to people about it, everyone in our community assumed he was going to a T5 school - he is practically famous for being so smart - like photographic memory genius smart and they ask me about it constantly. They cant conceal their shock when I tell them the options. I cant deal with the reactions anymore.

I know two kids like this who were shocked they didn’t get into a top school. I felt for them, they are great kids with alot to offer and it was shocking. Well a year later both transferred successfully to their first choice school. for one of them it was UVA and not only did he transfer in but he just found out he’s been accepted to McIntire. Happy ending indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all these “high stat” kids, how many of you are also submitting 4’s or 5’s from
Your AP tests to show that you actually earned the A? Thay may be the difference in many cases. Lots and lots of public high schools are handing out A’s way too easily. And as for SAT scores, does anyone find it weird that 1400
And 1500 scores seem like a dime a dozen these days? The curve is unreal which is even making those seem less valuable. You have to show you earned those A’s so you need AP Scores and you need excellent teacher recommendations.

+1. For anybody reading this who has not had a kid go through the process, a "high stats" gpa--and gpa is very important--at a public in fcps or mcps is a 4.0 uw. If your kid is below that have realistic expectations. It doesn't mean they won't get into a selective school, but they need options. For anybody "unhooked", regardless of their stats, make sure they have a couple of safeties they are excited about attending.

This is true. If you don't have straight As, you are in for a world of hurt. Sadly, this isn't going to help the mental health of highly capable students for years to come. The pressure of one test is nothing compared to the day in day out pressure to never make a mistake or have a bad day. I think colleges have just made the whole mental health problem much, much worse.

+1.

My next kid is not interested in any of this. He took calc BC as a soph, but is choosing fewer weighted classes than he could for junior year. He has a 4.0 uw and will likely have a high standardized test score. He seems to be opting out of aspiring for highly selective schools, i.e. rejects the idea of playing the game. Does not want the stress of the competition to get there, nor a competitive atmosphere when he does. (Which reminds me, "collaborative rather than competitive" is now a factor for his college search, whenever that begins.)

My “high stats” DD did the same. She was at a pressure cooker school and hated the competition. She didn’t apply to T25 because she had no desire to go to school with competitive gunners who are all about the grade. She chose a less selective (but still great) school and could not be happier. She found her place and her people.

Same. My kid was burnout at the age of 17, by attending a W school in Montgomery County. I think she will have a much more balanced life as a result. Proud of her priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After a week of so many rejections and waitlists, I'm finding it hard to make sense of it all and struggling to know the best way to help my DD. Brutal week.

Me, too!