Success with Ivy-level admissions

[Anonymous]

I have way too much experience with admissions and can say that it's generally not kids on either immediate side of the "89.5" A/B divide who are getting into the Ivy league, especially the top Ivy schools. Rather it's kids who are knocking it out of the park with clear, indisputable high As because these are the kids who are getting the "best in the grade" or even "best in my career" type recs from teachers and also have extraordinary extracurriculars to match. There are a TON of kids who are getting those low As and they're not the ones getting the teachers to say that they walk on water nor are they the ones knocking it out of the park in their free time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they go the extra mile? Do they love to learn? Are they scholarly with a natural gift for academic pursuits? Are they engaged deeply and for a sustained period ( years) with ECs of interest? Are they distinguished participants in those ECs? Are they a real standout in a particular discipline?

Unless they have some hook, that is the type of candidate they are up against to gain admittance at top universities. Top grades and scores are not enough....all the applicants admitted have that.

+1

I have said in this board before that there is a difference between a high academically performing kid and a truly gifted child. Intellectual curiosity, unique interests, superior performance in a specific area need to be demonstrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

But the unis may have changed their goals for admission - two easy examples, maybe they are admitting more international students or wanted more geo diversity within the US.

Those are big "may" and "maybe" 's.

You'd need to cite evidence or it is easy to dismiss your post.

No need to get huffy. I'm not the PP, but have 2 DCs just going through these last cycles and both of these popped to mind when I read this thread. For example, I am aware of a T20 university with an overseas campus. There is an agreement that the students at the overseas campus will be able to study for one year at the US campus. That school is now having to accommodate two years' worth of students in this coming academic year. Given that, there are not as many openings for the incoming '26 class.

It’s not getting huffy to say “you just made that up without evidence” as people may read this forum, take your statement as fact and make uninformed decisions based on it.

This is a discussion forum. If you make a claim you should be prepared for it to be challenged. Your anecdote above is not evidence, and your lack of mentioning the school is a tell that you can’t support it with any facts.

PP is right - essentially the same number of seats for the same number of students. That’s all verifiable in the CDSs.

Another NP. Not sure why you are so defensive and insistent the other poster "prove" things, especially when you don't prove the same #s notion. Seats fluctuate based on potential over/under admissions of previous years (NEU is an example there), same for the instance pp above mentioned (I'm thinking NYU Shanghai). Also, the numbers of students applying is growing, I believe. More students overall (birthrate) and higher percentage applying to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s always a crapshoot. Not much difference from last year at our school.

For mediocre applicants, it’s indeed a crapshoot. But not for top achievers.

You are the exact parent that will be back here in May complaining that your kid was “shut out.” It will turn out that their list contained only t15 schools because you did not listen to anyone. This happens every single year.

Nah
All my kids are in HYPSM. And I personally am familiar with the profiles of a lot of students accepted to Ivy+. I can confidently tell you that you guys have no idea about the top college admissions and blame it as crapshoot. It’s not.

Ok, this just suggests you don't know the current admissions landscape but do like to brag or just cause drama. Each year has been different.

[Anonymous]

Peak demographic year for college applications is 2025 or 2026, and then the numbers decline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

But the unis may have changed their goals for admission - two easy examples, maybe they are admitting more international students or wanted more geo diversity within the US.

Those are big "may" and "maybe" 's.

You'd need to cite evidence or it is easy to dismiss your post.

No need to get huffy. I'm not the PP, but have 2 DCs just going through these last cycles and both of these popped to mind when I read this thread. For example, I am aware of a T20 university with an overseas campus. There is an agreement that the students at the overseas campus will be able to study for one year at the US campus. That school is now having to accommodate two years' worth of students in this coming academic year. Given that, there are not as many openings for the incoming '26 class.

It’s not getting huffy to say “you just made that up without evidence” as people may read this forum, take your statement as fact and make uninformed decisions based on it.

This is a discussion forum. If you make a claim you should be prepared for it to be challenged. Your anecdote above is not evidence, and your lack of mentioning the school is a tell that you can’t support it with any facts.

PP is right - essentially the same number of seats for the same number of students. That’s all verifiable in the CDSs.

LOL. It's Duke and heard directly from a board member. So maybe Duke spun the board member, IDK.

Again, I'm not the PP with the original assertion. I responded because those were the first two points that also crossed my mind based on college search, tours, etc over the last three years. You can still have the same number of seats but fill a fair percentage of them with international students. That translates into a smaller pool of seats available for US applicants.

Again, no need to be huffy. You could have framed everything you did above without immediately accusing people of acting in bad faith. This is DCUM, not a Congressional hearing.

Duke CDS Enrollees:

2021: 538 non-resident aliens
2020: 631
2019: 636

I guess we'll have to wait for the next CDS to absolutely check what you heard, but the current data, for the "last three years", shows the number as around 10% and declining slightly. Enrollments are what matter, if they are taking the same number of enrollees, there is no net reduction.

If requiring facts and one minute of research makes me "Huffy", then I embrace huffy, and feel there is a total need for facts and none for "may and maybe"s. This process is hard enough on people.

Have a great day, and try not to be so sensitive when you have your facts checked.

Again, as I posted, these are students enrolled on their overseas campus who are promised one year (semester?) on Duke's campus. According to the board member, they have two years' worth of those students who have not been able to attend Duke due to COVID and now need to be accommodated. IDK where the campus is or if the non-resident alien (technically not NRA if not in the USA) numbers of students enrolled on overseas campuses are reflected in the CDS, but somehow, according to this board member, they have to be housed this school year.

And again, LOL. I'm not being sensitive. I am just suggesting that your communications style may be lacking.

A classic ad hominem, Which is what you do when you don’t have any facts.

So a board member is insufficient?

And that's a very generous definition of ad hominem. Very.

ad ho·mi·nem /ˌad ˈhämənəm/
adjective
(of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.

adverb
1. in a way that is directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.
2. in a way that relates to or is associated with a particular person.

You typed:

I am just suggesting that your communications style may be lacking.

Not a "generous" definition at all, but rather application of the literal one.

NP not sure why you think the other poster is attacking you when the aggressive nature of your posts are what stood out in the thread. Then when you get just a bit of pushback, you claim to be a victim? This is petty. Can we focus on the topic, and you just let people offer ideas/thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Peak demographic year for college applications is 2025 or 2026, and then the numbers decline.

Poster above you. Yes, that's what I read as well. Stinks for my 24 grad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Name a top 25 school where black or brown students represent more than 30% of the student body, and where Asian students aren't over represented (based on US population or the state).

DP. Yes, this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Name a top 25 school where black or brown students represent more than 30% of the student body, and where Asian students aren't over represented (based on US population or the state).

DP. Yes, this.

Almost all of them. Start with Princeton and go from there. https://1xfsu31b52d33idlp13twtos-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Race-and-Ethnicity-in-Higher-Education.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Name a top 25 school where black or brown students represent more than 30% of the student body, and where Asian students aren't over represented (based on US population or the state).

DP. Yes, this.

Almost all of them. Start with Princeton and go from there. https://1xfsu31b52d33idlp13twtos-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Race-and-Ethnicity-in-Higher-Education.pdf

NP: Princeton's Hispanic population is 10.5% and Black is 8%, not 30%. https://registrar.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf136/files/documents/CDS_2021_2022.pdf

You do realize that Princeton includes Asian Americans in their diversity numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Name a top 25 school where black or brown students represent more than 30% of the student body, and where Asian students aren't over represented (based on US population or the state).

DP. Yes, this.

Almost all of them. Start with Princeton and go from there. https://1xfsu31b52d33idlp13twtos-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Race-and-Ethnicity-in-Higher-Education.pdf

NP: Princeton's Hispanic population is 10.5% and Black is 8%, not 30%. https://registrar.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf136/files/documents/CDS_2021_2022.pdf

You do realize that Princeton includes Asian Americans in their diversity numbers.

And here are the stats for the class of 2025: https://admission.princeton.edu/how-apply/admission-statistics

If you add the Multiracial (non-Hispanic) 8.1% you still do not have 30%. Your link doesn't include any data about Princeton or discuss top 25 schools. Please bring receipts aka facts based on published data to support your assertions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Peak demographic year for college applications is 2025 or 2026, and then the numbers decline.

Poster above you. Yes, that's what I read as well. Stinks for my 24 grad.

But that's irrelevant in the US due to the number of overseas students who want to study here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Name a top 25 school where black or brown students represent more than 30% of the student body, and where Asian students aren't over represented (based on US population or the state).

DP. Yes, this.

Really? Affirmative action ensures that under-qualified URMs are admitted to fulfill racial quotas. And we should all at least pretend to support a meritocracy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Name a top 25 school where black or brown students represent more than 30% of the student body, and where Asian students aren't over represented (based on US population or the state).

DP. Yes, this.

Really? Affirmative action ensures that under-qualified URMs are admitted to fulfill racial quotas. And we should all at least pretend to support a meritocracy.

Really. Everything you stated is false -- under qualified, racial quotas and the implied lack of meritocracy. You've bought into some bad propaganda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same number of kids got into Ivies this year, as last year, as the schools have not changed the number of kids admitted.

But the unis may have changed their goals for admission - two easy examples, maybe they are admitting more international students or wanted more geo diversity within the US.

Those are big "may" and "maybe" 's.

You'd need to cite evidence or it is easy to dismiss your post.

No need to get huffy. I'm not the PP, but have 2 DCs just going through these last cycles and both of these popped to mind when I read this thread. For example, I am aware of a T20 university with an overseas campus. There is an agreement that the students at the overseas campus will be able to study for one year at the US campus. That school is now having to accommodate two years' worth of students in this coming academic year. Given that, there are not as many openings for the incoming '26 class.

It’s not getting huffy to say “you just made that up without evidence” as people may read this forum, take your statement as fact and make uninformed decisions based on it.

This is a discussion forum. If you make a claim you should be prepared for it to be challenged. Your anecdote above is not evidence, and your lack of mentioning the school is a tell that you can’t support it with any facts.

PP is right - essentially the same number of seats for the same number of students. That’s all verifiable in the CDSs.

LOL. It's Duke and heard directly from a board member. So maybe Duke spun the board member, IDK.

Again, I'm not the PP with the original assertion. I responded because those were the first two points that also crossed my mind based on college search, tours, etc over the last three years. You can still have the same number of seats but fill a fair percentage of them with international students. That translates into a smaller pool of seats available for US applicants.

Again, no need to be huffy. You could have framed everything you did above without immediately accusing people of acting in bad faith. This is DCUM, not a Congressional hearing.

Duke CDS Enrollees:

2021: 538 non-resident aliens
2020: 631
2019: 636

I guess we'll have to wait for the next CDS to absolutely check what you heard, but the current data, for the "last three years", shows the number as around 10% and declining slightly. Enrollments are what matter, if they are taking the same number of enrollees, there is no net reduction.

If requiring facts and one minute of research makes me "Huffy", then I embrace huffy, and feel there is a total need for facts and none for "may and maybe"s. This process is hard enough on people.

Have a great day, and try not to be so sensitive when you have your facts checked.

Again, as I posted, these are students enrolled on their overseas campus who are promised one year (semester?) on Duke's campus. According to the board member, they have two years' worth of those students who have not been able to attend Duke due to COVID and now need to be accommodated. IDK where the campus is or if the non-resident alien (technically not NRA if not in the USA) numbers of students enrolled on overseas campuses are reflected in the CDS, but somehow, according to this board member, they have to be housed this school year.

And again, LOL. I'm not being sensitive. I am just suggesting that your communications style may be lacking.

A classic ad hominem, Which is what you do when you don’t have any facts.

So a board member is insufficient?

And that's a very generous definition of ad hominem. Very.

ad ho·mi·nem /ˌad ˈhämənəm/
adjective
(of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.

adverb
1. in a way that is directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.
2. in a way that relates to or is associated with a particular person.

You typed:

I am just suggesting that your communications style may be lacking.

Not a "generous" definition at all, but rather application of the literal one.

NP not sure why you think the other poster is attacking you when the aggressive nature of your posts are what stood out in the thread. Then when you get just a bit of pushback, you claim to be a victim? This is petty. Can we focus on the topic, and you just let people offer ideas/thoughts?

Not claiming to be a "victim" at all. Just pointing out the ad hominem attack, rather than attacking the substance of the discussion. That's what people do when they don't have a substantive response. That's pretty clear from reading the posts.