1600 and Rejected?

[Anonymous]

My 1600 in one sitting SAT student was rejected from Stanford REA. No interview. Has amazing-to-me ECs. Accepted to MIT and Harvard. Waitlisted at the Ivy where the interviewer wanted to know if Harvard had always been a dream school. Harvard interviewer wanted if CMU was the dream school. MIT simply said “If you want to come here, we have a seat for you.” It all worked out. Full ride at a state school (we are full pay), over 100k merit (over 4 years) at schools like Rice! It’s truly a cr@pshoot at the elite schools. That’s why there’s targets and likelies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My older is a rising senior, with an almost 4.0 gpa (she had 2 Bs), 8 APs going into senior yr with all 5s (and will take 6 more AP classes sr year), and a 1600 sat. We’ve been advised by her private college counselor that ivies and like (duke etc) are unrealistic for her, so her reaches are colleges like Wash U which we’re still advised are a long shot.

Difficult to understand a private college counselor stating that Ivies and like schools are "unrealistic" for one who has such outstanding outstanding academic qualifications. Did the counselor explain why ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older is a rising senior, with an almost 4.0 gpa (she had 2 Bs), 8 APs going into senior yr with all 5s (and will take 6 more AP classes sr year), and a 1600 sat. We’ve been advised by her private college counselor that ivies and like (duke etc) are unrealistic for her, so her reaches are colleges like Wash U which we’re still advised are a long shot.

Difficult to understand a private college counselor stating that Ivies and like schools are "unrealistic" for one who has such outstanding outstanding academic qualifications. Did the counselor explain why ?

The counselor is right in setting realistic expectations. I know a girl from TJ with similar stats and excellent ECs got into only a T50 for Computer Science. I keep hearing being a girl with excellent stats/ECs in STEM will be accepted anywhere easily and I don't buy that either. Their chances are not any better than a boy in top schools.

[Anonymous]

DD had a 1600 and got into MIT and Harvard but was waitlisted at UPenn. A friend of my older son’s had a 1600 and was rejected at Stanford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older is a rising senior, with an almost 4.0 gpa (she had 2 Bs), 8 APs going into senior yr with all 5s (and will take 6 more AP classes sr year), and a 1600 sat. We’ve been advised by her private college counselor that ivies and like (duke etc) are unrealistic for her, so her reaches are colleges like Wash U which we’re still advised are a long shot.

Difficult to understand a private college counselor stating that Ivies and like schools are "unrealistic" for one who has such outstanding outstanding academic qualifications. Did the counselor explain why ?

The counselor is right in setting realistic expectations. I know a girl from TJ with similar stats and excellent ECs got into only a T50 for Computer Science. I keep hearing being a girl with excellent stats/ECs in STEM will be accepted anywhere easily and I don't buy that either. Their chances are not any better than a boy in top schools.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UVA data can also be obtained through the Common Data Set.

https://ira.virginia.edu/cds-2021-22

The middle 50% for the ACT was 32-35.

21% submitted ACT scores.
51% submitted SAT scores

Easier to see in the raw data that UVA provides: 2800 of 3800 students who enrolled submitted test scores.

So 588 students submitted ACT scores out of 3800? And of those 588, 75% of scores were above 35? Something like 441 students out of 3800 have above a 35 ACT? It isn’t like a 3800 students are walking around UVA with 35 or 36 ACT scores. Come on!

Where are you getting 75% were above 35? The 25 - 75% is 32-35 per CDS. So approx 200 kids with above a 35. Totally reasonable with a super score. Surprised not more.

DP. SCHEV reports that of last years incoming class tge 75th percentile had a 35 ACT. Also a 4.47

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older is a rising senior, with an almost 4.0 gpa (she had 2 Bs), 8 APs going into senior yr with all 5s (and will take 6 more AP classes sr year), and a 1600 sat. We’ve been advised by her private college counselor that ivies and like (duke etc) are unrealistic for her, so her reaches are colleges like Wash U which we’re still advised are a long shot.

Difficult to understand a private college counselor stating that Ivies and like schools are "unrealistic" for one who has such outstanding outstanding academic qualifications. Did the counselor explain why ?

DP. Because getting into those schools is unrealistic for any unhooked student. The 3% acceptance rate includes hooked students — the unhooked rate is appreciably lower than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older is a rising senior, with an almost 4.0 gpa (she had 2 Bs), 8 APs going into senior yr with all 5s (and will take 6 more AP classes sr year), and a 1600 sat. We’ve been advised by her private college counselor that ivies and like (duke etc) are unrealistic for her, so her reaches are colleges like Wash U which we’re still advised are a long shot.

Difficult to understand a private college counselor stating that Ivies and like schools are "unrealistic" for one who has such outstanding outstanding academic qualifications. Did the counselor explain why ?

I am the above poster. Reasons private counselor cited:

-those colleges are high reaches for all without a hook like being recruited athlete
-dc’s EC are good but nothing outstanding (varsity athlete/captain; good amt of volunteering; student govt but not officer)
-dc had 2 Bs (she takes most rigorous curriculum in mcps)

I think without the 2 Bs, counselor would have considered Wash U a realistic goal if DC applies ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older is a rising senior, with an almost 4.0 gpa (she had 2 Bs), 8 APs going into senior yr with all 5s (and will take 6 more AP classes sr year), and a 1600 sat. We’ve been advised by her private college counselor that ivies and like (duke etc) are unrealistic for her, so her reaches are colleges like Wash U which we’re still advised are a long shot.

Difficult to understand a private college counselor stating that Ivies and like schools are "unrealistic" for one who has such outstanding outstanding academic qualifications. Did the counselor explain why ?

I am the above poster. Reasons private counselor cited:

-those colleges are high reaches for all without a hook like being recruited athlete
-dc’s EC are good but nothing outstanding (varsity athlete/captain; good amt of volunteering; student govt but not officer)
-dc had 2 Bs (she takes most rigorous curriculum in mcps)

I think without the 2 Bs, counselor would have considered Wash U a realistic goal if DC applies ED.

I think counselor is exactly right. Unfortunately because of grade inflation in MCPS and no pluses or minuses, two Bs can knock a kid out of being competitive for top schools.

[Anonymous]

I know an FCPS grad who got rejected from Va Tech engineering in 2020 with a 1600. Parents had only allowed in state apps so he ended up at Mason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older is a rising senior, with an almost 4.0 gpa (she had 2 Bs), 8 APs going into senior yr with all 5s (and will take 6 more AP classes sr year), and a 1600 sat. We’ve been advised by her private college counselor that ivies and like (duke etc) are unrealistic for her, so her reaches are colleges like Wash U which we’re still advised are a long shot.

Difficult to understand a private college counselor stating that Ivies and like schools are "unrealistic" for one who has such outstanding outstanding academic qualifications. Did the counselor explain why ?

I am the above poster. Reasons private counselor cited:

-those colleges are high reaches for all without a hook like being recruited athlete
-dc’s EC are good but nothing outstanding (varsity athlete/captain; good amt of volunteering; student govt but not officer)
-dc had 2 Bs (she takes most rigorous curriculum in mcps)

I think without the 2 Bs, counselor would have considered Wash U a realistic goal if DC applies ED.

I think counselor is exactly right. Unfortunately because of grade inflation in MCPS and no pluses or minuses, two Bs can knock a kid out of being competitive for top schools.

I’m not familiar with mcps grading specifically (but many public schools have grade inflation), but this just doesn’t make sense. The poster said her kid took a “most rigorous” courseload - let’s assume that includes BC calc, MV etc. Wash U would prefer a kid with all As who took AB calc to a kid who went up to MV with a B? Or a kid who got a B during remote learning? Or got a couple in 9th grade and then shot off and now has 1600 sat? There are so many kids who coast throughwith all As via what I’ll call “minimal challenge” - taking APs like psych, AB calc etc. If admissions view the applications with as much detail as people say (that they can discern rigor between high schools), then why wouldn’t all of this matter? And please don’t tell me Wash U (or even Northwestern etc) are filling their schools with students who all have 1600s and all As up through MV and all the most challenging ways because in our excellent FCPS there just aren’t that many kids who fit the description, and MCPS can’t be that different (note I did not say “kids with all As” because yes more of those exist than should but I believe a lot of that comes from the courses selected, too).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older is a rising senior, with an almost 4.0 gpa (she had 2 Bs), 8 APs going into senior yr with all 5s (and will take 6 more AP classes sr year), and a 1600 sat. We’ve been advised by her private college counselor that ivies and like (duke etc) are unrealistic for her, so her reaches are colleges like Wash U which we’re still advised are a long shot.

Difficult to understand a private college counselor stating that Ivies and like schools are "unrealistic" for one who has such outstanding outstanding academic qualifications. Did the counselor explain why ?

I am the above poster. Reasons private counselor cited:

-those colleges are high reaches for all without a hook like being recruited athlete
-dc’s EC are good but nothing outstanding (varsity athlete/captain; good amt of volunteering; student govt but not officer)
-dc had 2 Bs (she takes most rigorous curriculum in mcps)

I think without the 2 Bs, counselor would have considered Wash U a realistic goal if DC applies ED.

I think counselor is exactly right. Unfortunately because of grade inflation in MCPS and no pluses or minuses, two Bs can knock a kid out of being competitive for top schools.

I’m not familiar with mcps grading specifically (but many public schools have grade inflation), but this just doesn’t make sense. The poster said her kid took a “most rigorous” courseload - let’s assume that includes BC calc, MV etc. Wash U would prefer a kid with all As who took AB calc to a kid who went up to MV with a B? Or a kid who got a B during remote learning? Or got a couple in 9th grade and then shot off and now has 1600 sat? There are so many kids who coast throughwith all As via what I’ll call “minimal challenge” - taking APs like psych, AB calc etc. If admissions view the applications with as much detail as people say (that they can discern rigor between high schools), then why wouldn’t all of this matter? And please don’t tell me Wash U (or even Northwestern etc) are filling their schools with students who all have 1600s and all As up through MV and all the most challenging ways because in our excellent FCPS there just aren’t that many kids who fit the description, and MCPS can’t be that different (note I did not say “kids with all As” because yes more of those exist than should but I believe a lot of that comes from the courses selected, too).

Form my personal experience this 2022 admissions cycle, the phrase I have bolded is not happening. No system is perfect but the current admissions process is very much screwed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UVA data can also be obtained through the Common Data Set.

https://ira.virginia.edu/cds-2021-22

The middle 50% for the ACT was 32-35.

21% submitted ACT scores.
51% submitted SAT scores

Easier to see in the raw data that UVA provides: 2800 of 3800 students who enrolled submitted test scores.

So 588 students submitted ACT scores out of 3800? And of those 588, 75% of scores were above 35? Something like 441 students out of 3800 have above a 35 ACT? It isn’t like a 3800 students are walking around UVA with 35 or 36 ACT scores. Come on!

Where are you getting 75% were above 35? The 25 - 75% is 32-35 per CDS. So approx 200 kids with above a 35. Totally reasonable with a super score. Surprised not more.

DP. SCHEV reports that of last years incoming class tge 75th percentile had a 35 ACT. Also a 4.47

Yes so that means 75% had 35 or below and 25% has higher than a 35.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UVA data can also be obtained through the Common Data Set.

https://ira.virginia.edu/cds-2021-22

The middle 50% for the ACT was 32-35.

21% submitted ACT scores.
51% submitted SAT scores

Easier to see in the raw data that UVA provides: 2800 of 3800 students who enrolled submitted test scores.

So 588 students submitted ACT scores out of 3800? And of those 588, 75% of scores were above 35? Something like 441 students out of 3800 have above a 35 ACT? It isn’t like a 3800 students are walking around UVA with 35 or 36 ACT scores. Come on!

Where are you getting 75% were above 35? The 25 - 75% is 32-35 per CDS. So approx 200 kids with above a 35. Totally reasonable with a super score. Surprised not more.

DP. SCHEV reports that of last years incoming class tge 75th percentile had a 35 ACT. Also a 4.47

Yes so that means 75% had 35 or below and 25% has higher than a 35.

I think it probably means that a 35 was in a percentile below the 75th, not that 25% had a 36 (i.e., maybe 30% scored a 35 or 36). The poster who calculated that 441 students out of 588 got above a 35 does not seem to understand what a percentile is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UVA data can also be obtained through the Common Data Set.

https://ira.virginia.edu/cds-2021-22

The middle 50% for the ACT was 32-35.

21% submitted ACT scores.
51% submitted SAT scores

Easier to see in the raw data that UVA provides: 2800 of 3800 students who enrolled submitted test scores.

So 588 students submitted ACT scores out of 3800? And of those 588, 75% of scores were above 35? Something like 441 students out of 3800 have above a 35 ACT? It isn’t like a 3800 students are walking around UVA with 35 or 36 ACT scores. Come on!

Where are you getting 75% were above 35? The 25 - 75% is 32-35 per CDS. So approx 200 kids with above a 35. Totally reasonable with a super score. Surprised not more.

DP. SCHEV reports that of last years incoming class tge 75th percentile had a 35 ACT. Also a 4.47

Yes so that means 75% had 35 or below and 25% has higher than a 35.

I think it probably means that a 35 was in a percentile below the 75th, not that 25% had a 36 (i.e., maybe 30% scored a 35 or 36). The poster who calculated that 441 students out of 588 got above a 35 does not seem to understand what a percentile is.

+1 75% had 34 or below.