1600 SAT, 10 APs, 5 DEs, 5 college math/CS courses. Kid wants UVA ED, but I think they can aim higher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The question is: what else does he have other than academics?

They are not just math and computers. The strongest spike is definitely CS/AI/building, but there is more to the profile than that. They have independent coding and AI projects, a technical portfolio, original software/security-type work, an advanced data/AI modeling project, and external validation from a selective tech/startup-style program.

They also have programming tutoring for younger students, project/nonprofit leadership with a youth/public-health awareness focus, competitive math/physics/programming involvement, and strong writing/humanities support through DE English and DE history. We also expect strong recommendations from English and history teachers, not just STEM teachers.

So I would describe the profile as a technical builder with broader impact, teaching, leadership, writing strength, and humanities support, not just a narrow math/computer kid.

This sounds like a lot of gobbledygook. For example, the underlined…? He took de english and history - this does NOT show strong humanities or writing. No one would know what the class entailed and how he did.

The bolded…impossible to tell the impact, depth, actual work, etc. It sounds puffed up and embellished in a way that makes much of it meaningless.

Op can you respond to this?

[Anonymous]

I have the feeling this is not the answer OP is looking for but bits an honest, informed answer.

This profile has no chance at MIT and Stanford due to no big STEM awards, not recruited athlete, no famous parents, no big jobs like Google paid internship for 2 years plus an app with 100k+ users. GPA way too low for HYP. SAT not that special for Caltech and CMU especially during EA/ED; they get a lot of 1600 kids.

Your best bet is Cornell or Georgia Tech ED. UVA is not a bad choice if you get in-state tuition. Rice is possible for ED if out of state and full pay but GPA is borderline too low. Definitely too low for Penn and Duke.

[Anonymous]

Gosh, OP, isn’t your situation every good parent’s goal? To have your kid be successful enough in k-12 to attain their post high school dreams?

Your kid’s goal is UVA, they have the stats to get there, you can afford to make it happen. Why are you trying to rock the boat to maybe get a slightly better school that will cost more, be farther away, maybe not be your kid’s dream school?

I would not second guess it. UVA is a great school.

[Anonymous]

What were the non A grades in and what years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100% chance this kid gets into UVA - anyone who says otherwise is just arguing for the sake of arguing.

You don't know that. You just don't.

Can you provide an example of any IN STATE kid with a 1600 not getting in? I'd probably extend that to 1550 as long as there aren't some sort of other (criminal) issues. This kid is 100% getting into UVA especially if they want to be there and show the smallest interest.

None of us can do that because none of us has access to all the data. And guess what? That includes you. Your access to the relevant data is no more or less imperfect than anyone else's, so your guess is just as much a guess as anyone's. No matter how many times you say it.

100% the kids gets into UVA

[Anonymous]

Many said UVA is a great school, disagree when it comes to engineering or CS. I think this is a kid who would do really well at UIUC or Purdue or UMD. Georgia Tech is good too but really too competitive for OOS. Other elite schools appear to be unrealistic.

OP, has your DC toured some of these schools? For an engineering/CS/AI kid, they are 100x more exciting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many said UVA is a great school, disagree when it comes to engineering or CS. I think this is a kid who would do really well at UIUC or Purdue or UMD. Georgia Tech is good too but really too competitive for OOS. Other elite schools appear to be unrealistic.

OP, has your DC toured some of these schools? For an engineering/CS/AI kid, they are 100x more exciting.

DP Other than MIT, CMU, Stanford, which schools have legitimate AI programs and professors who are truly connected to the forefront?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many said UVA is a great school, disagree when it comes to engineering or CS. I think this is a kid who would do really well at UIUC or Purdue or UMD. Georgia Tech is good too but really too competitive for OOS. Other elite schools appear to be unrealistic.

OP, has your DC toured some of these schools? For an engineering/CS/AI kid, they are 100x more exciting.

DP Other than MIT, CMU, Stanford, which schools have legitimate AI programs and professors who are truly connected to the forefront?

It is understandable to want your kid at MIT, CMU, or Stanford. But if undergrad does not work out, there is always a PhD program later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the feeling this is not the answer OP is looking for but bits an honest, informed answer.

This profile has no chance at MIT and Stanford due to no big STEM awards, not recruited athlete, no famous parents, no big jobs like Google paid internship for 2 years plus an app with 100k+ users. GPA way too low for HYP. SAT not that special for Caltech and CMU especially during EA/ED; they get a lot of 1600 kids.

Your best bet is Cornell or Georgia Tech ED. UVA is not a bad choice if you get in-state tuition. Rice is possible for ED if out of state and full pay but GPA is borderline too low. Definitely too low for Penn and Duke.

Good advice here. Shoot the shot, but be realistic.

As posted earlier, there is potential arbitrage with overseas unis as they focus more on test scores (including TMUA) and depth of engagement with the chosen subject. They are also less focused on hooks, so there are more spots available in each class in real terms. Think about Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford, Warwick, St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the feeling this is not the answer OP is looking for but bits an honest, informed answer.

This profile has no chance at MIT and Stanford due to no big STEM awards, not recruited athlete, no famous parents, no big jobs like Google paid internship for 2 years plus an app with 100k+ users. GPA way too low for HYP. SAT not that special for Caltech and CMU especially during EA/ED; they get a lot of 1600 kids.

Your best bet is Cornell or Georgia Tech ED. UVA is not a bad choice if you get in-state tuition. Rice is possible for ED if out of state and full pay but GPA is borderline too low. Definitely too low for Penn and Duke.

Good advice here. Shoot the shot, but be realistic.

As posted earlier, there is potential arbitrage with overseas unis as they focus more on test scores (including TMUA) and depth of engagement with the chosen subject. They are also less focused on hooks, so there are more spots available in each class in real terms. Think about Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford, Warwick, St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc.

I wouldn’t pick any UK university over UVA, (or Purdue/UIUC engineering), unless it’s Oxbridge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many said UVA is a great school, disagree when it comes to engineering or CS. I think this is a kid who would do really well at UIUC or Purdue or UMD. Georgia Tech is good too but really too competitive for OOS. Other elite schools appear to be unrealistic.

OP, has your DC toured some of these schools? For an engineering/CS/AI kid, they are 100x more exciting.

DP Other than MIT, CMU, Stanford, which schools have legitimate AI programs and professors who are truly connected to the forefront?

Cal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the feeling this is not the answer OP is looking for but bits an honest, informed answer.

This profile has no chance at MIT and Stanford due to no big STEM awards, not recruited athlete, no famous parents, no big jobs like Google paid internship for 2 years plus an app with 100k+ users. GPA way too low for HYP. SAT not that special for Caltech and CMU especially during EA/ED; they get a lot of 1600 kids.

Your best bet is Cornell or Georgia Tech ED. UVA is not a bad choice if you get in-state tuition. Rice is possible for ED if out of state and full pay but GPA is borderline too low. Definitely too low for Penn and Duke.

Good advice here. Shoot the shot, but be realistic.

As posted earlier, there is potential arbitrage with overseas unis as they focus more on test scores (including TMUA) and depth of engagement with the chosen subject. They are also less focused on hooks, so there are more spots available in each class in real terms. Think about Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford, Warwick, St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc.

I wouldn’t pick any UK university over UVA, (or Purdue/UIUC engineering), unless it’s Oxbridge.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many said UVA is a great school, disagree when it comes to engineering or CS. I think this is a kid who would do really well at UIUC or Purdue or UMD. Georgia Tech is good too but really too competitive for OOS. Other elite schools appear to be unrealistic.

OP, has your DC toured some of these schools? For an engineering/CS/AI kid, they are 100x more exciting.

DP Other than MIT, CMU, Stanford, which schools have legitimate AI programs and professors who are truly connected to the forefront?

Bowdoin (look it up). Though I'm guessing this parent would never consider such a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Imperial and Oxbridge. They will lean into test scores and demonstrated passion for the subject more so than gpa (e.g. faculty conduct interviews and make decisions).

They also administer much more rigorous exams than the SAT, I bet your DC would do well and appreciate studying with others who also did well.

Oxbridge needs four or five Fives on relevant AP tests in your selected field and fiekd study before you even get a foot in the door for the exhaustive substantive review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100% chance this kid gets into UVA - anyone who says otherwise is just arguing for the sake of arguing.

You don't know that. You just don't.

Can you provide an example of any IN STATE kid with a 1600 not getting in? I'd probably extend that to 1550 as long as there aren't some sort of other (criminal) issues. This kid is 100% getting into UVA especially if they want to be there and show the smallest interest.

None of us can do that because none of us has access to all the data. And guess what? That includes you. Your access to the relevant data is no more or less imperfect than anyone else's, so your guess is just as much a guess as anyone's. No matter how many times you say it.

100% the kids gets into UVA

[b]

Not 100%. His weighted GPA is too low. SCHEV posts that the 75th percentile of last fall’s incoming class had a 4.5; median had a 4.4; bottom 25th (athletes, hooked, etc.) had a 4.2. An unweighted 3.8 may be too low. Is he top 6% of his class? https://research.schev.edu/rdPage.aspx?enrollment&rdReport=Enrollment.B10_FreshmanProfile