T25 schools and Ivy League stats

[Anonymous]

In reading through the Emory, UVA and other threads, I’m speechless about what it takes for a kid to get in these days. Near perfect SAT/ ACT. 5.0+ weighted gpa. 12+ APs. Six APs in senior year (!).

I’ve read that waitlist activity is expected to be very busy as this admission season shakes out. Is it likely that incoming classes at schools like Emory, UVA and others will end up with classes composed significantly of kids with very high stats, or do you think that actual acceptances and pulling from waitlists will yield classes that are still roughly comparable to years past (i.e., impressive but not necessarily ivy level).

I also wonder if the very high stats kids are balancing out admissions for lower stat or test optional kids that may be underrepresented. Increasing underrepresented students seems to be a focus this year. Understood there is much value in that mission. I’m just trying to make sense of why, at least based on these boards, it seems to take nearly-impossible stats to get into T25 schools now (particularly when, e.g., average/75th percentile ACT at these schools seems to be about 33 - not 35).

[Anonymous]

This is because of the nature of the DCUM audience. Low stat and test optional kids, particularly URMs and first generation applicants, are less represented here.

Also, a relatively small number of applicants who applied to many (20+!) schools are distorting the situation. This is also happening in real life, and necessitates the colleges putting more applicants on waitlists, and taking more applicants of those waitlists when the other schools (Ivies) issue their RD decisions.

However, grades, test scores and even ECs have become inflated in the years since the parents applied to colleges.

[Anonymous]

One of the major factors is yield protection. Colleges outside T10 more or less practice it regardless what they claim. Even within T10, there might be some practicing it. For example, I know a kid last year who got in all top schools (HYPSM+Caltech+Columbia) but was rejected by Chicago.
Unfortunately, some kids are stuck in the middle with this practice. Some schools think they're too good and higher level schools think they aren't good enough. So they end up getting into neither.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In reading through the Emory, UVA and other threads, I’m speechless about what it takes for a kid to get in these days. Near perfect SAT/ ACT. 5.0+ weighted gpa. 12+ APs. Six APs in senior year (!).

I’ve read that waitlist activity is expected to be very busy as this admission season shakes out. Is it likely that incoming classes at schools like Emory, UVA and others will end up with classes composed significantly of kids with very high stats, or do you think that actual acceptances and pulling from waitlists will yield classes that are still roughly comparable to years past (i.e., impressive but not necessarily ivy level).

I also wonder if the very high stats kids are balancing out admissions for lower stat or test optional kids that may be underrepresented. Increasing underrepresented students seems to be a focus this year. Understood there is much value in that mission. I’m just trying to make sense of why, at least based on these boards, it seems to take nearly-impossible stats to get into T25 schools now (particularly when, e.g., average/75th percentile ACT at these schools seems to be about 33 - not 35).

Do you know Emory's stats from past years before you made this post?

[Anonymous]

Emory
Has a 32, 1470, 3.8/4.0 median last year For ENROLLED students. The median last year for accepted students was 1500. Emory has been hyper selective for years now, you just are now catching up.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to DCUM, where every kid is exceptional.

[Anonymous]

UVA isn’t T25. Not sure why they are included here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA isn’t T25. Not sure why they are included here.

Lol they’ve hovered around 25 for years. Presently they are 26 this year. Good catch PP - what would we do without you! That materially changes this entire thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to DCUM, where every kid is exceptional.

Exactly! It’s like on the job and money forums where everyone is a big law attorney and HHIs are easily $400+. DCUM is so out of touch from the real world that it’s laughable.

[Anonymous]

It is then”Lake Wobegon” effect of DCUM, but it is a real thing in DC. Geographic diversity matters, too. You’re competing against the other applicants from DC, not kids from Wyoming. These schools could fill their classes with high stats kids from the DMV, but they’re not going to.

[Anonymous]

Top 25 is also outdated. Top 40 is the right set.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Emory
Has a 32, 1470, 3.8/4.0 median last year For ENROLLED students. The median last year for accepted students was 1500. Emory has been hyper selective for years now, you just are now catching up.

+ 1. And their Engineering program is to die for!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Emory
Has a 32, 1470, 3.8/4.0 median last year For ENROLLED students. The median last year for accepted students was 1500. Emory has been hyper selective for years now, you just are now catching up.

+ 1. And their Engineering program is to die for!

It is. Glad you noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top 25 is also outdated. Top 40 is the right set.

UVA is top 40. UCLA, Berkeley, and Michigan are top 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA isn’t T25. Not sure why they are included here.

Ah, the UMD intern strikes again. Good catch!