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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Guess we should just be thankful to have gotten into UMD but not gonna lie, UVA and ED Vanderbilt rejection hurt. I get it you need a hook, but caption of 2 varsity sports, close to perfect grades 35 ACT and class President. It seemed like he lowered the bar to not apply to IVY but wow, kid is super depressed. [/quote]

I am really sorry to read this.  My kid is in a similar boat.  I am trying very hard to stay upbeat and absorb his stress so he can be happy.  Secretly, I am very worried for him.[/quote]

This is because many schools (both "elite" publics and privates) have not come to terms with the reality of college acceptances in the past few years. It's been moving in this direction for decades, but it's the frog in the boiling water scenario, so not noticed, at least not until the pandemic and test optional changed the numbers of applications flooding into USNWR top rated colleges.

The US population has grown exponentially, yet the number of "elite" colleges in the US has remained roughly the same over the past century. Getting into the top (HYPSM-level) schools IS a lottery, no question. Grade and test inflation have lead kids to believe they're "qualified" for these T20 schools, leaving them incredibly disappointed when they don't win the lottery and get accepted. Many Ivies and SLACs now accept less than 5% of their applicants. There is simply no way a child with perfect grades and test scores and great ECs is "guaranteed" admittance to any USNWR "top" school these days.

I don't know why college counselors don't explain this to parents and kids. It's all about numbers. Drop down in the USNWR rankings, and your child will go to a great school and get a fantastic education. There's no need to feel disappointed that your child is going to Tulane instead of Princeton! Both are great colleges! Your kid will be happy and do fine! 2+2=4 at CC and Harvard, don't forget.

Try to reassure your child, PPs. All their hard work is NOT in vain because they didn't get into their "dream" prestigious college. My DH went to a no-name college, and he makes 10 times what I make, and I went to a HYPSM college. None of this elite college crap matters in the long run. Try to convince your child of that if you can.

[/quote]

Very nicely put.[/quote]
Yes! +1000

All of the people lamenting how their near-perfect stats kid didn't get in and "what does it take?!!!" simply don't understand the math. As a country we are producing far more top-caliber students than we did just 20 years ago. People need to stop thinking Ivy or T20 or the world has ended. T50 and state flagships are so much stronger than they used to be precisely because there isn't enough room at the "top" for all of the talented students. Anyone bemoaning "only" getting into UMD Honors needs to rethink their perspective. There is a reason why UMD has gotten so hard to get into and more programs have become limited enrollment. UMD has been enrolling top talent for 10 years and just gets stronger each year. Same thing for other state flagships. And while top students are so focused on their woes, they have overlooked that the glut of amazing students at state flagships has made those schools harder for above average students to get into. Those students are now filling second tier state schools, raising the caliber there. People may sneer at UMBC, but that program has grown much stronger over the past 10 years precisely because of the trickle down of more talented students who can't fit into the higher ranked schools.

Ranking may stay the same, but a rising tide floats all boats. Education has gotten stronger across the board. [/quote]

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