Reply to Lessons learned from ED and SCEA in 2025

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

The REA was a good learning experience, and it was good to see who got in--it re-shaped 
DC's strategy, and kicked DC's butt a bit, and now the RD essays are loads better. While I'm bummed that DC didn't get at least deferred, we see the app in a different way, and [b]see a lot of the mistakes that were missed before. DC's app was excellent--well researched, well written, etc but seeing who they let in makes more sense[/b]. It was a good reality check. Added a few more targets and safeties.
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Can you share what were the mistakes and what kind of candidates made more sense as accepts? Thanks [/quote]

Now that we've completed the RDs, a few thoughts.

One of the eye opening things is the reality of absolute numbers versus percentages.  College acceptance rates, etc are often listed as a percentage.  And the DMV is filled with lots of "top 5% in the country" type folks.  So we think "maybe, a top school" bc DCs top 1%.  BUT in looking at the common data set (highly recommend), 6% is actually (making this up) 1200 people admitted. And in REA that might be 600 people--and then 300 of them are of the other gender.  So that's like 300 students of one gender.  So asking the question, is my kid one of the top 6 students in VA? No, no my DC is not.  But when you see the REA admission as 10% it feels like you have more of a chance. I had head knowledge of this, before a rejection REA, but it sunk in in a new way.
So, we added 2 schools to the list after that. Wanted to make sure we had a smaller private school, to go with all the public school safeties--something that had qualities DC liked in REA school.

Another lesson learned: I'm guessing on this lesson.  We took for granted that bc DC has excellent stats at TJ, that the app could focus on the other characteristics that one might not assume true. Listed academic stuff but essentially focused on the ECs, character traits, community service, etc. The folks who got in from TJ are super, super techy (and also have leadership, community etc.  Like I said, it was humbling).

The RD apps are going strong on the academic chops, research, big words. AND also trying to portray a thoughtful, insightful, community member.

I always thought that character counts--and I think that's true.  But at these highly rejective schools, academic chops is the new SAT 1550 (score to get in, to then be considered on the other characteristics).

Much of this is stuff I was told before, but it didn't stick. This side of REA, I understand it better.

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