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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This year tough for our school. My own was shot down ED1 & 2/ top 20 which seemed like an authentic fit. MCPS public. SAT 1530, 3.9 UW/4.6W. Great EC's & leadership with real impact but no national award or "spike".  Est. rank 10 % of class. Going for less popular major. A few published articles locally. Worked with experienced college coach. 12 AP's (a few 4s, mostly 5s). Summer job 3 summers.  Would have been happy at UVA, Michigan, Wash U, Vanderbilt (I know a unicorn), Florida, Austin. Full pay. Most likely above average recs based on counselor feedback.  Good handful of friend group/ similar stats in same boat. Obviously some are getting in but the ones that did have that something special. Would love to hear if there are other kids with similar normal stats getting into top 20s this year. Especially from public. Too many of them with similar stats? [/quote]

You need something different, unique, quirky or standout.

How can you answer the question Why me - and not my 5 peers? Something should standout.

Sometimes it’s in LOR, EC; awards. But it has to be something. The major isn’t enough.

Where are you waiting to hear from?[/quote]

I think this is accurate.

In case this framing is helpful: If we took stats out of the picture entirely, what does the applicant look like? They need to have a hook / meet an institutional priority / be very interesting or exceptional or compelling without regard to/beyond stats.

For whatever it's worth, mine has similar stats, unhooked. Denied at Stanford, in at Michigan.

What's (mostly) the same: MCPS, not a W school. 4.0 GPA, 1540 SAT, some solid, impactful but very local normal EC's. Lots of APs (but fewer, mixed with IB and DE classes)

What's different: 4.95 weighted, so a bit more rigor perhaps. All 5's on AP's. Some through DE coursework, i.e. beyond what was offered that their school. The other X factor for Michigan was a very unique Michigan-specific "why us" essay.

I hope our students all do well in the RD round, but tbh in 2026 these are solid t50 profiles, but reaches for t20. 
[/quote]

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