Reply to Yale breaks own record with # of applications for 2016

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Me too -- interviewing for a different HYPS.  Nice kids, reasonably intelligent, but many don't seem to stand out in any way.  Could they do the work at an HYPS?  Probably -- it's just not that hard to get a B at these schools.  Would you find any reason to pull them out of a pile in which they look like 5K other applicants?  No.

So maybe it's not zip codes but different definitions of what constitutes a "no hope" application.[/quote]

Just out of curiosity, what is the difference for you between a standard candidate who could do the work but is otherwise "meh" and one that stands out as some who would be admitted? [/quote]

Before I answer, let me rephrase your question slightly -- I think it makes more sense to talk about candidates who "could" or "might" be admitted rather than "would" be admitted.  I'm not sure that what separates the serious contenders from the admittees relates to differences in the applicants' credentials rather than the demographics of particular applicant pools (or institutional priorities) in particular years.

The short answer is that the kids who stand out are ones who do something interesting and obviously meaningful to them.  They've charted their own course to some extent, and are able to articulate how and why.  [b]Basically, they come across as thoughtful kids who know what they want, who want something distinctive, and who think creatively/intelligently/strategically about how to get from here to there. [/b] At the HYPS level, doing everything you're supposed to do and doing it very, very well generally won't be enough to get you in.  You need something else going for you that sets you apart (which won't always be the attributes I've described above -- could be full-pay legacy from a trusted school with the best teacher recs that year).

[/quote]
One of my DCs is a B+, 2000 SAT, student who is presently at an Ivy.  What set DC apart was the musicianship (not a string player...millions of those) and a dozen of years crafting the art and playing in philharmonics and symphonies.  Summertime committed to the same.  No sports, no STEM.  This is what stood out and accepted to three Ivies and six other non-Ivies.  Denied at none. No way was DC going to 'compete' with the sports and STEM kids.  Nor the 2400 SAT and 36 SAT scorers.  Nor the kids with 25 AP courses and discoverers of cancer.

DC went with their own person solid and committed strength.  That is what got my DC in.[/quote]It's called passion.[/quote]

Actually, sometimes it's called purposeful practice -- which is seen as key to mastery in (m)any field(s).  Passion without persistence/discipline/focus/work ethic is less compelling.  (So's work ethic without passion -- but that may be harder to detect at this age!). Ideally, you're looking for both.[/quote]

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