Reply to If every kid is doing the same damn EC

Forum Index » College and University Discussion

Reply to "If every kid is doing the same damn EC"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How did yours stand out?
Grade inflation, mid range test scores, no test scores. Don't most seniors seem the "same?"[/quote]

One stands out by having one of the top 3 GPA’s in the grade, and taking the hardest classes in all 5 core areas, and having 1550+. The counselor letters of these kids will say the top this year or top few, based on gpa and rigor. If the kids are nice helpful fellow students who participate in class and enjoy learning, the teacher recs will be stand-out. If they are really a good writer the essays will be unique and have a voice and only need a proofread. The ECs can be average but this type of kid is not average: they usually have many years spent on writing or volunteering or music, plus they love that or some different activity so much they have leadership in it, and likely some awards because they have spent time getting good at it. 
Read MIT applying sideways. True standouts find a way to stand out; parents don’t need to help navigate the process. If your kid is not naturally a top kid, they are not getting into an ivy/elite unless they are hooked. [/quote]

i think it depends on what you mean as elite?
i know lots of kids who weren't top 3 (AT ALL), some TO, all with amazing ECs though and stellar essays (and great recs) from our private who got into schools like:
Duke, Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Michigan, USC, Emory, WashU

I think coming from a "feeder" private school helps for some colleges tbh. But it does also depend on luck (how many hooked kids from HS are applying that year etc). Be flexible with your REA/ED choices.[/quote]

Private schools particularly feeder schools are more holistic.  Kids are basically grouped into three levels by their grades, top, middle, bottom.  The bottom ones are usually nepo babies and academically non-performing.  For the top 1/3, holistic process, you will then look at their test scores, and ECs.  In our school it doesn't appear there are many doing crazy ECs.  Mostly school related clubs and varsity.  [/quote]

Same at our private.

But this is the critical difference btw public and private high schools.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics