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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I knew someone who was only accepted to their in-state engineering school, and one waitlist. So, no, not a shut out, but they aimed way to high and only targeted top schools with the most generous aid. In retrospect, there probably would have been a competitive offer from schools in a lower tier, because grades and scores were near perfect. But truth is he continued to be the top scorer in college, but not a star. Wasn't selected for the coop program, and didn't get internships along the way. Has no work experience but is now doing a masters at UCLA.[/quote]

I mean...things could be worse.[/quote]

Agree. It will all work out and it's the correct path. He's super studious and hard working, but needs the extra credential to make that clear. Just in retrospect I don't think the top schools that rejected him, got it that wrong. The HS friend who came in second on everything is the one who went to MIT.[/quote]

This kid would have been fine at the top schools and is now presumably fine at a top grad school. Schools that rejected him didn’t get anything right or wrong. They selected a different kid for a limited spot. Admissions committees don’t actually know these kids or their ultimate capacity; their decisions are a reflection of the school’s agenda and not the kids. [/quote]

He would have been able to hack it anywhere, and potentially would have benefited from a more sophisticated setting, but he wouldn't have added much. Admissions didn't know this, but with hindsight they didn't get it wrong. He had perfect grades and his own university, who should know him, but still didn't select him for special programs. There are plenty of people who are smart and hard working but unremarkable. He's probably a late bloomer, and the masters will be the time he needs to transition into the workplace at a level he will find rewarding. Point is mistakes were made and everything went wrong with the process. He aimed way to high, only applied to prestigious schools with engineering and generous aid. As fallback took the one available option, which was at least affordable, but now is paying for an expensive grad school and struggling a little with the transition.[/quote]

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