Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:once you get to a baseline, the GPA and scores don't matter.

the story is more important for reaches - what makes your kid compelling, different, memorable.

If pre-med, I'd highly suggest not to state of major pref in bio or a science - especially if Indian or asian.

What ECs? What activities? What awards? Hobbies? All more important once you reach the baseline.

OP. ECs are routine, nothing really stands out. Mostly school-related: sports, clubs, summer camps. DC wants to take time to figure out the major, but refuse to consider computer science or engineering. Not obsessed with prestige/ivy.

that's great. if a junior, i assume, what is the kid doing this summer? how is the kid in humanities classes? has kid connected with any teachers for LOR? if so, what subject? what are favorite classes? any academic outside of school hobbies?

OP here. Yes, junior. Went to a selective stem camp last summer. But our school counselor said that summer camps are not that helpful in college process though it's great for personal growth. She suggested making an impact. We have no clue how to do that. Probably will spend the junior summer volunteering or an internship.

Balanced stem/humanities classes, worst grades in humanities are B+. Recommendation would be from math and science teachers. Favorites are biology/chemistry. Founded a school club related to environmental science.

No, no academic outside, meaning no math/science competition.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were there any issues in the classroom? I know all schools are different but 1590 isn't commensurate with "top 20%".

It's very typical at top privates. Average SAT is 1530 for my current senior's class and average GPA is 3.55. That puts a lot of kids >1550 with far from perfect GPAs.

He probably is set up for the most competitive schools tbh. Sounds like our private.
Mine went to Cornell in RD.

There's a lot of good advice here. I'd use search too. Not that many people around these days.

Anonymous wrote:Were there any issues in the classroom? I know all schools are different but 1590 isn't commensurate with "top 20%".

It's very typical at top privates. Average SAT is 1530 for my current senior's class and average GPA is 3.55. That puts a lot of kids >1550 with far from perfect GPAs.

Anonymous wrote:private no ranking no weight, highest rigor math/stem. UW gpa guessing in the top 20%, but definitely not tippy top if not weighted.
What would be good reach schools? DC does not like large universities in general, a medium/small size university or a LAC would work. Undecided major potentially premed. Unhooked full pay.

look at your Naviance or scoir data for where kids with that gpa and score tend to go.
non-dmv rigorous private?
depending on activities, might be able to get into a WASP....with the right major choice.
work on brag sheets for LOR this spring (search on here for tips).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:once you get to a baseline, the GPA and scores don't matter.

the story is more important for reaches - what makes your kid compelling, different, memorable.

If pre-med, I'd highly suggest not to state of major pref in bio or a science - especially if Indian or asian.

What ECs? What activities? What awards? Hobbies? All more important once you reach the baseline.

OP. ECs are routine, nothing really stands out. Mostly school-related: sports, clubs, summer camps. DC wants to take time to figure out the major, but refuse to consider computer science or engineering. Not obsessed with prestige/ivy.

that's great. if a junior, i assume, what is the kid doing this summer? how is the kid in humanities classes? has kid connected with any teachers for LOR? if so, what subject? what are favorite classes? any academic outside of school hobbies?

Anonymous wrote:once you get to a baseline, the GPA and scores don't matter.

the story is more important for reaches - what makes your kid compelling, different, memorable.

If pre-med, I'd highly suggest not to state of major pref in bio or a science - especially if Indian or asian.

What ECs? What activities? What awards? Hobbies? All more important once you reach the baseline.

OP. ECs are routine, nothing really stands out. Mostly school-related: sports, clubs, summer camps. DC wants to take time to figure out the major, but refuse to consider computer science or engineering. Not obsessed with prestige/ivy.

Anonymous wrote:There was an old thread on here - but was locked or deleted - on a TJ kid whose profile was reviewed on a podcast - former Yale AO I think.

Eye-opening how brutal the process is.

Indeed, that podcast was brutal, but worth noting that the speakers were former AOs-turned-admissions consultants selling their services. They were not impartial, disinterested, fact reporters. See, e.g., the recent threads about "research" (which, to be clear, no one needs for top college admissions).

Were there any issues in the classroom? I know all schools are different but 1590 isn't commensurate with "top 20%".

This is a major, a lot of science, but also strong in humanities kids often try to declare:

https://anthropology.stanford.edu/research/medical-anthropology

https://anthropology.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/career-paths/medical.html

https://anthropology.yale.edu/undergraduate-program/undergraduate-concentration/concentration-in-medical-anthropology-and-global

For CS, think a tier below what you think is a high reach unless there is something amazing about the student.

There was an old thread on here - but was locked or deleted - on a TJ kid whose profile was reviewed on a podcast - former Yale AO I think.

Eye-opening how brutal the process is.

SAT doesn’t really make that much difference at the tip top schools, in that they still weigh gpa and relative class rank higher. If you want to chase merit at less competitive schools, those test scores will help, although merit likely to be much less available next cycle given Trump’s attack on universities.

once you get to a baseline, the GPA and scores don't matter.

the story is more important for reaches - what makes your kid compelling, different, memorable.

If pre-med, I'd highly suggest not to state of major pref in bio or a science - especially if Indian or asian.

What ECs? What activities? What awards? Hobbies? All more important once you reach the baseline.

Any mid size university or LAC with an acceptance rate under 25% would be a reach.

private no ranking no weight, highest rigor math/stem. UW gpa guessing in the top 20%, but definitely not tippy top if not weighted.
What would be good reach schools? DC does not like large universities in general, a medium/small size university or a LAC would work. Undecided major potentially premed. Unhooked full pay.