Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 09:16     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
I think so, but I also think some of the pp’s are a little optimistic (ie, Brown is a plausible reach but not that likely).
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 09:13     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know where connected/legacy/big donors’ kids go. How about academic superstars who are unconnected and full pay with top teachers’ recs? This is a kid loved by teachers in the toughest most advanced subjects, asked to be TA where 95% of classes don’t have a student TA, who has 3.9 GPA where no one gets a 4.0. Otherwise unconnected, no sport, not URM, nothing special ECs (head of robotics club, part-time job type stuff). We know it won’t be Ivies, Stanford, MIT, but where? School sends at least 20% to top 10 schools each year, 50% to top 25; we imagine they are mostly legacy.


Sounds like stem (robotics)? If so, that will make it harder - but aim for an ED to a Northwestern/JHU/Brown/Cornell level school.
ED2 UChicago or top SLAC?

Apply where others aren’t.
Highlight that part-time job if long term.
Assume some volunteering? If not, do something robotic/volunteering with peers/younger kids this summer (good for essays too).
Outside hobbies/interests?


Not planning to apply to Engineering. Most likely will major in chemistry or biochemistry or applied math with an English minor (a great writer)


Depending on where your private high feeds, Penn and Duke are the best fit for this kid. JHU is another option, being very strong in English and Bio.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 09:13     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
OP here. Based on what I read have heard/read in terms of campus culture and academic focus, I think she may be a good fit at schools like Rice, Brown, Pomona/Harvey Mudd. Are those realistic reaches?
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 09:10     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
Anonymous wrote:I know where connected/legacy/big donors’ kids go. How about academic superstars who are unconnected and full pay with top teachers’ recs? This is a kid loved by teachers in the toughest most advanced subjects, asked to be TA where 95% of classes don’t have a student TA, who has 3.9 GPA where no one gets a 4.0. Otherwise unconnected, no sport, not URM, nothing special ECs (head of robotics club, part-time job type stuff). We know it won’t be Ivies, Stanford, MIT, but where? School sends at least 20% to top 10 schools each year, 50% to top 25; we imagine they are mostly legacy.


Not sure but please be careful of that chip on your shoulder.

Also, I don't see why this kid won't get into the schools you want him to.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 09:09     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
The top kids at privates all seem to land at top 10 schools even if unhooked.

To increase chances, apply to an ED school but make sure she really wants it.

Honestly, there very few female FRC robotics captains outside all girls’ schools…and few all girls’ schools compete in FRC. That actually will stand out if the team competes well.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 09:08     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know where connected/legacy/big donors’ kids go. How about academic superstars who are unconnected and full pay with top teachers’ recs? This is a kid loved by teachers in the toughest most advanced subjects, asked to be TA where 95% of classes don’t have a student TA, who has 3.9 GPA where no one gets a 4.0. Otherwise unconnected, no sport, not URM, nothing special ECs (head of robotics club, part-time job type stuff). We know it won’t be Ivies, Stanford, MIT, but where? School sends at least 20% to top 10 schools each year, 50% to top 25; we imagine they are mostly legacy.


Sounds like stem (robotics)? If so, that will make it harder - but aim for an ED to a Northwestern/JHU/Brown/Cornell level school.
ED2 UChicago or top SLAC?

Apply where others aren’t.
Highlight that part-time job if long term.
Assume some volunteering? If not, do something robotic/volunteering with peers/younger kids this summer (good for essays too).
Outside hobbies/interests?


Hobbies are basic teen stuff like knitting, painting, writing. Has won a couple small (state level) writing competitions. Has done long term volunteering at again basic places like meals on wheels and an urban farm. Cares about food insecurity and the climate. Wants to major in chemistry to do research on renewable plastics
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 09:03     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know where connected/legacy/big donors’ kids go. How about academic superstars who are unconnected and full pay with top teachers’ recs? This is a kid loved by teachers in the toughest most advanced subjects, asked to be TA where 95% of classes don’t have a student TA, who has 3.9 GPA where no one gets a 4.0. Otherwise unconnected, no sport, not URM, nothing special ECs (head of robotics club, part-time job type stuff). We know it won’t be Ivies, Stanford, MIT, but where? School sends at least 20% to top 10 schools each year, 50% to top 25; we imagine they are mostly legacy.


Sounds like stem (robotics)? If so, that will make it harder - but aim for an ED to a Northwestern/JHU/Brown/Cornell level school.
ED2 UChicago or top SLAC?

Apply where others aren’t.
Highlight that part-time job if long term.
Assume some volunteering? If not, do something robotic/volunteering with peers/younger kids this summer (good for essays too).
Outside hobbies/interests?


Not planning to apply to Engineering. Most likely will major in chemistry or biochemistry or applied math with an English minor (a great writer)
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 09:01     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
Anonymous wrote:In NYC, the lowest rank for this kid is Cornell. If this kid is the class president, then Stanford is possible at our school (but no sports is very very rare in private schools, do you mean not recruitable?). HYP are far reaches. Top 10 other than HYPMCaltech are possible.


Yes she is in a varsity sport but not a recruited athlete. Well liked by teammates and coaches but performance wise, probably bottom half of the team.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 08:53     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
Sounds just like a kid I know. He didn’t get into HYP but did to UVA, UNC, Georgetown and UChicago.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 08:47     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
Anonymous wrote:I know where connected/legacy/big donors’ kids go. How about academic superstars who are unconnected and full pay with top teachers’ recs? This is a kid loved by teachers in the toughest most advanced subjects, asked to be TA where 95% of classes don’t have a student TA, who has 3.9 GPA where no one gets a 4.0. Otherwise unconnected, no sport, not URM, nothing special ECs (head of robotics club, part-time job type stuff). We know it won’t be Ivies, Stanford, MIT, but where? School sends at least 20% to top 10 schools each year, 50% to top 25; we imagine they are mostly legacy.


Sounds like stem (robotics)? If so, that will make it harder - but aim for an ED to a Northwestern/JHU/Brown/Cornell level school.
ED2 UChicago or top SLAC?

Apply where others aren’t.
Highlight that part-time job if long term.
Assume some volunteering? If not, do something robotic/volunteering with peers/younger kids this summer (good for essays too).
Outside hobbies/interests?
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 08:45     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
In NYC, the lowest rank for this kid is Cornell. If this kid is the class president, then Stanford is possible at our school (but no sports is very very rare in private schools, do you mean not recruitable?). HYP are far reaches. Top 10 other than HYPMCaltech are possible.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 08:36     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
They go to top in-state public universities.

In VA, this can be tricky because VT Engineering, UVa, or W&M admissions sometimes feel like a lottery.

In MD, admission to some specific programs (examples: CS, Engineering) also can feel like a lottery.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 08:34     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
“Feeder private”

🙄
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 08:30     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
No one can answer this question, especially this year when we have no idea what colleges are going to do in this tumultous Trump situation. Some colleges could decide to admit a lot more full pay students. Some could decide to admit a lot more top academic students. Some could decide to admit a lot of FGLI and try to stick it to Trump, endowments be dammed. The only option is to apply broadly and see what happens. My guess is that your kid will have a lot of good choices next year.

Anonymous
Post 06/08/2025 08:19     Subject: Where do unconnected, top academic kids from a feeder private go to college?
I know where connected/legacy/big donors’ kids go. How about academic superstars who are unconnected and full pay with top teachers’ recs? This is a kid loved by teachers in the toughest most advanced subjects, asked to be TA where 95% of classes don’t have a student TA, who has 3.9 GPA where no one gets a 4.0. Otherwise unconnected, no sport, not URM, nothing special ECs (head of robotics club, part-time job type stuff). We know it won’t be Ivies, Stanford, MIT, but where? School sends at least 20% to top 10 schools each year, 50% to top 25; we imagine they are mostly legacy.