Anonymous wrote:Intense? Yikes My kid was that profile is at an Ivy. Not an intense kid but academically, motivated. Doesn’t like intense. He’s a kind, sweet kid. Didn’t ED or REA anywhere.

Nobody can tell you. My kid had the same grades and stats as other friends, but he was the only one in the group to get accepted to multiple T10/20 schools and I could not tell you why. Unhooked. Typical kid- job, sports, ecs. He usually has bad luck so it was a surprise.

It really becomes a lottery at the T10/20s. Every kid has those stats and similar activities.

He just applied where he thought he would like to go. He had no clear first choice so didn’t want to ED.

Humanities or social science major? That matters. Otherwise, probably just a likeable kid who wrote nice essays and had glowing recs. People tend to underestimate the value of plain old likability in the application process. Even elite colleges prefer to admit nice kids they think will be a positive presence on campus.

Anonymous wrote:1550 is not considered high.

It is top 1%, higher than any of your children and very high. It also only goes so far because people really don’t understand that academics are a critical but single part of what admissions at top schools look for.

Anonymous wrote:1550 is not considered high.

Ffs, of course it is. No school cares about 1600 vs. 1550 SAT or 36 vs. 35 ACT. High test scores are just a baseline. Elite schools care about max rigor, GPA, ECs, essays, and recs, within the larger frame of institutional priorities (athletes, geographic and ethnic diversity etc.). Pursuing a less saturated major is a big plus. Loads of high-achieving kids in CS/engineering shut out of T-10.

Critically important is how you compare to your class. DC was at a magnet filled with high stats kids. Top 5% (known due to Governor's award) but, unhooked, did not feel their ECs and narrative were quite strong enough for HYPS and not enamored of any other T-10s. ED'd to a WASP and very happy. I will say a 4.5 would not have been close to top 5% at their school. DC graduated with a 4.97 weighted.

Anonymous wrote:This is not super high stat.

Nonsense

Intense? Yikes My kid was that profile is at an Ivy. Not an intense kid but academically, motivated. Doesn’t like intense. He’s a kind, sweet kid. Didn’t ED or REA anywhere.

Nobody can tell you. My kid had the same grades and stats as other friends, but he was the only one in the group to get accepted to multiple T10/20 schools and I could not tell you why. Unhooked. Typical kid- job, sports, ecs. He usually has bad luck so it was a surprise.

It really becomes a lottery at the T10/20s. Every kid has those stats and similar activities.

He just applied where he thought he would like to go. He had no clear first choice so didn’t want to ED.

50/50 wherever you apply that has an acceptance rate at 14% or less.

Anonymous wrote:MCPS 2023, 4.0,4.8, 1590, NMSF, CS and Math major
Rejected - MIT, CMU,
Waitlisted - UIUC
Accepted with merit - UMD (attending), UVA, UMBC
Accepted no merit - UMich, GTech

Your kid got the Jefferson at UVA?
They don't give merit otherwise.

Nobody can really predict how it will go with the reaches. You need solid safeties and targets. At my kid’s school a few kids with this profile got into reaches and many more dud not. Make sure the list covers all bases.

MCPS 2023, 4.0,4.8, 1590, NMSF, CS and Math major
Rejected - MIT, CMU,
Waitlisted - UIUC
Accepted with merit - UMD (attending), UVA, UMBC
Accepted no merit - UMich, GTech

Just high stats will not get your kid into the super selective colleges. They need a story or outstanding ECs/awards AND a lot of good luck if they are unhooked.

Wise of you to check before kid finalizes list.

Two kids with this profile. Both accepted to top 30-50 with lots of merit.

NOVA 2023, 3.98/4.5, 1560, NMSF, CS major
Rejected: Penn, Harvard
Waitlist: NEU, UVA
Accepted w/merit: UMD (attending), BU, Lehigh, CWRU, Ohio St., Minnesota
Accepted no merit: WM, Pitt

1550 is not considered high.

This is not super high stat.

It appears that it is harder to get into college than when we all applied. But what about for the very high stats kids?

Can some of you please share how it went for your child who went through the process if your kid was max rigor, 1550 plus, top grades, great but not national award winning extracurricular.

My child is having trouble finishing up their college lists and part of the reason is we really just have no idea how it will all go with the reach schools. We also don't know what school is "worth" taking your shot early. This child will be happiest with an intense, highly academic crowd.