Anonymous
10/08/2025 11:49
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for 1520, SAT, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Poli sci is the one major where I think it is critically important to consider in advance how they want to use that degree and how they can get related internships. Geography is more important than prestige in my opinion.
Anonymous
10/08/2025 11:09
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
The usual problem with high stats kids is that the actual targets feel like they should be safeties, and almost are, but yield protect or whatnot. And then most schools on the list will be reaches.
Reaches, Georgetown (big reach), plus any other top schools of interest that are not HYPS. Other T20 to T50s, yes, have some on the list. Which ones depends on what types of schools interest your kid - large public? Michigan. Nerdy mid-size? Tufts. And so on.
Low target/almost safety, GWU, expect merit.
Safety, your state flagship
Reaches, Georgetown (big reach), plus any other top schools of interest that are not HYPS. Other T20 to T50s, yes, have some on the list. Which ones depends on what types of schools interest your kid - large public? Michigan. Nerdy mid-size? Tufts. And so on.
Low target/almost safety, GWU, expect merit.
Safety, your state flagship
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:57
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:With a 30%+ admit rate, W&M should be on pretty much every 1500+ kid's target list. I saw someone call applying to W&M "the ne plus ultra of admit rate arbitrage" and like that a lot.
Help! I’m not sure what this means.Please explain.
Sure thing.
"arbitrage" is a fancy way of saying "taking advantage of a difference in the market's current value of something and that thing's true value"
So "admit rate arbitrage" is basically saying "this school's true value is a lot higher than where 'the market' values it … in this case, likely because USNWR or other lists over-value certain factors that don't actually impact the undergrad experience". Class size, for example, isn't given a lot of weight, but can make a big difference to a student's experience.
"ne plus ultra" is just "the ultimate" / "there's none higher".
So putting that all together, you get two claims: 1. If you compare W&M to other schools of a similar academic caliber, it's significantly easier to get into; 2. If you compare W&M to other schools in its admit rate tier, it's a significantly better school.
And then tying that back to the "looking for targets" request in this thread, it's saying "if you have a smart kid who is looking for targets, W&M should be on your list"
Omg. I love you. Thanks for both the concept, as applied to college admissions, and the explanation!
While we’re on the subject, any others you would put in this category along with W&M?
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:49
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:With a 30%+ admit rate, W&M should be on pretty much every 1500+ kid's target list. I saw someone call applying to W&M "the ne plus ultra of admit rate arbitrage" and like that a lot.
Help! I’m not sure what this means.
Sure thing.
"arbitrage" is a fancy way of saying "taking advantage of a difference in the market's current value of something and that thing's true value"
So "admit rate arbitrage" is basically saying "this school's true value is a lot higher than where 'the market' values it … in this case, likely because USNWR or other lists over-value certain factors that don't actually impact the undergrad experience". Class size, for example, isn't given a lot of weight, but can make a big difference to a student's experience.
"ne plus ultra" is just "the ultimate" / "there's none higher".
So putting that all together, you get two claims: 1. If you compare W&M to other schools of a similar academic caliber, it's significantly easier to get into; 2. If you compare W&M to other schools in its admit rate tier, it's a significantly better school.
And then tying that back to the "looking for targets" request in this thread, it's saying "if you have a smart kid who is looking for targets, W&M should be on your list"
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:47
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
I am one of the PPs -- if you are full pay, the key for your kid is not to shoot for the moon in ED. I suggest EDing at a high target. He isnt going ivy/T20 unless there is a hook somewhere.
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:43
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Visit your school counselor's office. They will inform you what would be target schools at least. You would be surprised there are some really good schools falling into target category at your specific high school.
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:40
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:Weighted GPA?, rigor? Hooked? ECs? State?
+1 GPA 4.0 weighted is not that impressive. APs or IBs? What type of high school and in a competitive state or not?
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:32
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:With a 30%+ admit rate, W&M should be on pretty much every 1500+ kid's target list. I saw someone call applying to W&M "the ne plus ultra of admit rate arbitrage" and like that a lot.
Help! I’m not sure what this means.
Please explain.
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:28
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
I would think BU, Tufts, etc. would be reasonable ED targets, but admit rates are too low to ever be considered targets or to assume admission in RD. If full pay, maybe Bates, which is a strong school that needs full-pay boys, or GWU.
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:17
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
With a 30%+ admit rate, W&M should be on pretty much every 1500+ kid's target list. I saw someone call applying to W&M "the ne plus ultra of admit rate arbitrage" and like that a lot.
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:15
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Give us 2-3 schools you think he would love.
Then give us three college qualities/traits/characteristics that are most important to him. (Anything from size to setting to lication (geographic regions and/or distance from home), to arts/sports vibes to food to “pipeline” to a particular career 😉 etc.)
From there, we can help build a list.
Then give us three college qualities/traits/characteristics that are most important to him. (Anything from size to setting to lication (geographic regions and/or distance from home), to arts/sports vibes to food to “pipeline” to a particular career 😉 etc.)
From there, we can help build a list.
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:09
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Way too little detail provided. Price? Geography? Public vs private? Etc ad nauseum.
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:08
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Public or private high school?
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:04
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
Weighted GPA?, rigor? Hooked? ECs? State?
Anonymous
10/08/2025 10:02
Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for sat 1520, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?
What are some ideas for "target schools","reach schools" for 1520, SAT, gpa 4.0, male, poli sci?