Anonymous wrote:crazy the shift at my DCs private in terms of priorities. Seems like a palpable shift from DCs older sister, where her friend group all wanted ivies or bust. DC friend group seems to prioritize the “experience” and a fun good weather vibe. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked, but Duke and Vandy out in front of every school save HYPSM in terms of interest. Vandy resurgence in football and basketball not hurting - just flipped on espn and party scene at SEC bball finals in Nashville, Vandy kids living the life according to my DC. sigh

Maybe this applies to Vandy but Duke has been on par with everyone other than HYPSM for a long time - that is nothing new. Vandy has definitely moved up in the world.

I turned down Ivies for Duke 30+ years ago. And I had many other classmates who did as well. Some even turned down HYPSM but I am not dumb enough to think that is normal - those schools would win the vast majority of the head-to-heads then and now.

Being hot is the most important thing you can be

Everything else in life is downstream of that

Schools that help maximize your hotness naturally will rise in this environment

College admissions is getting so effed up, some kids are seeing that no matter how hard they work, they won’t get into the schools they want. So why not at least have a good time?

I was a ooor single mother kid from Chicago and chose Duke on athletic scholarship because it was a beautiful place far different than my neighborhood in Chicago. I was a diligent student and found the honors program in my major to be very rigorous. I was entirely on my own financially so Duke was not an enjoyable place in any way for me socially. That was acceptable - first priority was athletics to keep the scholarship followed by academics- I was lucky and Duke delivered unreal social mobility for me. Certainly enough challenge for me, too. My daughters went to Princeton and through observation I thought it was very rigorous and difficult. My impression was that it was a touch more challenging (just a touch) than Duke. This is an entirely anecdotal observation though so it shouldn’t be given much weight. With the schools being discussed, education is what you make of it.

Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.

I don’t think Vandy academics are as good as an Ivy. Duke, NW, Rice, Hopkins, CalTech, Chicago, MIT, yes.

Honestly, Vandy was far more popular at our private pre covid when its admission standards were more predictable. Much less interest in ED there now that admissions focus more on “extracurriculars” than stats, and there are clear cases of families buying their way in. YMMV.

Duke, on the other hand, is perennially popular but a very tough admit if not at one of their preferred high schools.

Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.

I agree with your comments on the academics. There are many schools with undergraduate academics just as strong as the Ivies.

However, the increased interest in the Southern schools isn't happening at the expense of elite NE schools. This is easy to see because applications at top NE schools aren't dropping in any significant manner as the applications to the Southern schools goes up. and, those getting into elite NE schools are far more likely to choose them over Southern schools. It is nice to see Vandy, Rice, and Duke get the recognition that they deserve but to think that they are in any way being favored relative to top NE schools is naive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The TikTok effect when it comes to college admissions is very real.

Yes, the dumbing down of our culture. The true academics aren’t wooed by sports and weather as a deciding factor. That being said, I see the appeal for less serious that want more balance. Spots and Greek life/parties aren’t everyone’s chosen fun though. I’d say the top students still want the usual suspects at our school.

I would argue that most of you “Ivy or bust” types are the true flag-bearers for the dumbing down of our culture. Easy marks, from the day you were born.

It's known that success in major sports drives college apps. That explains Vanderbilt completely. No need to even bring up TikTok.

DMV is a meeting ground for Northerners and Southerners.

I grew up in California and moved to MoCo in 7th grade. That was when I first ran into kids who were Duke fans. Duke still is somewhat regional. Which is not an insult. Even Harvard is.

I am not surprised that DMV kids are interested in Duke.

Dc private name?

Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.

Anonymous wrote:The TikTok effect when it comes to college admissions is very real.

Yes, the dumbing down of our culture. The true academics aren’t wooed by sports and weather as a deciding factor. That being said, I see the appeal for less serious that want more balance. Spots and Greek life/parties aren’t everyone’s chosen fun though. I’d say the top students still want the usual suspects at our school.

The TikTok effect when it comes to college admissions is very real.

I mean, yes why not why not have a good college experience also at a reputable school and enjoy sports and good weather.

when you look back on your college days isn’t it mostly about the good times you had less about the actual academic classes?

Both of my kids picked that and both extremely happy with their choices

crazy the shift at my DCs private in terms of priorities. Seems like a palpable shift from DCs older sister, where her friend group all wanted ivies or bust. DC friend group seems to prioritize the “experience” and a fun good weather vibe. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked, but Duke and Vandy out in front of every school save HYPSM in terms of interest. Vandy resurgence in football and basketball not hurting - just flipped on espn and party scene at SEC bball finals in Nashville, Vandy kids living the life according to my DC. sigh