I remember reading last year on Ivy accept day...over 250,000 kids got rejected from Ivy league schools today (mine included)

Even in the best of circumstances, your DD would have a 4-5% chance of admittance. It is no reflection of your DD or any other applicant, it is just raw numbers.

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a senior at a big 3 and is interested in HYP. 35 ACT, 3.9 unweighted most rigorous classes. No hook, but has played an instrument since first grade (no awards). We're full pay and she's thinking women's/gender studies . Chances? We are making her come up with some safeties but she has her heart set on HYP.

Is she checking that just to make it easier to get in? You don’t have to bow to your kid’s every whim. I say no to my kid whenever and wherever I feel like it. No way I’d allow “gender studies.”

I'd have her apply to HYPs - but also have fall backs.

HYP are very different schools. In fact, Yale students may not even like Harvard, and vice versa. What is the student's interest in HYP other than the prestige?

Anonymous wrote:Why does she have her heart set on hyp? Does she realize they astr very different schools from each other? Seems like she wants a brand rather than anything specifically about these schools. What's her passion? If she can't answer it and show it, then she's not getting in.

Thanks for the replies. As for why HYP, that's a good question. I definitely think there is a brand component to it, although she would say otherwise. We went to strong schools but not Ivies, so it isn't about legacy. She has been talking to her counselor, and we're hopeful those conversations will help DD focus on fit AND find other options where she could be happy.

She has to expand it.

She can add Wellesley to her list.

Lottery baby. There are thousands of her across the country. They fill l the sports recruits and then the URM spots and then the VIP spots and then the mega donor spots and then the more influential legacy spots and then the spots from every state in the country spots and then the full pay international slots and finally they have the bulk of their applicants — the large metro competitive spots like DC to fill the remaining spots.

Tell her she’s very deserving of the spot as it is practically everyone else who applies. So don’t feel bad if you don’t get in and just feel lucky if you do

Anonymous wrote:3.9 at a big three is a very high gpa.

Except there are 7,000 applications woth the same GPA some coming from the same school.

I got into to every school I applied to and rejected from Stanford. It wasn't even the most competitive on my list. Found out later that they took 3 other people from my school in early decision (binding at the time) so would not take additional students from my school.

Why does she have her heart set on hyp? Does she realize they astr very different schools from each other? Seems like she wants a brand rather than anything specifically about these schools. What's her passion? If she can't answer it and show it, then she's not getting in.

3.9 at a big three is a very high gpa.

Anonymous wrote:It's a total crapshoot, honestly.

This, although would help if she had something other than grades and an instrument. Ask your school college counselor. And find some backups you all love.

It's a total crapshoot, honestly.

My DD is a senior at a big 3 and is interested in HYP. 35 ACT, 3.9 unweighted most rigorous classes. No hook, but has played an instrument since first grade (no awards). We're full pay and she's thinking women's/gender studies . Chances? We are making her come up with some safeties but she has her heart set on HYP.