Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 10:47     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
It is sometimes possible to figure out what a school is looking for, at which point it becomes much less of a lottery. My child was particularly good at an art, and I read so many results on College Confidential (this was a few years ago) I figured out which schools were looking for what she was good at. She was accepted to both but chose to go elsewhere.
I recently stumbled across a kid’s college reaction video and realized he was good at the same specialty. As such, I was able to predict all of his results before he opened them - got it 100% right.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 09:49     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
That’s what makes the RD pool so much more competitive. Many strong kids are applying to a wide range of unlikely schools. Who cares about fit when you can’t figure out how you fit without a hook. It’s a numbers game if you are willing to put the time into the apps. I mean real time, not just cursory essays. My kid got in ED to a Top20 but I think she would have a very hard time RD. She got in unhooked which I contribute to luck. Yes, she worked hard, she can do well but so can many kids who were deferred or rejected. Good luck to everyone in this Hunger Game.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 08:49     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:Yup. If you are keen on top 20 and did not succeed w ED, this is what it comes down to. The process sucks.


Exactly. Now you’re forced to shotgun.
26 applications in already here.

Was told by CCO to throw in 4 more with Jan 8-15 deadlines this weekend.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 08:35     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Yup. If you are keen on top 20 and did not succeed w ED, this is what it comes down to. The process sucks.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 02:44     Subject: Re:Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:1550 / 3.9 GPA - rejected in ED round.

Total ~30 Colleges

10 focused with will written essays
10 mix of safety & target where essays are not required, such as Middleburry, Colby etc
10 additional target/ reach where the essays are being recycled

Avoiding colleges that don't favor test scores.

You and your son consider Middlebury and Colby to be a target/safety? I’m assuming these 30 apps are mainly for RD? No wonder he needs to apply to 30 schools!
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 02:16     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
When is the high school population on the down trend? Was that 2025? I can't recall.

I don't think TO is the only problem but it's certainly a real piece of the puzzle.

Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 01:11     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Here is a simple (non-original, I think) idea: One single application. Students rank schools based on their preferences. Schools rank students based on their own reading of the files. A matching algorithm does the match. Done.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 22:06     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:Test optional admissions certainly contributed mightily, but the unpredictability of college admissions had been steadily increasing over the two decades prior to 2020. Other factors include a growing national high school population that is currently peaking, the increased participation of traditionally excluded groups, and the increased awareness of colleges outside one's immediate region (helped by the Internet).


THIS is what has a lot of DCUM parents mad.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 21:27     Subject: Re:Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1550 / 3.9 GPA - rejected in ED round.

Total ~30 Colleges

10 focused with will written essays
10 mix of safety & target where essays are not required, such as Middleburry, Colby etc
10 additional target/ reach where the essays are being recycled

Avoiding colleges that don't favor test scores.


What type of High school?
What ED?

Private
Yale


Nothing wrong with shooting ED shot at Yale, but assuming 95% of the other "unhooked" ED candidates had a 3.9 /1550 or some impressive combination thereof, what other distinguishing elements of the application are there?

Is DC's state flagship in play?
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 21:04     Subject: Re:Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1550 / 3.9 GPA - rejected in ED round.

Total ~30 Colleges

10 focused with will written essays
10 mix of safety & target where essays are not required, such as Middleburry, Colby etc
10 additional target/ reach where the essays are being recycled

Avoiding colleges that don't favor test scores.


What type of High school?
What ED?

Private
Yale
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 20:53     Subject: Re:Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:1550 / 3.9 GPA - rejected in ED round.

Total ~30 Colleges

10 focused with will written essays
10 mix of safety & target where essays are not required, such as Middleburry, Colby etc
10 additional target/ reach where the essays are being recycled

Avoiding colleges that don't favor test scores.


What type of High school?
What ED?
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 20:53     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't think high-stats students applying to 15+ schools is going to result in other students getting shut out so long as a student can ultimately only enroll in a single school. Each school's institutional analysis department will have a pretty good understanding of the percentage of admitted students likely to accept their offers (yield). Occasionally they underestimate and over admit, in which case more (not fewer) students get it. More often, they slightly overestimate their yield such they are short of a full class immediately after the RD round, in which case they fill the empty spots from the waitlist.

That said, I suspect that the greater number of applications per student is responsible for the greater unpredictability. And the greater unpredictability is responsible for the greater number of applications per student, creating a vicious cycle.


TEST OPTIONAL is responsible for the unpredictability. Colleges are creating a vicious cycle. I hate the constant blaming of students. Kids that want to try for top schools after a lifetime of pushing themselves, or families who need to shop for merit have every right to give themselves the best chance. The only choice is to apply widely.

The alternative is to be happy with a mid-tier public when you have a reasonable shot at an Ivy, or take out more student loans? F that. Kids should do what's best for them in this broken system they did not create.


And you are blaming test optional because?

A better application is a better application. The AO decides the composition of the application most desired. A test score is just ONE element.

Under TO, the denominator might be inflated due to higher application numbers, but the elite schools keep the numerator relatively fixed. Highly rejective schools will pick who they want. Period.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 20:18     Subject: Re:Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
1550 / 3.9 GPA - rejected in ED round.

Total ~30 Colleges

10 focused with will written essays
10 mix of safety & target where essays are not required, such as Middleburry, Colby etc
10 additional target/ reach where the essays are being recycled

Avoiding colleges that don't favor test scores.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 18:19     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UCs don't count toward 20, and you can always apply (or have to) outside the common app (e.g. Georgetown). With the CCO saying basically nothing is a safety even for a 36 ACT 3.8 Big 3 kid but whose parents are nothing special, but then saying don't apply to more than 12, it's a stupid year overall.


This kind of kid would be screwed if they can only apply to 12. That GPA is problematic.

My kid is in the same boat GPA wise but at a non-DMV private that is permitting unlimited apps this year bc of the “unprecedented chaos” (their words….)


DP. No. That GPA at a Big3 is not comparable to your kid's public school GPA. The admissions officers know this and school rigor. Since they don't have APs and have grade deflation- not inflation. 3.8 is high.


My kid’s at a rigorous private but ok.
It’s the private school kids under 3.9 but above 3.75 that are squeezed when the 3.9+ get dinged or deferred Ed and apply RD widely to 20+ schools…


That’s my kid and her friends. All over 3.9, 1550+/36 . Most dinged, now applying RD. She added 12 apps over the break.
They're all over a 3.9/36 at a Big3 private?
Yeah no


Why not? Because it’s not your child? There are quite a few. Depends on which group you socialize with. There is variability in rigor but the kids who take the hardest classes also have some of the highest GPAs. The kids who take the easier classes to protect their GPAs also do well. They are being strategic. My advice to younger kids is that it’s more important to protect your GPA. You don’t want to show the school that you couldn’t get an A. It’s like going test optional. What they don’t see they can’t judge.
Because Sidwell, StA, and NCS pretty much never have a cohort of 3.9+ kids. Could be true at GDS, I suppose, if you're counting that as "Big 3."

Also, your advice to take easy classes to protect GPA is terrible. That's just wasting high school, not preparing you either for college or for life. I really hope you're just a troll.


NCS had 15 girls above a 3.91 last year. There was likely some Covid grade inflation.
There are more kids who do incredibly well than most people think. Some of the most studious kids really keep to themselves, don't participate in sports, don't socialize with school friends, etc.

Having seen this play out several times I agree with the advice to take classes that you can do well in. Grades over rigor.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 17:34     Subject: Anyone’s kid apply to more than 20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UCs don't count toward 20, and you can always apply (or have to) outside the common app (e.g. Georgetown). With the CCO saying basically nothing is a safety even for a 36 ACT 3.8 Big 3 kid but whose parents are nothing special, but then saying don't apply to more than 12, it's a stupid year overall.


This kind of kid would be screwed if they can only apply to 12. That GPA is problematic.

My kid is in the same boat GPA wise but at a non-DMV private that is permitting unlimited apps this year bc of the “unprecedented chaos” (their words….)


DP. No. That GPA at a Big3 is not comparable to your kid's public school GPA. The admissions officers know this and school rigor. Since they don't have APs and have grade deflation- not inflation. 3.8 is high.


My kid’s at a rigorous private but ok.
It’s the private school kids under 3.9 but above 3.75 that are squeezed when the 3.9+ get dinged or deferred Ed and apply RD widely to 20+ schools…


That’s my kid and her friends. All over 3.9, 1550+/36 . Most dinged, now applying RD. She added 12 apps over the break.
They're all over a 3.9/36 at a Big3 private?
Yeah no


Why not? Because it’s not your child? There are quite a few. Depends on which group you socialize with. There is variability in rigor but the kids who take the hardest classes also have some of the highest GPAs. The kids who take the easier classes to protect their GPAs also do well. They are being strategic. My advice to younger kids is that it’s more important to protect your GPA. You don’t want to show the school that you couldn’t get an A. It’s like going test optional. What they don’t see they can’t judge.
Because Sidwell, StA, and NCS pretty much never have a cohort of 3.9+ kids. Could be true at GDS, I suppose, if you're counting that as "Big 3."

Also, your advice to take easy classes to protect GPA is terrible. That's just wasting high school, not preparing you either for college or for life. I really hope you're just a troll.