Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The following may seem crass. I’m sorry.

I think that most people posting missed the part about you having cancer.

Maybe that can actually be a hook and help your DC explain away any weakness in ECs.

What’s your DC’s “story”? DC is helping to take care of Mom.

My guess is that your DC writes well, tha the teachers love your DC, and that your DC may do better at T20 schools with great aid than the jerks here think because your DC is the real thing, not the product of tutoring.

OP here. My kid does write quite well, and I'm sure my kid could create a strong story if they wished. I'm also sure that my kid would feel uncomfortable and a bit dirty from crafting some sort of story. They'd much rather attend the state school than play these admissions games.

I only started this thread because we just received my kid's ACT score. I thought a perfect score would mean something for T20. I learned it doesn't. Asked and answered.

Then why are you keeping this thread alive by commenting over and over and over again?

Anonymous wrote:OP here once again. My mind is blown that a 99.9th percentile ACT, NMSF, 10+ APs with mostly 5s, and a nearly perfect GPA are a dime a dozen and not something that would interest T20 schools. I guess you learn something every day.

Well, they probably aren't a dime a dozen in Idaho or Wyoming or Montana, but in metro DC (or metro NYC, metro SF, etc), there are many. Sorry to enlighten you to the real world out here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The following may seem crass. I’m sorry.

I think that most people posting missed the part about you having cancer.

Maybe that can actually be a hook and help your DC explain away any weakness in ECs.

What’s your DC’s “story”? DC is helping to take care of Mom.

My guess is that your DC writes well, tha the teachers love your DC, and that your DC may do better at T20 schools with great aid than the jerks here think because your DC is the real thing, not the product of tutoring.

I would definitely have the kid talk about the primary parent's cancer diagnosis and its impact on the kid's life in the new part of the Common App (there's a new question). I think it's 250 words. This is exactly where it should go and should be a well-crafted paragraph.

Do not do this. This is the thing admissions officers say they hate.

I disagree. There is a new prompt for extenuating family or personal circumstances. That's where they want it this year. And, everyone person we know who had a parent die or a parent struggle with cancer got into a T10 this year. Take a look at the below.

https://www.essaymaster.com/college-essay-examples/learning-from-illness-harvard-college-personal-statement-tips

Except…mom has been sick for years and she said kid win’t want to “craft a story.” OP never said what her cancer is, treatment is like or if kid has had any impact. My husband had cancer but we didnt have the kids apply for a scholarship for kids w/parents who had cancer bc the impact was almost zero on them, comparatively speaking.

I also had cancer. No way would I want my kids to use it as a sob story on their app. Different story if a parent has died.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The following may seem crass. I’m sorry.

I think that most people posting missed the part about you having cancer.

Maybe that can actually be a hook and help your DC explain away any weakness in ECs.

What’s your DC’s “story”? DC is helping to take care of Mom.

My guess is that your DC writes well, tha the teachers love your DC, and that your DC may do better at T20 schools with great aid than the jerks here think because your DC is the real thing, not the product of tutoring.

Is this something you made up?

Honest opinions = being a jerk?

It is not crass. It is part of the kid's personal story and narrative. It shaped them into who they are today and will give a full picture to the admissions officers.
My kid, a slightly above average, but not exceptional student, got into a T20 school, incorporating into his essays how his father's chronic condition impacted his life. Not a sob story, just matter of fact telling of how he helped take care of his dad etc... He is a kind, empathetic individual and I believe his teachers' LORs also reflected how they appreciated him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The following may seem crass. I’m sorry.

I think that most people posting missed the part about you having cancer.

Maybe that can actually be a hook and help your DC explain away any weakness in ECs.

What’s your DC’s “story”? DC is helping to take care of Mom.

My guess is that your DC writes well, tha the teachers love your DC, and that your DC may do better at T20 schools with great aid than the jerks here think because your DC is the real thing, not the product of tutoring.

I would definitely have the kid talk about the primary parent's cancer diagnosis and its impact on the kid's life in the new part of the Common App (there's a new question). I think it's 250 words. This is exactly where it should go and should be a well-crafted paragraph.

Do not do this. This is the thing admissions officers say they hate.

I disagree. There is a new prompt for extenuating family or personal circumstances. That's where they want it this year. And, everyone person we know who had a parent die or a parent struggle with cancer got into a T10 this year. Take a look at the below.

https://www.essaymaster.com/college-essay-examples/learning-from-illness-harvard-college-personal-statement-tips

Except…mom has been sick for years and she said kid win’t want to “craft a story.” OP never said what her cancer is, treatment is like or if kid has had any impact. My husband had cancer but we didnt have the kids apply for a scholarship for kids w/parents who had cancer bc the impact was almost zero on them, comparatively speaking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The following may seem crass. I’m sorry.

I think that most people posting missed the part about you having cancer.

Maybe that can actually be a hook and help your DC explain away any weakness in ECs.

What’s your DC’s “story”? DC is helping to take care of Mom.

My guess is that your DC writes well, tha the teachers love your DC, and that your DC may do better at T20 schools with great aid than the jerks here think because your DC is the real thing, not the product of tutoring.

I would definitely have the kid talk about the primary parent's cancer diagnosis and its impact on the kid's life in the new part of the Common App (there's a new question). I think it's 250 words. This is exactly where it should go and should be a well-crafted paragraph.

Do not do this. This is the thing admissions officers say they hate.

I disagree. There is a new prompt for extenuating family or personal circumstances. That's where they want it this year. And, everyone person we know who had a parent die or a parent struggle with cancer got into a T10 this year. Take a look at the below.

https://www.essaymaster.com/college-essay-examples/learning-from-illness-harvard-college-personal-statement-tips

Anonymous wrote:Be sure to check out the elite publics - UCLA, UCB, U Mich, UVA, etc., as these schools seem to continue to value traditional measures of academic success over the process of packaging a kid as a historic costume designer.

The UCs don’t give oos merit and therefore would be out of budget. Op already said this.

Anonymous wrote:The following may seem crass. I’m sorry.

I think that most people posting missed the part about you having cancer.

Maybe that can actually be a hook and help your DC explain away any weakness in ECs.

What’s your DC’s “story”? DC is helping to take care of Mom.

My guess is that your DC writes well, tha the teachers love your DC, and that your DC may do better at T20 schools with great aid than the jerks here think because your DC is the real thing, not the product of tutoring.

OP here. My kid does write quite well, and I'm sure my kid could create a strong story if they wished. I'm also sure that my kid would feel uncomfortable and a bit dirty from crafting some sort of story. They'd much rather attend the state school than play these admissions games.

I only started this thread because we just received my kid's ACT score. I thought a perfect score would mean something for T20. I learned it doesn't. Asked and answered.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The following may seem crass. I’m sorry.

I think that most people posting missed the part about you having cancer.

Maybe that can actually be a hook and help your DC explain away any weakness in ECs.

What’s your DC’s “story”? DC is helping to take care of Mom.

My guess is that your DC writes well, tha the teachers love your DC, and that your DC may do better at T20 schools with great aid than the jerks here think because your DC is the real thing, not the product of tutoring.

I would definitely have the kid talk about the primary parent's cancer diagnosis and its impact on the kid's life in the new part of the Common App (there's a new question). I think it's 250 words. This is exactly where it should go and should be a well-crafted paragraph.

Do not do this. This is the thing admissions officers say they hate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At $150k, kid would get substantial financial aid at a top Ivy if they can get in. Worth a flier, but far from a certainty.

Essentially a very low chance for anyone…and even more so with those ECs and service hrs. At least IMO, it would be a throwaway.

Agree the T25 not likely with that resume unless there is a hook. What state are you in op?

One where geographic diversity would help my kid and not hurt them at T50 type schools.

I wasn't sure how dime-a-dozen kids are who have NMSF, non-superscored one-and-done 36 ACT, nearly perfect grades, and a boatload of APs with mostly 5s. Based on this forum, they must be really common. My kid takes the SAT in a couple weeks. I'm guessing that a 1550+ score will do nothing whatsoever to change the kid's profile.

Based on results we had this year, it's not quite as cut and dry as some of the PPs are making it out to be. My similar stats DC broke into the top 25 without a perfect narrative - more of a well-rounded kid than a super-spikey clear story. Top 10 apps were not successful, but that was not our be-all and end all

What school? Because unless one of the tippy top ones with super generous fa or your kid got full ride merit, wouldn’t help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be sure to check out the elite publics - UCLA, UCB, U Mich, UVA, etc., as these schools seem to continue to value traditional measures of academic success over the process of packaging a kid as a historic costume designer.

Hahaha. Best comment of the thread. A new EC…

That EC has been around forever.

I personally know 2 kids who got into HYPSM with this as their primary EC (historic costumes ran the gamut from colonial, Civil War to ancient Greek, a few literary ECs at school, drama club, founding sewing club, and working at a museum, etc. Especially for English lit, history or anthro majors. Entirely self-driven - this isn't something a "parent can do" for the kid.

Anonymous wrote:The following may seem crass. I’m sorry.

I think that most people posting missed the part about you having cancer.

Maybe that can actually be a hook and help your DC explain away any weakness in ECs.

What’s your DC’s “story”? DC is helping to take care of Mom.

My guess is that your DC writes well, tha the teachers love your DC, and that your DC may do better at T20 schools with great aid than the jerks here think because your DC is the real thing, not the product of tutoring.

I would definitely have the kid talk about the primary parent's cancer diagnosis and its impact on the kid's life in the new part of the Common App (there's a new question). I think it's 250 words. This is exactly where it should go and should be a well-crafted paragraph.

Anonymous wrote:Be sure to check out the elite publics - UCLA, UCB, U Mich, UVA, etc., as these schools seem to continue to value traditional measures of academic success over the process of packaging a kid as a historic costume designer.

Hahaha. Best comment of the thread. A new EC…

Anonymous wrote:OP here once again. My mind is blown that a 99.9th percentile ACT, NMSF, 10+ APs with mostly 5s, and a nearly perfect GPA are a dime a dozen and not something that would interest T20 schools. I guess you learn something every day.

My friend's son sounds very similar to yours, including being from a Western state (not CA). He didn't get into any of the T20 schools he applied to. In retrospect, I'd guess, as others have said here that his app didn't tell a compelling story about his varied interests.

He ended up going to the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State with a large scholarship. He had great research opportunities there, played in the marching band, had fun. And is now pursuing his PhD at one of the top universities in the world for his field.

So, add Barrett to your list
https://barretthonors.asu.edu/

Anonymous wrote:The following may seem crass. I’m sorry.

I think that most people posting missed the part about you having cancer.

Maybe that can actually be a hook and help your DC explain away any weakness in ECs.

What’s your DC’s “story”? DC is helping to take care of Mom.

My guess is that your DC writes well, tha the teachers love your DC, and that your DC may do better at T20 schools with great aid than the jerks here think because your DC is the real thing, not the product of tutoring.

Is this something you made up?

Honest opinions = being a jerk?