Anonymous wrote:It appears that it is harder to get into college than when we all applied. But what about for the very high stats kids?

Can some of you please share how it went for your child who went through the process if your kid was max rigor, 1550 plus, top grades, great but not national award winning extracurricular.

My child is having trouble finishing up their college lists and part of the reason is we really just have no idea how it will all go with the reach schools. We also don't know what school is "worth" taking your shot early. This child will be happiest with an intense, highly academic crowd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1560 SAT. 3.85 UW. 4.6 weighted. A few academic extra currics and one summer job but nothing super impressive. Nice enthusiastic student so recs probably fine.

Accepted to Penn State, UMBC with 10k merit, and freshman connection/spring admit to UMD with no merit nor honors college. Rejected from Hopkins. He didn’t apply to many places. He really put all his eggs into the University of Maryland CP bucket and hopefully it kind of worked out (freshman connection is not ideal because it means he will have to try to transfer into his LEP), but that was a risk.

I forgot to add that he went to MCPS. He had a lot of APs and got 5s on most of them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people are in la la land if you think being a legacy means anything these days.

I have been through admissions two of the last three years. You are incredibly mistaken if you think that it doesn’t.

Anonymous wrote:MCPS 2024, 3.98/4.5, 1540
Accepted w/merit: UNC, UMD, Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan

Anonymous wrote:You people are in la la land if you think being a legacy means anything these days.

Anonymous wrote:You people are in la la land if you think being a legacy means anything these days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Intense? Yikes My kid was that profile is at an Ivy. Not an intense kid but academically, motivated. Doesn’t like intense. He’s a kind, sweet kid. Didn’t ED or REA anywhere.

Nobody can tell you. My kid had the same grades and stats as other friends, but he was the only one in the group to get accepted to multiple T10/20 schools and I could not tell you why. Unhooked. Typical kid- job, sports, ecs. He usually has bad luck so it was a surprise.

It really becomes a lottery at the T10/20s. Every kid has those stats and similar activities.

He just applied where he thought he would like to go. He had no clear first choice so didn’t want to ED.

Humanities or social science major? That matters. Otherwise, probably just a likeable kid who wrote nice essays and had glowing recs. People tend to underestimate the value of plain old likability in the application process. Even elite colleges prefer to admit nice kids they think will be a positive presence on campus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two had similar stats from a high performing public. Additionally, they both had outstanding ECs, internships, school leadership, and both were athletes, with one being actively recruited by D3 schools. One had a significant national award in a STEM field. They were also good writers and made the most of their essays. I didn't read their LOCs, but I'm sure they were very good. They are both very outgoing and fun to be around.

Both kids knew the realities of college admissions today. It really is a crapshoot for top students from high performing public schools. Stats-wise - I think they both got Bs in Spanish in 8th grade, but otherwise straight As in the most difficult classes, and one had a 35 and the other a 1520. But that doesn't really distinguish them from a lot of their classmates. The competition is fierce at good publics in the DMV, Bay Area, Tri-State area, and Chicago. There are a lot of great students out there at high performing publics.

I think the ECs and the leadership are what mattered in the end, plus the essays, particularly one of them, which was hilarious and would definitely bring any admissions reader to champion them at the table where they decide these things. Being charming and funny is very helpful, both in college admissions and life. We also visited about 10 schools all together, dragging the younger sibling along to be efficient. That was very enlightening. A parent brings their 90s biases, but things have changed a lot since then. All the people shooting for Ivies - visit them before applying.

Ultimately, they played the ED game. I think one might have wanted to take a shot at Stanford. And the other, MIT. But they both really connected with a couple of T20 schools where applying ED makes a difference. Both got in to their schools in the ED round. One and done with the both of them. Didn't get a chance to apply anywhere else. And they are both very happy with their college experience. So it all worked out.

ED is the key.

I noticed many posters didn't ED anywhere. Yes, I understand they all wanted HYPMS, the results could be very different if high stats kids settle for ED at a T20 school.

100% and go down a notch from HYPSM.......
It's definitely doable.
Moreso if not CS or Engineering or Business.

NP, not to hijak, but would love opinions on this..... Let's say your kid is a legacy and a "lower Ivy" type school, and is very high stats. Would be happy at that school, knows it's a great school...but very interested in 1-2 HYPSM schools.

Would you ED and (hopefully - but these days who the hell knows) be done with it? Or try for HYPSM?

Very interested in HYPSM for what reason? For prestige, not worth it. For a truly unique aspect, then try it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two had similar stats from a high performing public. Additionally, they both had outstanding ECs, internships, school leadership, and both were athletes, with one being actively recruited by D3 schools. One had a significant national award in a STEM field. They were also good writers and made the most of their essays. I didn't read their LOCs, but I'm sure they were very good. They are both very outgoing and fun to be around.

Both kids knew the realities of college admissions today. It really is a crapshoot for top students from high performing public schools. Stats-wise - I think they both got Bs in Spanish in 8th grade, but otherwise straight As in the most difficult classes, and one had a 35 and the other a 1520. But that doesn't really distinguish them from a lot of their classmates. The competition is fierce at good publics in the DMV, Bay Area, Tri-State area, and Chicago. There are a lot of great students out there at high performing publics.

I think the ECs and the leadership are what mattered in the end, plus the essays, particularly one of them, which was hilarious and would definitely bring any admissions reader to champion them at the table where they decide these things. Being charming and funny is very helpful, both in college admissions and life. We also visited about 10 schools all together, dragging the younger sibling along to be efficient. That was very enlightening. A parent brings their 90s biases, but things have changed a lot since then. All the people shooting for Ivies - visit them before applying.

Ultimately, they played the ED game. I think one might have wanted to take a shot at Stanford. And the other, MIT. But they both really connected with a couple of T20 schools where applying ED makes a difference. Both got in to their schools in the ED round. One and done with the both of them. Didn't get a chance to apply anywhere else. And they are both very happy with their college experience. So it all worked out.

ED is the key.

I noticed many posters didn't ED anywhere. Yes, I understand they all wanted HYPMS, the results could be very different if high stats kids settle for ED at a T20 school.

100% and go down a notch from HYPSM.......
It's definitely doable.
Moreso if not CS or Engineering or Business.

NP, not to hijak, but would love opinions on this..... Let's say your kid is a legacy and a "lower Ivy" type school, and is very high stats. Would be happy at that school, knows it's a great school...but very interested in 1-2 HYPSM schools.

Would you ED and (hopefully - but these days who the hell knows) be done with it? Or try for HYPSM?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two had similar stats from a high performing public. Additionally, they both had outstanding ECs, internships, school leadership, and both were athletes, with one being actively recruited by D3 schools. One had a significant national award in a STEM field. They were also good writers and made the most of their essays. I didn't read their LOCs, but I'm sure they were very good. They are both very outgoing and fun to be around.

Both kids knew the realities of college admissions today. It really is a crapshoot for top students from high performing public schools. Stats-wise - I think they both got Bs in Spanish in 8th grade, but otherwise straight As in the most difficult classes, and one had a 35 and the other a 1520. But that doesn't really distinguish them from a lot of their classmates. The competition is fierce at good publics in the DMV, Bay Area, Tri-State area, and Chicago. There are a lot of great students out there at high performing publics.

I think the ECs and the leadership are what mattered in the end, plus the essays, particularly one of them, which was hilarious and would definitely bring any admissions reader to champion them at the table where they decide these things. Being charming and funny is very helpful, both in college admissions and life. We also visited about 10 schools all together, dragging the younger sibling along to be efficient. That was very enlightening. A parent brings their 90s biases, but things have changed a lot since then. All the people shooting for Ivies - visit them before applying.

Ultimately, they played the ED game. I think one might have wanted to take a shot at Stanford. And the other, MIT. But they both really connected with a couple of T20 schools where applying ED makes a difference. Both got in to their schools in the ED round. One and done with the both of them. Didn't get a chance to apply anywhere else. And they are both very happy with their college experience. So it all worked out.

ED is the key.

I noticed many posters didn't ED anywhere. Yes, I understand they all wanted HYPMS, the results could be very different if high stats kids settle for ED at a T20 school.

100% and go down a notch from HYPSM.......
It's definitely doable.
Moreso if not CS or Engineering or Business.

NP, not to hijak, but would love opinions on this..... Let's say your kid is a legacy and a "lower Ivy" type school, and is very high stats. Would be happy at that school, knows it's a great school...but very interested in 1-2 HYPSM schools.

Would you ED and (hopefully - but these days who the hell knows) be done with it? Or try for HYPSM?

I have the same dilemma except kid is legacy at one of HYPSM where legacy is still supposedly considered. Perfect SAT on first try and straight A's, but DC is shy and not a non-profit founder, school leader type. Has a remarkable talent in the arts, but probably not any awards at the level that would impress DCUM. DC will be trying to decide whether to ED to a lower reach, which they really like, but do not like quite as much as their legacy school, or to take a risk and apply to legacy school. It is a really tough call. How happy would DC be at their safeties?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two had similar stats from a high performing public. Additionally, they both had outstanding ECs, internships, school leadership, and both were athletes, with one being actively recruited by D3 schools. One had a significant national award in a STEM field. They were also good writers and made the most of their essays. I didn't read their LOCs, but I'm sure they were very good. They are both very outgoing and fun to be around.

Both kids knew the realities of college admissions today. It really is a crapshoot for top students from high performing public schools. Stats-wise - I think they both got Bs in Spanish in 8th grade, but otherwise straight As in the most difficult classes, and one had a 35 and the other a 1520. But that doesn't really distinguish them from a lot of their classmates. The competition is fierce at good publics in the DMV, Bay Area, Tri-State area, and Chicago. There are a lot of great students out there at high performing publics.

I think the ECs and the leadership are what mattered in the end, plus the essays, particularly one of them, which was hilarious and would definitely bring any admissions reader to champion them at the table where they decide these things. Being charming and funny is very helpful, both in college admissions and life. We also visited about 10 schools all together, dragging the younger sibling along to be efficient. That was very enlightening. A parent brings their 90s biases, but things have changed a lot since then. All the people shooting for Ivies - visit them before applying.

Ultimately, they played the ED game. I think one might have wanted to take a shot at Stanford. And the other, MIT. But they both really connected with a couple of T20 schools where applying ED makes a difference. Both got in to their schools in the ED round. One and done with the both of them. Didn't get a chance to apply anywhere else. And they are both very happy with their college experience. So it all worked out.

ED is the key.

I noticed many posters didn't ED anywhere. Yes, I understand they all wanted HYPMS, the results could be very different if high stats kids settle for ED at a T20 school.

100% and go down a notch from HYPSM.......
It's definitely doable.
Moreso if not CS or Engineering or Business.

NP, not to hijak, but would love opinions on this..... Let's say your kid is a legacy and a "lower Ivy" type school, and is very high stats. Would be happy at that school, knows it's a great school...but very interested in 1-2 HYPSM schools.

Would you ED and (hopefully - but these days who the hell knows) be done with it? Or try for HYPSM?

Anonymous wrote:1560 SAT. 3.85 UW. 4.6 weighted. A few academic extra currics and one summer job but nothing super impressive. Nice enthusiastic student so recs probably fine.

Accepted to Penn State, UMBC with 10k merit, and freshman connection/spring admit to UMD with no merit nor honors college. Rejected from Hopkins. He didn’t apply to many places. He really put all his eggs into the University of Maryland CP bucket and hopefully it kind of worked out (freshman connection is not ideal because it means he will have to try to transfer into his LEP), but that was a risk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two had similar stats from a high performing public. Additionally, they both had outstanding ECs, internships, school leadership, and both were athletes, with one being actively recruited by D3 schools. One had a significant national award in a STEM field. They were also good writers and made the most of their essays. I didn't read their LOCs, but I'm sure they were very good. They are both very outgoing and fun to be around.

Both kids knew the realities of college admissions today. It really is a crapshoot for top students from high performing public schools. Stats-wise - I think they both got Bs in Spanish in 8th grade, but otherwise straight As in the most difficult classes, and one had a 35 and the other a 1520. But that doesn't really distinguish them from a lot of their classmates. The competition is fierce at good publics in the DMV, Bay Area, Tri-State area, and Chicago. There are a lot of great students out there at high performing publics.

I think the ECs and the leadership are what mattered in the end, plus the essays, particularly one of them, which was hilarious and would definitely bring any admissions reader to champion them at the table where they decide these things. Being charming and funny is very helpful, both in college admissions and life. We also visited about 10 schools all together, dragging the younger sibling along to be efficient. That was very enlightening. A parent brings their 90s biases, but things have changed a lot since then. All the people shooting for Ivies - visit them before applying.

Ultimately, they played the ED game. I think one might have wanted to take a shot at Stanford. And the other, MIT. But they both really connected with a couple of T20 schools where applying ED makes a difference. Both got in to their schools in the ED round. One and done with the both of them. Didn't get a chance to apply anywhere else. And they are both very happy with their college experience. So it all worked out.

ED is the key.

I noticed many posters didn't ED anywhere. Yes, I understand they all wanted HYPMS, the results could be very different if high stats kids settle for ED at a T20 school.

100% and go down a notch from HYPSM.......
It's definitely doable.
Moreso if not CS or Engineering or Business.

NP, not to hijak, but would love opinions on this..... Let's say your kid is a legacy and a "lower Ivy" type school, and is very high stats. Would be happy at that school, knows it's a great school...but very interested in 1-2 HYPSM schools.

Would you ED and (hopefully - but these days who the hell knows) be done with it? Or try for HYPSM?