Anonymous
08/05/2025 22:41
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Look at Naviance or SCOIR …DCs go to a well regarded private and had zero APs (not offered). DC1 had a 3.7 and 1440 SAT and got into Michigan, UVA, USC and Vanderbilt. DC2 was a recruited athlete and with a 3.7 GPA, 32 ACT got into several top 25 schools.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 18:15
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:NOVA 2023, 3.98/4.5, 1560, NMSF, CS major
Rejected: Penn, Harvard
Waitlist: NEU, UVA
Accepted w/merit: UMD (attending), BU, Lehigh, CWRU, Ohio St., Minnesota
Accepted no merit: WM, Pitt
My kid will be in Cambridge. Yours in Pyon-Chen? Good for your kid and hope they love it. My kid got a very positive impression after attending orientation recently.
PP. My kid is now a rising junior. He was in the honors program but not a nice one like Pyon Chen. Are you NOVA too? Really likes it there. Just an hour away, but only comes home at major breaks. Having too good of a time!
Anonymous
08/05/2025 18:02
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote:Nobody can really predict how it will go with the reaches. You need solid safeties and targets. At my kid’s school a few kids with this profile got into reaches and many more dud not. Make sure the list covers all bases.
This! If you have solid safeties and targets your kid should get into at least 50-75%+ of those. However, you must adhere to realistic definitions of Reaches vs Target vs safety. Harvard is NOT a target for ANYONE (unless your parents are famous and have donated millions.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 18:00
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
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.
First, it is only "hard to get into " about 25-40 tippy top colleges. Those with sub 15-20% acceptance rates. There are literally 1000s of other universities. If you have "top scores and GPA" your kid will easily get into most at 40+.
My 1490/3.96UW/8 AP kid with one strong EC (one they did for 15-20 hours+ per week throughout the year) got into every single school they applied to above 30. They were deferred then rejected at a T10, WL at Tufts, and First year abroad at NEU. Otherwise, as an engineering major, they got into everywhere else on their list (most were in the T80, but 3-4 were above 80). They are at a school with an intense, highly academic crowd. Literally EVERYONE in their friend group (of 15+) was WL/Spring STart/Fall Soph start at one or more T30 school, most had that for 3+ schools. They have the resume for it but didn't win the 5-8% lottery. Your 1550+ kid will be fine at any T75 school, just search for the ones they will fit in best as your targets and safeties. There will literally be tons of really smart kids who end up there for some reason.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 17:57
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
Gosh this is CRAZY. My kid is at UMDCP right now and some of his friends with the same general background - like your kid - were only offered spring admit. That is a crazy amazing kid you have, and to just get into UMD as a spring admit? GOD. I mean, it wont' matter in the long run, but it's so irritating! College applications as the squid games is right (another thread). This sh*t is crazy.
Thanks. The frustrating thing about freshman connection is that your application is not even sent to the LEP to evaluate. He was a great candidate for the LEP - great grades and AP scores in math and science and lots of engineering classes, so it's frustrating that the engineering department did not get to consider his application. So he is banking on an internal transfer. Also, freshman connection does not offer the math at his level. So he's not going to be able to take the math class he would have been able to take otherwise (he already took the UMD Math Department MVC exam and got an A - his high school administered it - and freshman connection does not offer the class above that).
But at least he got in.
I feel bad when I read this. OOS UMD admit but did early action.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 17:55
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote:NOVA 2023, 3.98/4.5, 1560, NMSF, CS major
Rejected: Penn, Harvard
Waitlist: NEU, UVA
Accepted w/merit: UMD (attending), BU, Lehigh, CWRU, Ohio St., Minnesota
Accepted no merit: WM, Pitt
My kid will be in Cambridge. Yours in Pyon-Chen? Good for your kid and hope they love it. My kid got a very positive impression after attending orientation recently.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 17:41
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote: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.
Gosh this is CRAZY. My kid is at UMDCP right now and some of his friends with the same general background - like your kid - were only offered spring admit. That is a crazy amazing kid you have, and to just get into UMD as a spring admit? GOD. I mean, it wont' matter in the long run, but it's so irritating! College applications as the squid games is right (another thread). This sh*t is crazy.
Thanks. The frustrating thing about freshman connection is that your application is not even sent to the LEP to evaluate. He was a great candidate for the LEP - great grades and AP scores in math and science and lots of engineering classes, so it's frustrating that the engineering department did not get to consider his application. So he is banking on an internal transfer. Also, freshman connection does not offer the math at his level. So he's not going to be able to take the math class he would have been able to take otherwise (he already took the UMD Math Department MVC exam and got an A - his high school administered it - and freshman connection does not offer the class above that).
But at least he got in.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 17:38
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
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.
I have also been through admissions for two of the last three years and agree that legacy does make a difference, but only at certain T20 schools, and only if the accompanied by full pay.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 17:36
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote: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?
Legacy doesn't really matter that much - unless also attached to significant donor status or other hooks. And even then, it typically goes Waitlist and then maybe, maybe off the list at the very end. My DC has three generations of Stanford. When you look at the data, it's modestly helpful, but not worth the opportunity cost of applying early at other great schools where they genuinely click.
With HYPS, it's all about the hooks. And legacy isn't much of one. MIT doesn't care about legacy at all.
Stanford Legacy requires at least 2 admissions readers in the early review process. That makes a difference.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 17:35
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote:This year will be conceivably easier for high stats kids.
Nah..
Anonymous
08/05/2025 17:32
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
This year will be conceivably easier for high stats kids.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 17:29
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
1560 SAT
4.0 Unweighted, 4.57 weighted
14 APs with all fives on the 9 tests taken before applying
Took Calc 3 junior summer, got an A (he LOVES math and will major in it)
Merit Finalist
Captain and MVP of his rowing team (4 years on the team)
3 years juried music with awards
Helped run the family business (with demonstrated financial impact!)
Applied to Yale (legacy AND rowing official visit with pre-read), Princeton, Penn, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Cornell, Uchicago. Waitlisted at Northwestern and Cornell and rejected at the rest.
He going to Penn State, which he was actually happy with from the beginning of the process, thankfully, which is why he only applied to a few top schools.
He is starting out with 66 credits and can graduate in three years with a double major OR in four with an integrated masters (applied math and applied statistic).
Sidebar: We invested the additional money we saved for college which will have a dramatic impact on his financial future. He is thrilled! And he joked about hoping it happened because he is pretty sure the social life is going to be so much better and is convinced he can get a great education pretty much anywhere.
Wow, this is sobering. Is he in the honors college at penn state?
He did not apply to the honors college because he is interested in the four year masters. The honors students have to do an undergraduate thesis, so he would rather not do that. The honors college is great though! His best friend applied and got in and there are definitely other perks.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 17:27
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
1560 SAT
4.0 Unweighted, 4.57 weighted
14 APs with all fives on the 9 tests taken before applying
Took Calc 3 junior summer, got an A (he LOVES math and will major in it)
Merit Finalist
Captain and MVP of his rowing team (4 years on the team)
3 years juried music with awards
Helped run the family business (with demonstrated financial impact!)
Applied to Yale (legacy AND rowing official visit with pre-read), Princeton, Penn, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Cornell, Uchicago. Waitlisted at Northwestern and Cornell and rejected at the rest.
He going to Penn State, which he was actually happy with from the beginning of the process, thankfully, which is why he only applied to a few top schools.
He is starting out with 66 credits and can graduate in three years with a double major OR in four with an integrated masters (applied math and applied statistic).
Sidebar: We invested the additional money we saved for college which will have a dramatic impact on his financial future. He is thrilled! And he joked about hoping it happened because he is pretty sure the social life is going to be so much better and is convinced he can get a great education pretty much anywhere.
Our CCO could never approve a college list like this. Very head heavy, no ED, no EA.
T15-T40 schools are completely missing from the list. It's either super reach or safeties.
PP said her kid would be/ is happy with Penn State (perhaps in state for them?). If you apply early, Penn State sends out early acceptances.
Why would it make sense to apply to any T10-T30 schools, which would all be more expensive? Not everyone is determined to go to the highest prestige place at all costs.
yes. I am the poster with the son going to Penn State. He loved Penn State and was happy to go there over any other "target" schools. He knew his APs would transfer and that he would have so much flexibility with his degrees including a 4 year masters. He took his shot with some top schools, but it wasn't something that he needed. I often wonder if he wouldn't have chosen Penn State over one of the others if he had gotten in?
Anonymous
08/05/2025 16:20
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
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?
Legacy doesn't really matter that much - unless also attached to significant donor status or other hooks. And even then, it typically goes Waitlist and then maybe, maybe off the list at the very end. My DC has three generations of Stanford. When you look at the data, it's modestly helpful, but not worth the opportunity cost of applying early at other great schools where they genuinely click.
With HYPS, it's all about the hooks. And legacy isn't much of one. MIT doesn't care about legacy at all.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 15:35
Subject: How did your super high stats kid fare (1550 plus and 4.5 plus with max rigor)
Anonymous wrote:UNC offered merit as OOS?Anonymous wrote:MCPS 2024, 3.98/4.5, 1540
Accepted w/merit: UNC, UMD, Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan
DP, live in NC, they actually do but it is very rare. Some are financial need driven and others are science research, music and creative writing based. Smaller than the full-ride Morehead and Robertson.
I do find it a bit suspicious they got merit at all of those oos schools though.