Anonymous wrote:I've had 2 recent kids at top DC privates and agree with others that say that the GPA will be limiting. I know a kid like OP's (low GPA, remarkable STEM extracurricular) and he was denied at all top40 schools and took a spot at a second tier public with the intent of transferring.
That said, OP's kid should definitely try Chicago. Maybe Michigan. Both schools have accepted lower GPA kids in recent years from our school.
And the college counselor's input will be super important. They know all this far better than any of us do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was 2 years ago but my similar stat kid (3.3 GPA 1560 SAT) was rejected by every reach and target they applied to, including CMU, Hopkins, UVA, VaTech, and Purdue. Please talk to a college counselor and apply to at least three true safeties.

You misunderstood what is special about OP. SAT score is a small part of OP’s profile, and can be ignored. It’s the level of raw math talent OP possesses that makes her stand out. So yes your -dissimilar- kid was rejected at the above institutions. But not OP.

I don’t think it’s likely Stanford would take this kid. I think it’s even less likely any ivy would look at her application. But she has a real chance at CMU Hopkins Purdue. OP is not interested in lac, if she was, I would recommend Wellesley. These are institutions that are more willing to look beyond the numbers (though the standard is higher in terms of substance).

And many of us feel your advice is just bad. You are free to continue to give it and we are free to continue to point out it isn't connected to reality, particularly local reality.

BTW, I went to Hopkins and still work with current undergrads there. It isn't an option for a candidate in the bottom half of their class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was 2 years ago but my similar stat kid (3.3 GPA 1560 SAT) was rejected by every reach and target they applied to, including CMU, Hopkins, UVA, VaTech, and Purdue. Please talk to a college counselor and apply to at least three true safeties.

You misunderstood what is special about OP. SAT score is a small part of OP’s profile, and can be ignored. It’s the level of raw math talent OP possesses that makes her stand out. So yes your -dissimilar- kid was rejected at the above institutions. But not OP.

I don’t think it’s likely Stanford would take this kid. I think it’s even less likely any ivy would look at her application. But she has a real chance at CMU Hopkins Purdue. OP is not interested in lac, if she was, I would recommend Wellesley. These are institutions that are more willing to look beyond the numbers (though the standard is higher in terms of substance).

Here is a sumac kid, now at cmu as a freshman.
https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/raunakmondal1
- speaks 4 languages (so already higher than Op’s kid in language)
- high sat
- math awards
- volunteering
- coca cola semi finalist
-16 APs

OP: how does this kid stack up to yours?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was 2 years ago but my similar stat kid (3.3 GPA 1560 SAT) was rejected by every reach and target they applied to, including CMU, Hopkins, UVA, VaTech, and Purdue. Please talk to a college counselor and apply to at least three true safeties.

You misunderstood what is special about OP. SAT score is a small part of OP’s profile, and can be ignored. It’s the level of raw math talent OP possesses that makes her stand out. So yes your -dissimilar- kid was rejected at the above institutions. But not OP.

I don’t think it’s likely Stanford would take this kid. I think it’s even less likely any ivy would look at her application. But she has a real chance at CMU Hopkins Purdue. OP is not interested in lac, if she was, I would recommend Wellesley. These are institutions that are more willing to look beyond the numbers (though the standard is higher in terms of substance).

Anonymous wrote:Recommendation on safeties is fine. Those are excellent advice. But I don’t think that’s what OP was asking. She was obviously asking for reaches—attainable reaches.

If you never had experience with this type of kids, I would just say no I don’t know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was 2 years ago but my similar stat kid (3.3 GPA 1560 SAT) was rejected by every reach and target they applied to, including CMU, Hopkins, UVA, VaTech, and Purdue. Please talk to a college counselor and apply to at least three true safeties.

You misunderstood what is special about OP. SAT score is a small part of OP’s profile, and can be ignored. It’s the level of raw math talent OP possesses that makes her stand out. So yes your -dissimilar- kid was rejected at the above institutions. But not OP.

I don’t think it’s likely Stanford would take this kid. I think it’s even less likely any ivy would look at her application. But she has a real chance at CMU Hopkins Purdue. OP is not interested in lac, if she was, I would recommend Wellesley. These are institutions that are more willing to look beyond the numbers (though the standard is higher in terms of substance).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The gap between the sky’s the limit posters and actual admissions is huge. I really do think these posters are huge. And yes, my kid is at a rigorous DMV private. I’ve actually had two kids go through the cycle in the past four years (the kid this cycle in at a SCEA school).

A kid may get a little wiggle room with an impressive ec but gpa and where they place in high school class as a result is THE most important determinant for admission.

I think people are responding to the sense that the sky really might be the limit for this kid within her field. She just may not have the opportunity to pick up a degree from a highly-rejective college along the way.

I would follow the advice to apply to three true safeties. If it’s a frustrating admissions season, being able to exercise some choice at the end will feel good.

I would also try to find a private counselor who has expertise working with uneven kids like this one.

Anonymous wrote:This was 2 years ago but my similar stat kid (3.3 GPA 1560 SAT) was rejected by every reach and target they applied to, including CMU, Hopkins, UVA, VaTech, and Purdue. Please talk to a college counselor and apply to at least three true safeties.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was 2 years ago but my similar stat kid (3.3 GPA 1560 SAT) was rejected by every reach and target they applied to, including CMU, Hopkins, UVA, VaTech, and Purdue. Please talk to a college counselor and apply to at least three true safeties.

Finally a useful post.

Anonymous wrote:The gap between the sky’s the limit posters and actual admissions is huge. I really do think these posters are huge. And yes, my kid is at a rigorous DMV private. I’ve actually had two kids go through the cycle in the past four years (the kid this cycle in at a SCEA school).

A kid may get a little wiggle room with an impressive ec but gpa and where they place in high school class as a result is THE most important determinant for admission.

Anonymous wrote:The gap between the sky’s the limit posters and actual admissions is huge. I really do think these posters are huge. And yes, my kid is at a rigorous DMV private. I’ve actually had two kids go through the cycle in the past four years (the kid this cycle in at a SCEA school).

A kid may get a little wiggle room with an impressive ec but gpa and where they place in high school class as a result is THE most important determinant for admission.