Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 13:13     Subject: Re:25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
If a school gives foreign language credit for the AP exam it won’t disqualify students from that credit just because they didn’t take 3-4 years of that foreign language in high school.


I never said it would. I agree it would give credit. I specifically said that in my second post.

I ALSO said that if a college has a list of high school courses it requires for admission--and many do--it often will not waive the requirement that APPLICANTS from US high schools take 3 or 4 years of foreign language in high school for an applicant for whom English is not their first language and who can do well on an AP test in their native language.

New York requires taking a foreign language to get a high school diploma. There are a heck of a lot of immigrants here, and they have to take foreign language in high school, just like everyone else. If the high school they attend offers their native language they can take that, but most choose not to do so. If they do take it, they can graduate. BUT they can't refuse to take any foreign language at all and still get a diploma.

The video maker lists no foreign language courses on his high school transcript.If he didn't take any foreign language, I suspect that hurt him. (He lives in California, which my googling indicates is not one of the 11 states which requires a foreign language to get a high school diploma.)



That’s simply not true: many top colleges accept a good AP score to fulfill high school foreign language requirement.

Also, is English not this guy’s first language though? If he was born here or came here as a small kid, English is still his first language (even if his parents speak Chinese at home).

I’m not sure why this hang up about his foreign language. His ECs and letters and essays may not be that great, so I’m not sure why he’s not happy with his great college outcomes!

So I checked out the short video. He got a B+ in Calc AB and a bunch of A- in other classes. He also doesn’t come across as someone with great social skills, so he should feel lucky for being waitlisted by quite a few T20 elite colleges.


Why are you so disgruntled, does that student profile hit a raw nerve?

He got a B+ in AP Calculus AB in 9th followed by an A and a 5 in AP Calculus BC in 10th grade. There weren’t “a bunch of A-“, there was one single A- in 9th grade for AP Human Geography. If you think that GPA and rigor prevented him from being admitted to Top 10 colleges you’re not in your right mind.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 13:10     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.



Not true at all. The gap between UC Berkeley and UCLA is huge. UC Berkeley is miles ahead.

It also doesn’t come close to any of the Ivy+ schools. Comparing any of the UCs to Dartmouth or Cornell is just delusional.


The gap is huge? You really are clueless.

US News rankings: Berkeley 15, UCLA 17
Admission rates: Berkeley 11%, UCLA 9.4%

Their rankings are comparable to Dartmouth (13) and Cornell (12). Berkeley would be better for engineering, UCLA for health and life sciences, but you’re splitting hairs here, the individual qualities will matter more. For many families depending on finances and post undergrad plans, UCLA or Cal in state would make more sense. It doesn’t mean those kids are not Ivy+ material, just that they need to consider a multitude of factors.


Nope. This thread already discusses at length why the US News rankings are wrong, so I’m not going to repeat that here.

UCLA is second tier after UC Berkeley and everybody knows this. Denying it is like trying to convince yourself that your second place consolation prize is just as good as first place. UCLA is just a satellite campus within the UC system. The flagship is Berkeley.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 13:07     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.



Not true at all. The gap between UC Berkeley and UCLA is huge. UC Berkeley is miles ahead.

It also doesn’t come close to any of the Ivy+ schools. Comparing any of the UCs to Dartmouth or Cornell is just delusional.


Cornell is hanging on by a thread - fourth tier Ivy, at best, and borderline Top 25 overall.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 13:04     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.



Not true at all. The gap between UC Berkeley and UCLA is huge. UC Berkeley is miles ahead.

It also doesn’t come close to any of the Ivy+ schools. Comparing any of the UCs to Dartmouth or Cornell is just delusional.


The gap is huge? You really are clueless.

US News rankings: Berkeley 15, UCLA 17
Admission rates: Berkeley 11%, UCLA 9.4%

Their rankings are comparable to Dartmouth (13) and Cornell (12). Berkeley would be better for engineering, UCLA for health and life sciences, but you’re splitting hairs here, the individual qualities will matter more. For many families depending on finances and post undergrad plans, UCLA or Cal in state would make more sense. It doesn’t mean those kids are not Ivy+ material, just that they need to consider a multitude of factors.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 12:57     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.



Not true at all. The gap between UC Berkeley and UCLA is huge. UC Berkeley is miles ahead.

It also doesn’t come close to any of the Ivy+ schools. Comparing any of the UCs to Dartmouth or Cornell is just delusional.


Dude, it’s over. You’re not a TA at UCLA any longer. Seek treatment for this obsession that consumes you.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 12:51     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:There can only be one flagship university in the UC system. That university is UC Berkeley. Everything else is second tier.


Correct. This is like getting rejected from University of Maryland College Park and going to UMBC. Every state has a flagship university. UMBC is great too though.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 12:43     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.


UCLA's freshman class size is more than 6,500. Of those more than 2,500 students (which is exceeds the entirety of all Ivy freshman class sizes except at Cornell and UPenn) have SATs below below 1290.

So you are just wrong. Obviously wrong, in fact. UCLA kids are below Ivy. Unless you are one of those flat earthers who believes SATs don't have predictive power of college readiness and success?



Check your math or more time. If the 25-75% SAT range is 1290-1510, and the class size is 6500 then only 1625 students scored below 1290, not 2500. Amazing how you can’t even do arithmetic, but are so quick to dump on high schoolers that are far brighter than you.

On one hand you say SAT matters, on the other hand the kid with 25 APs is not ivy material even though he scored 1580. He would have been fine at Ivy, and would have gotten in with a more polished application.


Not to mention, that data is at least 4-5 years old … and since then, TO schools (like most of the Ivys until the last year, along with UVA, etc.) began strategically using TO admissions to nudge their admitted students with lower test scores into applying TO (for the purpose of deceptively creating the appearance of a boost in their test score metrics).


UCLA bans the use of SATs in admissions. How do you think that has impacted its student quality? Do you think it has elevated it? Or do you think what happened at UCSD is most likely happening at UCLA? Do you even know how UCLA admits by high school?
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 12:41     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

There can only be one flagship university in the UC system. That university is UC Berkeley. Everything else is second tier.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 12:40     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.



Not true at all. The gap between UC Berkeley and UCLA is huge. UC Berkeley is miles ahead.

It also doesn’t come close to any of the Ivy+ schools. Comparing any of the UCs to Dartmouth or Cornell is just delusional.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 12:38     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.


UCLA's freshman class size is more than 6,500. Of those more than 2,500 students (which is exceeds the entirety of all Ivy freshman class sizes except at Cornell and UPenn) have SATs below below 1290.

So you are just wrong. Obviously wrong, in fact. UCLA kids are below Ivy. Unless you are one of those flat earthers who believes SATs don't have predictive power of college readiness and success?



Check your math or more time. If the 25-75% SAT range is 1290-1510, and the class size is 6500 then only 1625 students scored below 1290, not 2500. Amazing how you can’t even do arithmetic, but are so quick to dump on high schoolers that are far brighter than you.

On one hand you say SAT matters, on the other hand the kid with 25 APs is not ivy material even though he scored 1580. He would have been fine at Ivy, and would have gotten in with a more polished application.


Not to mention, that data is at least 4-5 years old … and since then, TO schools (like most of the Ivys until the last year, along with UVA, etc.) began strategically using TO admissions to nudge their admitted students with lower test scores into applying TO (for the purpose of deceptively creating the appearance of a boost in their test score metrics).
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 11:58     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.


UCLA's freshman class size is more than 6,500. Of those more than 2,500 students (which is exceeds the entirety of all Ivy freshman class sizes except at Cornell and UPenn) have SATs below below 1290.

So you are just wrong. Obviously wrong, in fact. UCLA kids are below Ivy. Unless you are one of those flat earthers who believes SATs don't have predictive power of college readiness and success?



Check your math or more time. If the 25-75% SAT range is 1290-1510, and the class size is 6500 then only 1625 students scored below 1290, not 2500. Amazing how you can’t even do arithmetic, but are so quick to dump on high schoolers that are far brighter than you.

On one hand you say SAT matters, on the other hand the kid with 25 APs is not ivy material even though he scored 1580. He would have been fine at Ivy, and would have gotten in with a more polished application.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 11:36     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.


UCLA's freshman class size is more than 6,500. Of those more than 2,500 students (which is exceeds the entirety of all Ivy freshman class sizes except at Cornell and UPenn) have SATs below below 1290.

So you are just wrong. Obviously wrong, in fact. UCLA kids are below Ivy. Unless you are one of those flat earthers who believes SATs don't have predictive power of college readiness and success?



Oh, boy - the disgruntled UCLA TA is back. 🤣🤣🤣
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 11:30     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.


UCLA's freshman class size is more than 6,500. Of those more than 2,500 students (which is exceeds the entirety of all Ivy freshman class sizes except at Cornell and UPenn) have SATs below below 1290.

So you are just wrong. Obviously wrong, in fact. UCLA kids are below Ivy. Unless you are one of those flat earthers who believes SATs don't have predictive power of college readiness and success?

Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 11:16     Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:Look, let's just be honest here. This kid was not ivy+ material. He also didn't get into his flagship university, UC Berkeley. Where he landed makes a lot of sense.


Berkeley and UCLA are considered equally prestigious. Rankings and admissions rates are about the same. For Neuroscience I’d give the edge to UCLA because of the medical school.

What’s Ivy+ material? Berkeley and UCLA kids are not below Ivy, you’re just being ridiculous. I’d take in state UCLA over Dartmouth or Cornell any day.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 10:39     Subject: Re:25 APs not enough for Top 10

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
If a school gives foreign language credit for the AP exam it won’t disqualify students from that credit just because they didn’t take 3-4 years of that foreign language in high school.


I never said it would. I agree it would give credit. I specifically said that in my second post.

I ALSO said that if a college has a list of high school courses it requires for admission--and many do--it often will not waive the requirement that APPLICANTS from US high schools take 3 or 4 years of foreign language in high school for an applicant for whom English is not their first language and who can do well on an AP test in their native language.

New York requires taking a foreign language to get a high school diploma. There are a heck of a lot of immigrants here, and they have to take foreign language in high school, just like everyone else. If the high school they attend offers their native language they can take that, but most choose not to do so. If they do take it, they can graduate. BUT they can't refuse to take any foreign language at all and still get a diploma.

The video maker lists no foreign language courses on his high school transcript.If he didn't take any foreign language, I suspect that hurt him. (He lives in California, which my googling indicates is not one of the 11 states which requires a foreign language to get a high school diploma.)



That’s simply not true: many top colleges accept a good AP score to fulfill high school foreign language requirement.

Also, is English not this guy’s first language though? If he was born here or came here as a small kid, English is still his first language (even if his parents speak Chinese at home).

I’m not sure why this hang up about his foreign language. His ECs and letters and essays may not be that great, so I’m not sure why he’s not happy with his great college outcomes!

So I checked out the short video. He got a B+ in Calc AB and a bunch of A- in other classes. He also doesn’t come across as someone with great social skills, so he should feel lucky for being waitlisted by quite a few T20 elite colleges.