Anonymous
06/17/2026 13:16
Subject: Re:Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:So the smart ones of the group (like myself) started searching and found new positions (both internally and externally).
This.
To the degree practicable, I’ve never played a rigged game.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 13:16
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.
If you look at the most recent cds (after going back to test required) it’s very few kids and most are likely hooked in some
way. The 25 percentile for SAT is 1510.
25% isn't a lot?
Anonymous
06/17/2026 12:45
Subject: Game is rigged
for private school about 500 HHIAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I’m not rich so no donations.Anonymous wrote:Its not rigging if OP does it.
You’re not rich, but your child goes to private school?
What’s the threshold to qualify as rich in your mind?
Middle class kids go to private schools, they also have scholarships for low income students.
What is your threshold for middle class?
Anonymous
06/17/2026 12:44
Subject: Game is rigged
Of course it’s rigged. It’s been rigged since there were colleges. What else in this country isn’t rigged?
Anonymous
06/17/2026 12:44
Subject: Game is rigged
Sometimes, this kind of discussion really makes me wonder what's the goal of higher education. Even adults are not considering these top elite colleges are "research" institutes but "branding'
It is disappointing.
It is disappointing.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 12:41
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.
If you look at the most recent cds (after going back to test required) it’s very few kids and most are likely hooked in some
way. The 25 percentile for SAT is 1510.
I think a quarter of the kids under 1510 is pretty significant.
Not when you realize that most of the kids are either athletic recruits, big donors, or FGLI/low income. We know from the Harvard law suit that legacies aren't likely to be in the bottom 25 percent. It's not helping your unhooked white or Asian kid going to public school in Montgomery county with a 1450.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 12:38
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.
Yes. What schools at this level are looking for are students that are likely to be prominent in the years ahead. HYPS could fill their classes ten times over with perfect GPAs and test scores. But they don't. Harvard will take mediocre students like Jared Kushner - to use as an example - over a valedictorian every single day of the week. Someone like 18 year old Jared Kushner had the wealth and connections to become significant. His father donated even $2.5 million to Harvard to make it happen. And now here we are - 2003 Harvard grad Jared Kushner is running American foreign policy. Noah and Charlotte, who are the best students in the history of Des Moines, have no chance against Manhattan wealth and all the privileges that come with it.
But I think that's just HYPS. The rest of the top 20 would be very happy to hear from Noah and Charlotte.
It's definitely not just HYPS. Every school in the T20 is going for 20 percent FGLI, 20 percent low income (realize there's some overlap between these first two), big donors (Hello Vandy -- where the buy in is about a tenth of a top Ivy), legacy (except JHU) and athletic recruits.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 12:16
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Shocking.
Ain't it?
OP, are you first gen? Did you go to college in this country? If you did, I don't know why you are so baffled. 30 years ago, when we went through the process, it was exactly the same, except for fewer international applicants....but legacy Chad and wealthy Heather always had a leg up.
Quite true. The schools weren't nearly as selective because attendance was more regional as well. The elite schools in every region got the vast majority of top students from their regions and the whole 'prestige' thing was not rampant among the MC/UMC. The UC already had their target schools based on social circles and went to them. They knew the system.
Now we have an information explosion with copious amounts of information at our fingertips, ease of application with the common app, far more people willing to travel for the 'best' school, a huge international/immigrant pool who is far more prestige focused than the previous middle class and the result is far higher numbers of applications to any individual school and the resulting angst because of the numbers. Now, the UC have the resources to work the current system, the end results are basically the same.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 11:53
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what you mean by rigged. An example from our private school on someone admitted to a non-HYP ivy.
Top 10% of class
One of 5 students offered 2 APs as a Freshman, based on entrance exam (Bio & Geo)
11 Total APs 4s and 5s on all of them (Calc/Stats/Bio/Chem/Phys)
1450 SAT (recruited athlete, so stopped taking the test)
3.8UW (school is known as a harsh grading school)
Top 10 nationally in their event at Track and Field.
State Champion F&F. County Record Holder T&F
School Rock Band
Chess Club
Beloved by Faculty, fellow students and the administration/College Guidance office.
Also, 3rd Generation Legacy
Is it rigged because this kid got in? Eventhough their SAT is below your kid's.
A lot of legacy kids are like this. Another kid from school at HYP...similar stats. Double Legacy. Lacrosse all-state. Top Math student in HS. 1430 SAT; 4.0UW.
Where does your kid compete with these kids?
A 1430 SAT student does not belong at HYP. Textbook example of a rigged system.
They offer the school more than the OP's kid. This board is like a bunch of adults with arrested development. They don't know how the world works, and have an almost naive view of the world.
Np to this thread.
I couldn’t agree more. The people who comment on this forum now are delusional about the world and college admissions and what it should or should not be.
No one cares what idyllic system people want. There’s a system in place now & you have to play the game. Figure out your lane and work it.
This is not rocket science and all these people whining are truthfully just annoying and sore losers. They’re wasting their time when they could be doing something productive actually helped their kid.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 11:49
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.
Yes. What schools at this level are looking for are students that are likely to be prominent in the years ahead. HYPS could fill their classes ten times over with perfect GPAs and test scores. But they don't. Harvard will take mediocre students like Jared Kushner - to use as an example - over a valedictorian every single day of the week. Someone like 18 year old Jared Kushner had the wealth and connections to become significant. His father donated even $2.5 million to Harvard to make it happen. And now here we are - 2003 Harvard grad Jared Kushner is running American foreign policy. Noah and Charlotte, who are the best students in the history of Des Moines, have no chance against Manhattan wealth and all the privileges that come with it.
But I think that's just HYPS. The rest of the top 20 would be very happy to hear from Noah and Charlotte.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 11:45
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.
If you look at the most recent cds (after going back to test required) it’s very few kids and most are likely hooked in some
way. The 25 percentile for SAT is 1510.
I think a quarter of the kids under 1510 is pretty significant.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 11:35
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:Shocking.
Ain't it?
OP, are you first gen? Did you go to college in this country? If you did, I don't know why you are so baffled. 30 years ago, when we went through the process, it was exactly the same, except for fewer international applicants....but legacy Chad and wealthy Heather always had a leg up.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 11:35
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.
If you look at the most recent cds (after going back to test required) it’s very few kids and most are likely hooked in some
way. The 25 percentile for SAT is 1510.
Adding this is for Harvard.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 11:34
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.
If you look at the most recent cds (after going back to test required) it’s very few kids and most are likely hooked in some
way. The 25 percentile for SAT is 1510.
Anonymous
06/17/2026 11:08
Subject: Game is rigged
Anonymous wrote:I think everyone would be surprised by the number of kids with 1400 SATS admitted to the HYPSs, even kids who are not hooked in any way but just overall extraordinary applicants.
Oh, and Bs too, even from public school. DC was in this past cycle so I know... lol.