Anonymous wrote:Did those who were waitlisted at GW or AU go on official tours? I know at AU, reaching out to admissions with questions targeted towards your major is advised. They want LOTS of love.

Accepted at GW, waitlisted at AU.
Yes, we went on tours to both places. I believe my kid met with representatives when they came to the high school. I don't think we did much else with either of these schools -- we are local and know many alumni and there's tons of information online, and we honestly didn't actually have many questions in the prospective student phase. We had enough good information to know that my kid wanted to apply.

In retrospect, we didn't "play the game" enough, especially with AU, to demonstrate interest.

We mistakenly thought excellent gpa, challenging transcript, many APs (all 5s so far), excellent SAT score, strong ECs, strong essay, strong letter of recommendation would be enough. (Also both parents are AU alums, though I understand that is no longer a factor.) Silly us. We should have made up some questions to admissions, and should have opened all the emails, and gone through more of the demonstrated interest hoops.

Admissions is impossible, for the students (and their families) and also for the admissions staff.

Did those who were waitlisted at GW or AU go on official tours? I know at AU, reaching out to admissions with questions targeted towards your major is advised. They want LOTS of love.

Anonymous wrote:Child got waitlisted with 3.7 uw 4.1 w and 35 ACT, do we feel right to be shocked about this?

My kid has similar test scores a higher GPA. In at GWU with a merit scholarship... but waitlisted from AU, which was our shock.

I think it's really hard to understand what goes into these decisions. Common app and test optional have caused application numbers to go through the roof, and therefore I think essays are mattering more than stats. Demonstrated interest is a factor in some schools (was very important at AU, considered at GW). In my opinion, yield protection is a thing, and it makes sense that colleges do that so they aren't ultimately overenrolled or underenrolled, but ugh, it sometimes leaves out some excellent students.

The New York magazine had a great article this past week called "Inside the Craziest College Admissions Season Ever" that explained a ton of this. It lessened some of my shock feeling about some of the results we've received. Hopefully your child has received some other YES decisions and can pivot into the best school for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child got waitlisted with 3.7 uw 4.1 w and 35 ACT, do we feel right to be shocked about this?

GW has a 50% acceptance rate, a high percentage of test-optional applicants, and a relatively low percentage of incoming students from the top tenth of their high school class (43%). So yes, your kid's getting waitlisted is shocking and probably the result of yield protection.

So... here's what happened. GW accepts students with far higher stats, as has been demonstrated in this thread, and gives them merit aid to retain them. This is a kid who should have been entirely average for GW - not incredibly desirable, but not at the bottom of the heap either. The reason to "yield protect" is not because of stats, it's because clearly the essays did not reflect a particular interest for GW.

I see that a lot of posters don't quite understand how yield protection works. They're not going to boot out an excellent profile just because they fear that kid will hoof it over to Harvard. No. They look at essays to deduce interest in their college specifically.

Which is why, despite what some idiot posters spew on DCUM, kids should try to customize their essays to each college. You can do that on the Common App: tweak the personal statement before sending it to each institution. Or work in that college in another essay. Don't just send out the same few set pieces mindlessly to all and sundry.

I think your advice would be better heard if you don’t call fellow parents “idiots”

Because I've been on this College forum for a long time, and have heard a very disappointing number of posters claim essays don't matter. They do, even for STEM majors. And the number of people who cannot grasp what "yield protection" actually means is also rather astounding.

If someone wants to be a hands-off parent when it comes to college applications, it's their prerogative. But if you're going to get into the weeds, then please put yourselves in a college admissions officer's shoes, and understand why they do what they do.

Anonymous wrote:Must be protecting yield

Shut up, idiot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child got waitlisted with 3.7 uw 4.1 w and 35 ACT, do we feel right to be shocked about this?

GW has a 50% acceptance rate, a high percentage of test-optional applicants, and a relatively low percentage of incoming students from the top tenth of their high school class (43%). So yes, your kid's getting waitlisted is shocking and probably the result of yield protection.

So... here's what happened. GW accepts students with far higher stats, as has been demonstrated in this thread, and gives them merit aid to retain them. This is a kid who should have been entirely average for GW - not incredibly desirable, but not at the bottom of the heap either. The reason to "yield protect" is not because of stats, it's because clearly the essays did not reflect a particular interest for GW.

I see that a lot of posters don't quite understand how yield protection works. They're not going to boot out an excellent profile just because they fear that kid will hoof it over to Harvard. No. They look at essays to deduce interest in their college specifically.

Which is why, despite what some idiot posters spew on DCUM, kids should try to customize their essays to each college. You can do that on the Common App: tweak the personal statement before sending it to each institution. Or work in that college in another essay. Don't just send out the same few set pieces mindlessly to all and sundry.

I think your advice would be better heard if you don’t call fellow parents “idiots”

Anonymous wrote:25k off 90k is still a lot of k’s.

Sure is…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child got waitlisted with 3.7 uw 4.1 w and 35 ACT, do we feel right to be shocked about this?

GW has a 50% acceptance rate, a high percentage of test-optional applicants, and a relatively low percentage of incoming students from the top tenth of their high school class (43%). So yes, your kid's getting waitlisted is shocking and probably the result of yield protection.

So... here's what happened. GW accepts students with far higher stats, as has been demonstrated in this thread, and gives them merit aid to retain them. This is a kid who should have been entirely average for GW - not incredibly desirable, but not at the bottom of the heap either. The reason to "yield protect" is not because of stats, it's because clearly the essays did not reflect a particular interest for GW.

I see that a lot of posters don't quite understand how yield protection works. They're not going to boot out an excellent profile just because they fear that kid will hoof it over to Harvard. No. They look at essays to deduce interest in their college specifically.

Which is why, despite what some idiot posters spew on DCUM, kids should try to customize their essays to each college. You can do that on the Common App: tweak the personal statement before sending it to each institution. Or work in that college in another essay. Don't just send out the same few set pieces mindlessly to all and sundry.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes-- mine got a Presidential scholarship ($20K), listed in the letter.

Did you file for financial aid? I'm wondering if that's why it wasn't there for my kid. 5s on all AP exams; uw4.0/4.4w and 36 ACT.

^ from a tough private HS.

Anonymous wrote:Yes-- mine got a Presidential scholarship ($20K), listed in the letter.

Did you file for financial aid? I'm wondering if that's why it wasn't there for my kid. 5s on all AP exams; uw4.0/4.4w and 36 ACT.

Anonymous wrote:25k off 90k is still a lot of k’s.

I know, right? I was hoping they’d get more, but we could swing the difference if they choose GW.

Anonymous wrote:Child got waitlisted with 3.7 uw 4.1 w and 35 ACT, do we feel right to be shocked about this?

GW has a 50% acceptance rate, a high percentage of test-optional applicants, and a relatively low percentage of incoming students from the top tenth of their high school class (43%). So yes, your kid's getting waitlisted is shocking and probably the result of yield protection.

As a reference point: DS was accepted to the Elliott School last year with 20k Presidential award. He had 4.67 wGPA, 35 ACT and a dozen AP courses.

I think the Elliott School must be a little more competitive than some of the rest of the school.

25k off 90k is still a lot of k’s.

DC accepted with $25k Presidential Scholarship!