Anonymous
Post 01/11/2025 23:00     Subject: Z list in action
We know two girls who used the z-list 10ish years ago. It happens.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2025 22:56     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:But I don't think any of us would like to be the Z list kid at Harvard, right? The PP who relayed the Z list kid's doubts and insecurities is spot on. You end up with a huge sense of inferiority, and then you get the worse grades in the class, and feel awful. I'd rather go where I can be more academically successful!


If my kid was a decent student and I had the wallet and clout to ensure an acceptance at Harvard or whatever their school of choice was, then I would definitely use that to my advantage.

The thing with schools like Harvard is that they do have a lot programs in place that can help my kid can become academically successful. Sure I can keep my worthless pride let the cards fall where they may and those cards may fall in the highly populated state schools- did I really do my kid a favor by having them be in classes that are 600 students big? My high horse won't get my kid far.

Anonymous
Post 01/11/2025 22:44     Subject: Z list in action
But I don't think any of us would like to be the Z list kid at Harvard, right? The PP who relayed the Z list kid's doubts and insecurities is spot on. You end up with a huge sense of inferiority, and then you get the worse grades in the class, and feel awful. I'd rather go where I can be more academically successful!
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2025 22:34     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:My DC attends a test-in public school where probably 90% of kids in a given year would be considered "unhooked." Due to the excellent academic reputation, there are a handful of private school types with Z-level hooks. As it happens my DC is best friends with one of these kids, so I am seeing this in action. And it's crazy. Kid has decent stats - high SAT, more A's than B's, basic ECs. Realistically kid is probably around the 50th percentile in the grade - eg not really Ivy material.

Kid was deferred from legacy Ivy REA but supposedly someone on the admissions committee personally called their parent to assure them of admission in RD as long as their midterm grades were strong (and, I assume, that a certain check was received...). I know this is how life works in the real world but it's kind of jaw dropping to see it in action.

Private school placements definitely need to be taken with a grain of salt. A lot of those kids would never, ever be at Ivies without Daddy's checkbook. And it's not surprising to hear unhooked kids are sailing through freshman year at Yale, Harvard, etc - the "competition" at these schools isn't all that.

Good luck to the rest of us.


Yes common. Happens at our private all the time. Some have Zlist, princeton does a forced princeton affiliated gap year. Meh. Who cares. Run your own race and be the unhooked kid at the ivy outshining the vast majority of kids, especially the hooked ones. If they do not get ivy just do the best with what you get
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2025 22:33     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a story from our top private too:

Kid was denied/deferred harvard REA.
Kid applied to UChicago ED 2 and was accepted
in June, kid renegaded his UChicago acceptance, and will be going to Harvard, but with NEXT year's class (taking a gap year).

One of the parents is a Harvard legacy, and famous. Family is rich.

There you go.


That is a good one.

In New York City, I see names on private school commit pages that are literally names of buildings or schools at Ivies.


Like these folks: https://www.propublica.org/article/hedge-fund-billionaires-donations-college-admissions-elite-universities
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2025 22:29     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:I have a story from our top private too:

Kid was denied/deferred harvard REA.
Kid applied to UChicago ED 2 and was accepted
in June, kid renegaded his UChicago acceptance, and will be going to Harvard, but with NEXT year's class (taking a gap year).

One of the parents is a Harvard legacy, and famous. Family is rich.

There you go.


That is a good one.

In New York City, I see names on private school commit pages that are literally names of buildings or schools at Ivies.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2025 22:27     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:I have a story from our top private too:

Kid was denied/deferred harvard REA.
Kid applied to UChicago ED 2 and was accepted
in June, kid renegaded his UChicago acceptance, and will be going to Harvard, but with NEXT year's class (taking a gap year).

One of the parents is a Harvard legacy, and famous. Family is rich.

There you go.


Is your top private worried about blow back from Chicago?
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2025 21:43     Subject: Z list in action
I have a story from our top private too:

Kid was denied/deferred harvard REA.
Kid applied to UChicago ED 2 and was accepted
in June, kid renegaded his UChicago acceptance, and will be going to Harvard, but with NEXT year's class (taking a gap year).

One of the parents is a Harvard legacy, and famous. Family is rich.

There you go.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2025 16:43     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:My DC attends a test-in public school where probably 90% of kids in a given year would be considered "unhooked." Due to the excellent academic reputation, there are a handful of private school types with Z-level hooks. As it happens my DC is best friends with one of these kids, so I am seeing this in action. And it's crazy. Kid has decent stats - high SAT, more A's than B's, basic ECs. Realistically kid is probably around the 50th percentile in the grade - eg not really Ivy material.

Kid was deferred from legacy Ivy REA but supposedly someone on the admissions committee personally called their parent to assure them of admission in RD as long as their midterm grades were strong (and, I assume, that a certain check was received...). I know this is how life works in the real world but it's kind of jaw dropping to see it in action.

Private school placements definitely need to be taken with a grain of salt. A lot of those kids would never, ever be at Ivies without Daddy's checkbook. And it's not surprising to hear unhooked kids are sailing through freshman year at Yale, Harvard, etc - the "competition" at these schools isn't all that.

Good luck to the rest of us.


OP, this is absurd. All private school placements should be taken with a grain of salt? And you think the level of competition is low at Ivies? Send your kid to one and get back to us.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2025 13:15     Subject: Re:Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My Ivy kid certainly didn't have mommy or daddy's checkbook or any hooks or special prep, private counselors. He did have perfect grades, scores and lots of activities he was committed to (but they were fairly common--but cleared he loved them).

His roommate is a middle class public school kid (a very, very smart one).

You really shouldn't make judgements. I had people saying my kid got in on athletics...for a sport he stopped playing freshmen year of HS. People talk out of their *ss.


I am not saying ONLY hooked kids get in. That would be ridiculous. The Ivies wish they had that many billionaire donors.

DC's friend is apparently kind of embarrassed about this. Told DC that everyone will know they are far less qualified than the kids who were flat out rejected in the ED round. And isn't even really that interested in the school, but bowing to what I'm sure is immense family pressure. FWIW my DC told them they should get over it and enjoy. I'm the one who feels annoyed.


Good on your DC. The real shame here is that the kid is not interested in the school. I hope he is able to land at a school that he will be happy at and if it turns out to be this Ivy, then I hope the people surrounding him remain supportive (including his best friend's mother).
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2025 12:45     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:I don't get the 'Z list' reference. Sorry, new here.


google????
https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-the-harvard-z-list
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2025 12:44     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, it works like this. Someone has to fund the endowment and pay full freight + extra.
Who's it going to be?

Their alum, who are insanely wealthy?


And who want their kids to go to the same school they have been funding and get all the benefits...

Just get rid of legacy. The parents stop being crybabies who demand unfair admission when you take away the carrot dangling right on their foreheads.

This belief that legacy is some necessary means of fundraising is ridiculous. If you have donor class money, you have the capacity to get your kid into Harvard, if you desire it that greatly, without cheating.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2025 12:41     Subject: Z list in action
I don't get the 'Z list' reference. Sorry, new here.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2025 11:43     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, it works like this. Someone has to fund the endowment and pay full freight + extra.
Who's it going to be?

Their alum, who are insanely wealthy?


And who want their kids to go to the same school they have been funding and get all the benefits...


sometimes you need more than the alum....and btw children of wealthy alum can be Z list too!
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2025 11:38     Subject: Z list in action
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, it works like this. Someone has to fund the endowment and pay full freight + extra.
Who's it going to be?

Their alum, who are insanely wealthy?


And who want their kids to go to the same school they have been funding and get all the benefits...