Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:16     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Boston College


BC has a legacy preference as does Georgetown

Not true for BC. Don't know about Georgetown. If any, it's a weak preference. Jesuit high school will be more of a preference.


Georgetown has a pretty strong legacy preference and I don't that BC is any different.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:14     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:All of the smart kids have hooks. That is what makes them smart.


My child has straight As, 13 APs (almost all 5s), strong test scores, and for fun reads about politics and does math. But he's never won any competitions, written anything outside of class, played sports, entered a science contest, or led anything, and he comes from a well-educated family. I think that's what people mean by smart but without hooks.

The other responses have been helpful.

DP. Mine was admitted ED to Northwestern.

Authentic, genuine ECs and thoughtful essays. Nothing especially "impressive" by DCUM striver standards.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:13     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:All of the smart kids have hooks. That is what makes them smart.


My child has straight As, 13 APs (almost all 5s), strong test scores, and for fun reads about politics and does math. But he's never won any competitions, written anything outside of class, played sports, entered a science contest, or led anything, and he comes from a well-educated family. I think that's what people mean by smart but without hooks.

The other responses have been helpful.


So no results? The grades and test scores are meaningless without results. That is how life works.


Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:12     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Boston College


BC has a legacy preference as does Georgetown


It also has a preference for rich Catholic kids or rich Episcopalians from the right schools.

Here he is - our forum BC basher here to takeover the thread with lies.


Dp, but are you disputing BC has some parochial feeder schools? Nearly every private has some feeders.

DP. Jesuit high school counselors typically have a relationship with BC admissions. Not necessarily feeder, but the result is sufficiently similar, in that such students should easily be able to discuss Jesuit educational values after 4 years of theology classes. Still, BC looks for a high GPA.

A clarification, "parochial" schools are run by the parish/diocese. Jesuit high schools are not parochial schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:10     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:All of the smart kids have hooks. That is what makes them smart.


My child has straight As, 13 APs (almost all 5s), strong test scores, and for fun reads about politics and does math. But he's never won any competitions, written anything outside of class, played sports, entered a science contest, or led anything, and he comes from a well-educated family. I think that's what people mean by smart but without hooks.

The other responses have been helpful.


So no results? The grades and test scores are meaningless without results. That is how life works.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:58     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:All of the smart kids have hooks. That is what makes them smart.


My child has straight As, 13 APs (almost all 5s), strong test scores, and for fun reads about politics and does math. But he's never won any competitions, written anything outside of class, played sports, entered a science contest, or led anything, and he comes from a well-educated family. I think that's what people mean by smart but without hooks.

The other responses have been helpful.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:50     Subject: Re:Options for smart kids without hooks
are we calling full pay a hook? does "without hooks" mean you need financial aid?
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:48     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Boston College


BC has a legacy preference as does Georgetown

Not true for BC. Don't know about Georgetown. If any, it's a weak preference. Jesuit high school will be more of a preference.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:47     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Boston College


BC has a legacy preference as does Georgetown


It also has a preference for rich Catholic kids or rich Episcopalians from the right schools.

Here he is - our forum BC basher here to takeover the thread with lies.


Dp, but are you disputing BC has some parochial feeder schools? Nearly every private has some feeders.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:45     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Boston College


BC has a legacy preference as does Georgetown


It also has a preference for rich Catholic kids or rich Episcopalians from the right schools.

Here he is - our forum BC basher here to takeover the thread with lies.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:43     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Boston College


BC has a legacy preference as does Georgetown


It also has a preference for rich Catholic kids or rich Episcopalians from the right schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:37     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:Boston College


BC has a legacy preference as does Georgetown
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:36     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So if all the kids with hooks like legacy, athletics, first gen, national awards and pro level art go to HYPS, what is the best schools for normal, extremely smart, hardworking kids with normal ec's? I think I'd like my dc to be surrounded by kids that fall into the latter group.


I'm not sure what you mean by "normal" ECs, but there are lots of schools that want the best and brightest regardless of legacy and connections and hooks -

MIT
Rice
Northwestern
Vanderbilt
Chicago
CalTech
Cornell
Johns Hopkins
Notre Dame
CMU
WashU
Emory
Harvey Mudd
Pomona
Bowdoin
Swarthmore
Michigan
Berkeley
UCLA
Georgia Tech
West Point
Annapolis
Air Force

And the honors programs at most state flagships will have super smart and accomplished students, particularly these days as more and more families are priced out of private universities.


Vandy not only has a parent legacy but also a sibling legacy. ND gives more of a legacy bump than literally any other college. NW also has a very strong kegracy preference. Maybe don’t answer if you don’t know.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:36     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Honors programs at state schools like UGA, Clemson, etc.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:30     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Boston College