Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:54     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:Kids are loving CMU now. Not sure what’s they’re doing different than 10 years ago.


Also JHU for humanities is underrated and possible w lower grades and high schools. ED helpful


What kinds of kids are loving CMU these days based on your observation?
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:52     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
What on earth is a “top 20 private” around here? Once you get beyond the top handful of DMV privates college admissions are no better than the publics.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:50     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:What is your DS's unweighted GPA? Is it at least 3.7 unweighted at your top 20 private HS? Or is middle of the pack at your private 3.5 unweighted?

What is your DS's rigor? How has he done in "most advanced" classes?

Does his GPA have an upward or downward trajectory from 9th to 11th?

SAT is great but a small part of the picture. I feel like the most important things (GPA in context and rigor) are missing so it's hard to say.


Agree on the rigor part. That’s the number one thing at our private.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:47     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:+ male
+ full pay
+ regional awards (multi state)

Interests in applied ethics and AI. Could apply as philosophy.

School is reallly pushing Chicago and he doesn’t want that so looking at options p

I wouldn't call regional awards "very good EC," at least not for ivies. No. That's why school is pushing Chicago.


school may be pushing Chicago bcs it helps move more kids into a T20 bucket - which is good on the HS's brochure. This is not the kids concern. Best fit is.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:46     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:+ male
+ full pay
+ regional awards (multi state)

Interests in applied ethics and AI. Could apply as philosophy.

School is reallly pushing Chicago and he doesn’t want that so looking at options p

I wouldn't call regional awards "very good EC," at least not for ivies. No. That's why school is pushing Chicago.


ridic. depends on the award. my own kid's best award was being a state debate champ (at HYP). there are several regional awards I can think of that are very important, in both humanities and stem. (I can think of one in debate that covers states from Ohio to east coast - from Maine to FL)
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:45     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
What is your DS's unweighted GPA? Is it at least 3.7 unweighted at your top 20 private HS? Or is middle of the pack at your private 3.5 unweighted?

What is your DS's rigor? How has he done in "most advanced" classes?

Does his GPA have an upward or downward trajectory from 9th to 11th?

SAT is great but a small part of the picture. I feel like the most important things (GPA in context and rigor) are missing so it's hard to say.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:43     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Rice
WashU

Or shoot shot with brown ED1 (spin those interests as interdisciplinary and central for open curriculum) then ED2 to one of above?


100% this.


Brown draws mostly URM from our school.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:41     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:Rice
WashU

Or shoot shot with brown ED1 (spin those interests as interdisciplinary and central for open curriculum) then ED2 to one of above?


100% this.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:37     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:+ male
+ full pay
+ regional awards (multi state)

Interests in applied ethics and AI. Could apply as philosophy.

School is reallly pushing Chicago and he doesn’t want that so looking at options p

I wouldn't call regional awards "very good EC," at least not for ivies. No. That's why school is pushing Chicago.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:37     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
brown goes to 3.7 gpa at our feeder. most won't get in at that GPA, but possible. awards might be a big help (or mean nothing. depends on award)
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:35     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sounds like Chicago would be the highest status place that would like your DC's profile. Why is he hesitant? That info could help us suggest other options.

I'd think for this student a massive state flagship might be interesting.

Depending on the awards, maybe Brown or a SLAC.


Brown is not going to be excited about an applicant who is middle of the class in terms of GPA. SATs are good, but tons of other kids have that.


Yes, but if applicant is a boy and has big / important awards, Brown might work.



DP, My kids are at a feeder school and per our naviance, Brown has zero interest in middle of the pack gpa kids. All boys school, btw.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:34     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:If you are prestige hunting (which it sounds like you are) then you need to go to Chicago. It's the one top20 that will take middle of the class kids from our private who either want prestige or are academically minded kids who for some reason or another have a lower GPA. In fact, all 5 who are attending this year from our school this year were outside of the top20%.

You're going to have a really hard time with other top20s if you're middle of the class because the kids above yours will also have SATs in the 1500s and colleges don't care if it's 1530 or 1560.



I am wondering how much prestige will be there a couple years down the road, if they continue this ED practice to get middle of pack private school kids.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:34     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
depends on the feeder.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:32     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sounds like Chicago would be the highest status place that would like your DC's profile. Why is he hesitant? That info could help us suggest other options.

I'd think for this student a massive state flagship might be interesting.

Depending on the awards, maybe Brown or a SLAC.


Brown is not going to be excited about an applicant who is middle of the class in terms of GPA. SATs are good, but tons of other kids have that.


brown will take middle of the class from collegiate and trinity, for example. male boost. most apply early
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 11:32     Subject: Where to apply: middle of the class but from T20 private hs. 1560 sat. Very good EC in school and outside.
Anonymous wrote:+ male
+ full pay
+ regional awards (multi state)

Interests in applied ethics and AI. Could apply as philosophy.

School is reallly pushing Chicago and he doesn’t want that so looking at options p

I would suggest looking into SLACs. Ethics and AI should be a perfect fit for Bowdin. Hastings just donated a bunch to Bowdin for that field.
Williams, Pomona, Amherst, these are all excellent fit.