Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 16:10     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Anonymous wrote:In my experience with 1 kid at a HYSP (a 1510), one other in at another Ivy (1490) and one just accepted to a top public (34 ACT) - all no hooks - 1500 and average ECs are fine. Factors that personally I think move the needle:

1) Full pay
2) Essays and EC story (doesn't need to be leadership experience but able to highlight definitive contributions, lessons / skills learned, links between activity choices and major interests all tied together in an interesting and authentic way)
3) Predictive profile (I strongly suspect there is AI being used that identify which students are likely to graduate on time, employable afterwards, and avoid protesting)

I agree that your DC needs a balance list with likely schools they actually like (and ideally ones that will provide decisions prior to winter break such as Fordham) but it's also okay to aim high.


This post is complete and total bullshit. I mean, wow.

Man, I really need to get off of this website.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 16:05     Subject: Re:reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It did a really bad job. Most of these are reaches - including most of your targets. UF and UMD are targets. You don't have a single likely here.


What is the problem? SAT not high enough? Or ECs are not strong enough?

1500 certainly clears the bar, no one will have doubt on her academics again.


Too many students with the same SAT and ECs.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 16:05     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
1500 and a 4.0 is impressive (although you don't say much about the courses your kid is taking and their rigor). But yes, it's a tough environment for elite colleges, so best to throw in a healthy number of safeties along with the reaches.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 16:04     Subject: Re:reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It did a really bad job. Most of these are reaches - including most of your targets. UF and UMD are targets. You don't have a single likely here.


What is the problem? SAT not high enough? Or ECs are not strong enough?

1500 certainly clears the bar, no one will have doubt on her academics again.


The problem is the acceptance rates listed are wrong.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 16:03     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
He needs safeties. Build the list from the bottom-up
Pitt? for an early acceptance. Need several others though
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 16:01     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Oh - and also southern schools are really popular right now. So that skews the numbers and acceptance rates. So schools with rankings comparable to Vandy outside of the south are much more likely admits than Vandy itself.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:59     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
In my experience with 1 kid at a HYSP (a 1510), one other in at another Ivy (1490) and one just accepted to a top public (34 ACT) - all no hooks - 1500 and average ECs are fine. Factors that personally I think move the needle:

1) Full pay
2) Essays and EC story (doesn't need to be leadership experience but able to highlight definitive contributions, lessons / skills learned, links between activity choices and major interests all tied together in an interesting and authentic way)
3) Predictive profile (I strongly suspect there is AI being used that identify which students are likely to graduate on time, employable afterwards, and avoid protesting)

I agree that your DC needs a balance list with likely schools they actually like (and ideally ones that will provide decisions prior to winter break such as Fordham) but it's also okay to aim high.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:48     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Are these your chances in college vine or ? Where are you getting these percentages because they are not correct.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:19     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
ED WashU. Penn and Duke very unrealistic.

Vanderbilt is absolutely not a high target. Kids who get in with 1500 are from feeder privates.

Be more realistic. Know someone last year who applied with a 1500 (mom told me), rejected by Brown ED then shut out during RD bc he aimed too high and got caught up with yield management with his only one real safety.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:08     Subject: Re:reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Anonymous wrote:It did a really bad job. Most of these are reaches - including most of your targets. UF and UMD are targets. You don't have a single likely here.


What is the problem? SAT not high enough? Or ECs are not strong enough?

1500 certainly clears the bar, no one will have doubt on her academics again.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:06     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OOS to UNC is not 30-40%. It's 8-9%. My kid just applied EA with 4.0 UW and 1560 and considers it a reach.


Same for OOS to UT Austin. About 8-10% on average, but sub-5% for engineering and business.


Agree- UTAustin out of state is hard
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:05     Subject: Re:reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
It did a really bad job. Most of these are reaches - including most of your targets. UF and UMD are targets. You don't have a single likely here.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:03     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Best advice we've heard is any school that accepts fewer than 15% of applicants should be considered a reach. Helps keep things in perspective and realistic.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:02     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Anonymous wrote:OOS to UNC is not 30-40%. It's 8-9%. My kid just applied EA with 4.0 UW and 1560 and considers it a reach.


Same for OOS to UT Austin. About 8-10% on average, but sub-5% for engineering and business.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:01     Subject: reality for 1500 SAT (no SLAC)
Anonymous wrote:Kid is 1500 on his SATs, which after 3x is probably where it will stay. 4.0 Trying to build list and don't have counselor. Strong extracurriculars from area public but no crazy summer programs or sports that are recruitable. Interested in larger schools. Undecided for major. How did my chat gpt counselor do? Did any kids you know with these profiles get in? He liked his visit to Michigan and UVA. We love Wash U. Is Vandy & Duke or Penn even in play or a waste of application time.

🔴 REACH (1500 = still reach, but legit)

RD
University of Pennsylvania
~8–12%

Duke University
~10–15%


🟠 REACH / HIGH TARGET
Washington University in St. Louis
~30–35% (ED)
or
Vanderbilt University
~25–30% (ED)
---

University of Michigan
~40–50% (EA)

🟢 TARGET

EA
University of Virginia
~35–45%

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
~30–40% (OOS)

RD
Boston College
~45–55%

🟢 LIKELY / TARGET (1500 = strong)

University of Texas at Austin (EA)
~45–55% (OOS)

Villanova University (RD)
~60–70%

🟢 LIKELY (1500 = very strong)

University of Florida (EA)
~70–80%

University of Maryland (EA)
*~80%+


Your ChatGPT advisor was crap. Penn, Duke, and Vandy aren't going to happen. Waste of applications. UNC OOS is tough as well. UVa if you are in state is a target/reach. UT OOS is a reach for most majors and not happening for CS. Your likelys are targets.

All of the odds are overstated, just too many kids in your bucket.