Anonymous wrote:The school is always going to give top recs to the top kids. They need Ivy admits and that's their best shot to get them. they're not looking out for your kid, they're looking out for their cohort.

You are making big stretches regarding assumptions for recommendations. That 3.8 might be a bit weaker in one area and the letter writing teacher has no real insight to that, especially when the student has been the most committed to his/her subject of any kid in the last 10 years. This thread is sounding like the 'test score' threads where parents with the top stats are desperate to believe that their kids always have the advantages but it's just not so. I have one of those 3.95 kids and they did well. There were also 3.8 kids with equal results. I wouldn't die on the hill that is was DDs extra bit of GPA that was a differentiator because I don't believe that it was.

People have to be more realistic about their lists. Don’t just apply to the top 19 + Pitt (especially if you don’t even like Pitt, haven’t visited Pitt etc).

Nothing wrong with Pitt, but it’s become everyone’s safety - regardless of whether they like it (great school, but urban and a lot of hills).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does some of this depend on the LOR from the college counselor at the private school? Can’t they sort of indicate, consciously or not, who the better student is?

Yeah, and the 3.9 kid is going to get those recs. The teacher isn't going to say "this kid got all As in English classes but they're really pretty mediocre whereas this A minus student is best of my career." Doesn't work like that.

Unless there was some sort of hardship that the A minus kid had. And aren’t some schools actually looking for the kids who are slightly less than perfect (it’s good to experience some failure in life so they don’t fall apart when they see a C on an exam or paper)?

Sure, maybe if a parent died or if it's a refugee kid or something like that. But there isn't much hardship that is kosher. you don't want mention learning differences. You certainly don't want to mention mental illness.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does some of this depend on the LOR from the college counselor at the private school? Can’t they sort of indicate, consciously or not, who the better student is?

Yeah, and the 3.9 kid is going to get those recs. The teacher isn't going to say "this kid got all As in English classes but they're really pretty mediocre whereas this A minus student is best of my career." Doesn't work like that.

Unless there was some sort of hardship that the A minus kid had. And aren’t some schools actually looking for the kids who are slightly less than perfect (it’s good to experience some failure in life so they don’t fall apart when they see a C on an exam or paper)?

That's what we seem to hear. Wonder how much truth there is to that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does some of this depend on the LOR from the college counselor at the private school? Can’t they sort of indicate, consciously or not, who the better student is?

Yeah, and the 3.9 kid is going to get those recs. The teacher isn't going to say "this kid got all As in English classes but they're really pretty mediocre whereas this A minus student is best of my career." Doesn't work like that.

Unless there was some sort of hardship that the A minus kid had. And aren’t some schools actually looking for the kids who are slightly less than perfect (it’s good to experience some failure in life so they don’t fall apart when they see a C on an exam or paper)?

No there are not schools looking for less than perfect kids. At least in top schools.

Anonymous wrote:I've had two DC recent private school grads. GPA is king. I don't care if you're splitting atoms in your basement or brokering world peace. a close to perfect GPA wins every time. Wish it wasn't the case cause I example B type kids.

Yup, and being in the top 3-5 kids in the class is different from being in the top 10 percent which is different from being in top 20 percent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At elite private high schools, does a strong student with 3.95+ unweighted GPA cum laude top of the class with some extracurricular school impact or a student with 3.8 with deep experience in a subject and has impact both inside and outside of school (awards) do better in college admissions?

Assuming both unhooked?

Yes both unhooked

The school is always going to give top recs to the top kids. They need Ivy admits and that's their best shot to get them. they're not looking out for your kid, they're looking out for their cohort.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does some of this depend on the LOR from the college counselor at the private school? Can’t they sort of indicate, consciously or not, who the better student is?

Yeah, and the 3.9 kid is going to get those recs. The teacher isn't going to say "this kid got all As in English classes but they're really pretty mediocre whereas this A minus student is best of my career." Doesn't work like that.

Unless there was some sort of hardship that the A minus kid had. And aren’t some schools actually looking for the kids who are slightly less than perfect (it’s good to experience some failure in life so they don’t fall apart when they see a C on an exam or paper)?

Anonymous wrote:Does some of this depend on the LOR from the college counselor at the private school? Can’t they sort of indicate, consciously or not, who the better student is?

Yeah, and the 3.9 kid is going to get those recs. The teacher isn't going to say "this kid got all As in English classes but they're really pretty mediocre whereas this A minus student is best of my career." Doesn't work like that.

Anonymous wrote:At elite private high schools, does a strong student with 3.95+ unweighted GPA cum laude top of the class with some extracurricular school impact or a student with 3.8 with deep experience in a subject and has impact both inside and outside of school (awards) do better in college admissions?

Assuming both unhooked?

I've had two DC recent private school grads. GPA is king. I don't care if you're splitting atoms in your basement or brokering world peace. a close to perfect GPA wins every time. Wish it wasn't the case cause I example B type kids.

Anonymous wrote:At elite private high schools, does a strong student with 3.95+ unweighted GPA cum laude top of the class with some extracurricular school impact or a student with 3.8 with deep experience in a subject and has impact both inside and outside of school (awards) do better in college admissions?

All depends on the subject and the intended major of each.

Does some of this depend on the LOR from the college counselor at the private school? Can’t they sort of indicate, consciously or not, who the better student is?

Anonymous wrote:Impossible to answer because there are so many definitions of “does better.”

How are we supposed to know? Do you think there are dozens of admissions officers hanging around this forum, pondering your question?