Anonymous
06/08/2026 19:46
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Every school is a surprise now.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 19:37
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
Honestly, look at some of the LinkedIn profiles for kids going to HYPSM - it's a giant wakeup call. Your DD sounds lovely, but not that tier.
Try to ED to Vanderbilt, WashU, Rice, etc. for English and don't mention STEM at all.
creepy
Anonymous
06/08/2026 19:16
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
If aiming for engineering at a top school make sure she has at least BC Calc (preferably junior year with something more advanced senior year) and physics (preferably AP). People here are reacting to the fact that you articulated her humanities portfolio and didn't mention STEM-related stuff, so she may not seem to schools like a good fit for engineering (just based on what you wrote; of course you didn't write everything).
But engineering programs are requirement-heavy and requirements begin in the first semester (because courses build on each other). So she needs to apply to the engineering school and not the humanities program-- it's easy to transfer out of engineering and a pain to transfer in to engineering.
Also, I've heard from former AOs that they really don't consider the second major listed. They read your application through the lens of the major you list first. I'm not sure how that would work, though, given that a lot of universities have direct entry into engineering programs (so she'd need to apply to the engineering school), but based on your description here, her profile/awards don't really 'fit' engineering.
None of this is fatal, but if she's not doing something STEM-y this summer, it might be a good time to do that. (Better yet, something STEMy related to the arts-- like design something or other. That would give a great hook to somehow link the two together in applications so that AOs view the art part of her interest as an asset and something that makes sense.
Thank you, this is very helpful. She will be Physics C, Linear Algebra and third year of CS at her school in senior year in addition to AP Spanish, Advanced English courses. She will do Beaverworks program this summer. She is also interning at a startup this summer. But her STEM profile is not as strong. - op
If she’s in the top 5%, with this rigor and decent ECs, she should have no problem getting into a T20. There’s no need to have national awards unless you’re targeting HYPSM.
I didn’t read all of the reddit profiles shared above. But 2 of the 3 I clicked on were hooked. They’re irrelevant here.
The Penn legacy got into a bunch of other ivies. Clearly it was not the legacy that did it in those other schools. What was it?
What were the other hooks?
Anonymous
06/08/2026 19:01
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
If aiming for engineering at a top school make sure she has at least BC Calc (preferably junior year with something more advanced senior year) and physics (preferably AP). People here are reacting to the fact that you articulated her humanities portfolio and didn't mention STEM-related stuff, so she may not seem to schools like a good fit for engineering (just based on what you wrote; of course you didn't write everything).
But engineering programs are requirement-heavy and requirements begin in the first semester (because courses build on each other). So she needs to apply to the engineering school and not the humanities program-- it's easy to transfer out of engineering and a pain to transfer in to engineering.
Also, I've heard from former AOs that they really don't consider the second major listed. They read your application through the lens of the major you list first. I'm not sure how that would work, though, given that a lot of universities have direct entry into engineering programs (so she'd need to apply to the engineering school), but based on your description here, her profile/awards don't really 'fit' engineering.
None of this is fatal, but if she's not doing something STEM-y this summer, it might be a good time to do that. (Better yet, something STEMy related to the arts-- like design something or other. That would give a great hook to somehow link the two together in applications so that AOs view the art part of her interest as an asset and something that makes sense.
Thank you, this is very helpful. She will be Physics C, Linear Algebra and third year of CS at her school in senior year in addition to AP Spanish, Advanced English courses. She will do Beaverworks program this summer. She is also interning at a startup this summer. But her STEM profile is not as strong. - op
If she’s in the top 5%, with this rigor and decent ECs, she should have no problem getting into a T20. There’s no need to have national awards unless you’re targeting HYPSM.
I didn’t read all of the reddit profiles shared above. But 2 of the 3 I clicked on were hooked. They’re irrelevant here.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 17:55
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
If aiming for engineering at a top school make sure she has at least BC Calc (preferably junior year with something more advanced senior year) and physics (preferably AP). People here are reacting to the fact that you articulated her humanities portfolio and didn't mention STEM-related stuff, so she may not seem to schools like a good fit for engineering (just based on what you wrote; of course you didn't write everything).
But engineering programs are requirement-heavy and requirements begin in the first semester (because courses build on each other). So she needs to apply to the engineering school and not the humanities program-- it's easy to transfer out of engineering and a pain to transfer in to engineering.
Also, I've heard from former AOs that they really don't consider the second major listed. They read your application through the lens of the major you list first. I'm not sure how that would work, though, given that a lot of universities have direct entry into engineering programs (so she'd need to apply to the engineering school), but based on your description here, her profile/awards don't really 'fit' engineering.
None of this is fatal, but if she's not doing something STEM-y this summer, it might be a good time to do that. (Better yet, something STEMy related to the arts-- like design something or other. That would give a great hook to somehow link the two together in applications so that AOs view the art part of her interest as an asset and something that makes sense.
Thank you, this is very helpful. She will be Physics C, Linear Algebra and third year of CS at her school in senior year in addition to AP Spanish, Advanced English courses. She will do Beaverworks program this summer. She is also interning at a startup this summer. But her STEM profile is not as strong. - op
Find an intersection between the two an andemic interests to make her specific and memorable. Specificity always wins in the admissions committee.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 17:46
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
If aiming for engineering at a top school make sure she has at least BC Calc (preferably junior year with something more advanced senior year) and physics (preferably AP). People here are reacting to the fact that you articulated her humanities portfolio and didn't mention STEM-related stuff, so she may not seem to schools like a good fit for engineering (just based on what you wrote; of course you didn't write everything).
But engineering programs are requirement-heavy and requirements begin in the first semester (because courses build on each other). So she needs to apply to the engineering school and not the humanities program-- it's easy to transfer out of engineering and a pain to transfer in to engineering.
Also, I've heard from former AOs that they really don't consider the second major listed. They read your application through the lens of the major you list first. I'm not sure how that would work, though, given that a lot of universities have direct entry into engineering programs (so she'd need to apply to the engineering school), but based on your description here, her profile/awards don't really 'fit' engineering.
None of this is fatal, but if she's not doing something STEM-y this summer, it might be a good time to do that. (Better yet, something STEMy related to the arts-- like design something or other. That would give a great hook to somehow link the two together in applications so that AOs view the art part of her interest as an asset and something that makes sense.
Thank you, this is very helpful. She will be Physics C, Linear Algebra and third year of CS at her school in senior year in addition to AP Spanish, Advanced English courses. She will do Beaverworks program this summer. She is also interning at a startup this summer. But her STEM profile is not as strong. - op
Anonymous
06/08/2026 17:00
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
Study these profiles:
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s8khs4/girl_tempts_fate_lives_to_tell_the_tale_only/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1shsve1/hookless_wasian_defies_all_odds_and_gets_accepted/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s6n7c7/gay_poet_does_pretty_ok/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1ppgens/accepted_to_bowdoin/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lt14rm/got_in_hypsm_lacs_and_special_programs/
Some of these are clearly made up - there aren't enough hours in a week along with school, commute and homework.
no. this is what a competitive humanities applicant looks like. its what a T20 AO expects.
C'mon:
One student states that their activities 40h/week, 36 weeks/year, 12h/wk year-round (both for 4 years) + an additional 20 ish hours/week over 4 years. That adds up to 80h/wk on top of school (plus commute+hw). So they are spending 8h/day on top of school and related work? Several DC's unhooked friends have gotten into HYP and they have nowhere near this level of ECs.
Np.
I wasn't totally the hours. I just read the descriptions and they seemed fine to me.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 16:59
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
If aiming for engineering at a top school make sure she has at least BC Calc (preferably junior year with something more advanced senior year) and physics (preferably AP). People here are reacting to the fact that you articulated her humanities portfolio and didn't mention STEM-related stuff, so she may not seem to schools like a good fit for engineering (just based on what you wrote; of course you didn't write everything).
But engineering programs are requirement-heavy and requirements begin in the first semester (because courses build on each other). So she needs to apply to the engineering school and not the humanities program-- it's easy to transfer out of engineering and a pain to transfer in to engineering.
Also, I've heard from former AOs that they really don't consider the second major listed. They read your application through the lens of the major you list first. I'm not sure how that would work, though, given that a lot of universities have direct entry into engineering programs (so she'd need to apply to the engineering school), but based on your description here, her profile/awards don't really 'fit' engineering.
None of this is fatal, but if she's not doing something STEM-y this summer, it might be a good time to do that. (Better yet, something STEMy related to the arts-- like design something or other. That would give a great hook to somehow link the two together in applications so that AOs view the art part of her interest as an asset and something that makes sense.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 16:59
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
Study these profiles:
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s8khs4/girl_tempts_fate_lives_to_tell_the_tale_only/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1shsve1/hookless_wasian_defies_all_odds_and_gets_accepted/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s6n7c7/gay_poet_does_pretty_ok/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1ppgens/accepted_to_bowdoin/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lt14rm/got_in_hypsm_lacs_and_special_programs/
Some of these are clearly made up - there aren't enough hours in a week along with school, commute and homework.
You might think that but not really. Esp if no sports. My DC had a profile like this and was admitted at 80% of T20 reaches.
Most people are admitted to at most one of their T20 reaches, not 80%. Your child is remarkable. Many less extraordinary children get into T20s each and every year.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 16:58
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
Study these profiles:
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s8khs4/girl_tempts_fate_lives_to_tell_the_tale_only/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1shsve1/hookless_wasian_defies_all_odds_and_gets_accepted/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s6n7c7/gay_poet_does_pretty_ok/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1ppgens/accepted_to_bowdoin/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lt14rm/got_in_hypsm_lacs_and_special_programs/
Some of these are clearly made up - there aren't enough hours in a week along with school, commute and homework.
no. this is what a competitive humanities applicant looks like. its what a T20 AO expects.
C'mon:
One student states that their activities 40h/week, 36 weeks/year, 12h/wk year-round (both for 4 years) + an additional 20 ish hours/week over 4 years. That adds up to 80h/wk on top of school (plus commute+hw). So they are spending 8h/day on top of school and related work? Several DC's unhooked friends have gotten into HYP and they have nowhere near this level of ECs.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 16:51
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
Study these profiles:
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s8khs4/girl_tempts_fate_lives_to_tell_the_tale_only/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1shsve1/hookless_wasian_defies_all_odds_and_gets_accepted/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s6n7c7/gay_poet_does_pretty_ok/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1ppgens/accepted_to_bowdoin/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lt14rm/got_in_hypsm_lacs_and_special_programs/
Some of these are clearly made up - there aren't enough hours in a week along with school, commute and homework.
no. this is what a competitive humanities applicant looks like. its what a T20 AO expects.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 16:49
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
Study these profiles:
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s8khs4/girl_tempts_fate_lives_to_tell_the_tale_only/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1shsve1/hookless_wasian_defies_all_odds_and_gets_accepted/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s6n7c7/gay_poet_does_pretty_ok/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1ppgens/accepted_to_bowdoin/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lt14rm/got_in_hypsm_lacs_and_special_programs/
Some of these are clearly made up - there aren't enough hours in a week along with school, commute and homework.
You might think that but not really. Esp if no sports. My DC had a profile like this and was admitted at 80% of T20 reaches.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 16:48
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
Honestly, look at some of the LinkedIn profiles for kids going to HYPSM - it's a giant wakeup call. Your DD sounds lovely, but not that tier.
Try to ED to Vanderbilt, WashU, Rice, etc. for English and don't mention STEM at all.
Why not? Girls has advantages in STEM admissions.
Girls don't have much advantage in STEM. Dime a dozen these days--particularly in applied math, bio, and the like. However, if by STEM you mean engineering, you want to join that major as a freshman and not later, so you'll want to apply to engineering schools.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 16:44
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My dd has very good stats (top 5% and 1570 SAT). She does writing, art and also has decent research, presidential volunteer gold. She has good awards in writing and scholastic art awards. She will probably apply for a dual major (English and Stem). How do such kids fare in admissions at top 20 schools.
Study these profiles:
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s8khs4/girl_tempts_fate_lives_to_tell_the_tale_only/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1shsve1/hookless_wasian_defies_all_odds_and_gets_accepted/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1s6n7c7/gay_poet_does_pretty_ok/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1ppgens/accepted_to_bowdoin/
https://www.reddit.com/r/collegeresults/comments/1lt14rm/got_in_hypsm_lacs_and_special_programs/
Some of these are clearly made up - there aren't enough hours in a week along with school, commute and homework.
Anonymous
06/08/2026 16:33
Subject: How did well rounded kids with high stats fare this year
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid did well from a well regarded public school. Waitlisted for REA, but got into all HYP in RD. I assume it was good narrative from the perspective of the AOs and presumably solid recs that did the magic.
Sorry, I meant to say "deferred" from REA.
What major?
Engineering