Dang. Y'all have impressive kids! Were you equally as impressive in your day?

I'm more and more certain as I read this forum that my kids are going to mid-level state schools. I guess that's how life sorts kids out these days. The middling kids go to middling schools where they meet middling spouses and have more middling kids.

The super star kids go to top colleges, meet other super star kids, marry and have more super star offspring. (i.e. Ivanka and Jarred, Chelsea and Mark).

Fortunately, I like my middling life. So at least there's that. I just am really impressed that you all have such ambitious and accomplished kids. I consider it an accomplishment when my kids leave the house outside of school hours.

My kid got into Emory, Rice, and WUSTL without hooks. She had a 3.87 UW GPA and a 35 on the ACT. Her extracurriculars included 1 year of JV swim and 3 years of varsity (not a recruited athlete), starting a club at her HS to support girls' education (She's the First, if anyone has heard of it), interning at a local museum (not Smithsonian type, think smaller), and violin with some state and local level awards.

Multiple performances at the Kennedy Center including solos. State-level prize. Almost straight A's and good but not perfect SATs.

Where do you consider LACs among a top 30 college? Or are you only referring to top 30 universities? Would be good to know for other posters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three varsity sports (soccer, basketball, cross country)
Key Club - leadership role
DECA
Link Crew (freshman transition program) - leadership role

How do you play soccer and cross country in high school at the same time?? Aren't they both fall sports?

Public schools in VA play in the VHSL where soccer is a spring sport and cross country is fall.

Top class ranking.

Unremarkable ECs here. Not sure how he got in. It is truly a crap shoot in many ways. Stats were mid range for school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three varsity sports (soccer, basketball, cross country)
Key Club - leadership role
DECA
Link Crew (freshman transition program) - leadership role

How do you play soccer and cross country in high school at the same time?? Aren't they both fall sports?

Not in VA public schools.

Mostly fencing and music (choral, a capella, guitar). Don't think either had much of an impact on admission.

Anonymous wrote:My kid doesn't play any sports. She spends her after school hours doing volunteer work since middle school in two areas she is genuinely passionate about. Is not playing sports an issue?

No - your kid is great doing what she's doing.

Anonymous wrote:Three varsity sports (soccer, basketball, cross country)
Key Club - leadership role
DECA
Link Crew (freshman transition program) - leadership role

How do you play soccer and cross country in high school at the same time?? Aren't they both fall sports?

Multiple scholastic writing and art awards, 1000 hours volunteer work, strong ACT and grades at top private, president and editor of award winning literary magazine, president of two other clubs, attended well known competitive summer program, lead/director in plays. Overall a very kind and quirky kid.

She visited the school and interviewed and followed up with her local rep in a friendly way that seemed to result in frequent emails exchanged so it became very personal. She also has teachers who adore her so I'm betting her recs were great. In the end she applied ED to the school she loved and I wasn't surprised at all that she got in.

Anonymous wrote:What are you even talking about with "hooked" and "unhooked" kids???

If your child has parents who attended that particular college or university - that is a "hook".

If your child is from an under represented minority - that is a "hook".

If your kid's grandparents donated a building - that is a "hook".

What are you even talking about with "hooked" and "unhooked" kids???

Eagle Scout, one palm front (many activities)
boy's state
Nominated Jefferson Scholar for UVA
Nominated Echols School at UVA
Model United Nations, Model Arab League
Had his pilot's license