Here is my experience with college apps. Kids that are not “top students” are fine. They get in somewhere and they are happy.

Top students don’t do well ... they over estimate reach and likely schools.

Their reaches are “not a snowball’s chance in hell” and likely schools are actually reaches. They get into their safeties. But since “in their head” it’s a “safety” they hate their options feel dejected and “settle for their state school”, or Clemson, or Villanova, because they offer a fun atmosphere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know you asked for responses from parent of top students, but my reply might also help.

(fyi I also have a top student...she's just not the one applying to college yet.)

My other kid, the senior, is not at the top; she would be the one that the kids might see as "very good but not quite as accomplished."

She was accepted ED into a top 10 school.

Because she's not "top" she applied ED. So that's the first thing.

Second, although she has no hooks at all, she has a compelling story.

Third, she selected a school that seems to really like kids from her school. High schools seem to have relationships with colleges--I don't know how it works, but I do know that, for instance, Wash U, U-M, Harvard, Brown historically seem to accept a lot of her high school's students, while Pomona and Princeton seem to be near impossible for even the "top" students. I noticed this by paying attention to the matriculation of the classes above my DC's class (but that only shows where kids decided to go, not where they were accepted), so then spoke with the HS dean to get a better picture.

DC's favorite school, seemed on target due to her stats, but historically the high school didn't seem to get many kids in there. Oddly, the much higher-ranking school seemed to be a good shot. DD made the call; she didn't want to roll the dice with the bad odds for her favorite school, and went with her second choice, the high-ranking school. And it worked out.

I told her that if she didn't like high-ranking school, she could transfer.

So just saying all this to say, it's complicated.

What is the compelling story for a less-than-top student to get ED to a top 10 school in a pandemic? I understand the HS connection for sure, but I know tons of top students and they aren't getting into top 10 schools, yet. Explain complicated...

I believe PP is saying that playing the admissions game is complicated, the compelling story is probably just private. I completely agree with the point that schools target individual high schools, my oldest took this approach and it worked (not a "top" student and it wasn't a top 10 school, but same logic applies). Schools return to the same well, because they want the word of mouth relationship, exactly what PP tapped into.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My top student is 0/2. Top 10 student (~6 or 7) - school doesn't rank. Extremely hard curriculum, national level ECs (arguably world level - founder of open source communities that have big followings around the world), 3.9 unweighted, didn't submit scores due to cancelations, essays were well written, creative, and impressive.

DS is fine though. Once DS was ejected from Stanford, he decided he didn't really care anymore. He still has the state schools and Duke left.

lol @world level ECs. Like Greta? Some of you parents just slay me.

+100
You said exactly what I was thinking. What a joke.

Anonymous wrote:I know you asked for responses from parent of top students, but my reply might also help.

(fyi I also have a top student...she's just not the one applying to college yet.)

My other kid, the senior, is not at the top; she would be the one that the kids might see as "very good but not quite as accomplished."

She was accepted ED into a top 10 school.

Because she's not "top" she applied ED. So that's the first thing.

Second, although she has no hooks at all, she has a compelling story.

Third, she selected a school that seems to really like kids from her school. High schools seem to have relationships with colleges--I don't know how it works, but I do know that, for instance, Wash U, U-M, Harvard, Brown historically seem to accept a lot of her high school's students, while Pomona and Princeton seem to be near impossible for even the "top" students. I noticed this by paying attention to the matriculation of the classes above my DC's class (but that only shows where kids decided to go, not where they were accepted), so then spoke with the HS dean to get a better picture.

DC's favorite school, seemed on target due to her stats, but historically the high school didn't seem to get many kids in there. Oddly, the much higher-ranking school seemed to be a good shot. DD made the call; she didn't want to roll the dice with the bad odds for her favorite school, and went with her second choice, the high-ranking school. And it worked out.

I told her that if she didn't like high-ranking school, she could transfer.

So just saying all this to say, it's complicated.

What is the compelling story for a less-than-top student to get ED to a top 10 school in a pandemic? I understand the HS connection for sure, but I know tons of top students and they aren't getting into top 10 schools, yet. Explain complicated...

We are two dual degree parents, with all studies at I y league schools. Our kids are very talented, but none aspire to apply to any of the top schools. They claim none of their friends are applying to the top schools either. I fear this is indicator of further stratification in the Schools.

^^^So true! Disregard the muck and keep focus on the useful nuggets

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Larla, that sounds so tough! I've heard it's a really weird year for admissions, and I'm sure it's been hard for you and Larlo. I really hope he ends up with some good options to decide between, but wherever he ends up, he's so bright that I'm sure he'll be successful!"

Gotta love DCUM. If you’re nice, you get flamed. If you’re snarky, you get flamed. If you don’t support your points with facts/figures, you get flamed. If you do provide facts/figures, the facts/figures get flamed. If ever any of us should be the subject of a roast, our time here on DCUM will have toughened our skin well to survive the experience.

LOL, when you live in an anonymous world this is how it goes. Many of these people are just complete day drinking losers that have zero self awareness. It's like panning for gold, it is an amusing past time to peruse the threads but occasionally you get a useful nugget of information.

Gotta love DCUM. If you’re nice, you get flamed. If you’re snarky, you get flamed. If you don’t support your points with facts/figures, you get flamed. If you do provide facts/figures, the facts/figures get flamed. If ever any of us should be the subject of a roast, our time here on DCUM will have toughened our skin well to survive the experience.

I just ignore the jerks and try to be helpful.

lol @world level ECs. Like Greta? Some of you parents just slay me.

Sorry, just trying to say pretty amazing ECs, that's all. Hard to describe in few words.

Anonymous wrote:"Larla, that sounds so tough! I've heard it's a really weird year for admissions, and I'm sure it's been hard for you and Larlo. I really hope he ends up with some good options to decide between, but wherever he ends up, he's so bright that I'm sure he'll be successful!"

Gotta love DCUM. If you’re nice, you get flamed. If you’re snarky, you get flamed. If you don’t support your points with facts/figures, you get flamed. If you do provide facts/figures, the facts/figures get flamed. If ever any of us should be the subject of a roast, our time here on DCUM will have toughened our skin well to survive the experience.

I know you asked for responses from parent of top students, but my reply might also help.

(fyi I also have a top student...she's just not the one applying to college yet.)

My other kid, the senior, is not at the top; she would be the one that the kids might see as "very good but not quite as accomplished."

She was accepted ED into a top 10 school.

Because she's not "top" she applied ED. So that's the first thing.

Second, although she has no hooks at all, she has a compelling story.

Third, she selected a school that seems to really like kids from her school. High schools seem to have relationships with colleges--I don't know how it works, but I do know that, for instance, Wash U, U-M, Harvard, Brown historically seem to accept a lot of her high school's students, while Pomona and Princeton seem to be near impossible for even the "top" students. I noticed this by paying attention to the matriculation of the classes above my DC's class (but that only shows where kids decided to go, not where they were accepted), so then spoke with the HS dean to get a better picture.

DC's favorite school, seemed on target due to her stats, but historically the high school didn't seem to get many kids in there. Oddly, the much higher-ranking school seemed to be a good shot. DD made the call; she didn't want to roll the dice with the bad odds for her favorite school, and went with her second choice, the high-ranking school. And it worked out.

I told her that if she didn't like high-ranking school, she could transfer.

So just saying all this to say, it's complicated.

Anonymous wrote:My top student is 0/2. Top 10 student (~6 or 7) - school doesn't rank. Extremely hard curriculum, national level ECs (arguably world level - founder of open source communities that have big followings around the world), 3.9 unweighted, didn't submit scores due to cancelations, essays were well written, creative, and impressive.

DS is fine though. Once DS was ejected from Stanford, he decided he didn't really care anymore. He still has the state schools and Duke left.

lol @world level ECs. Like Greta? Some of you parents just slay me.

How about... "you can always transfer!" LOL All joking aside though... that is always an option.

Anonymous wrote:"Larla, that sounds so tough! I've heard it's a really weird year for admissions, and I'm sure it's been hard for you and Larlo. I really hope he ends up with some good options to decide between, but wherever he ends up, he's so bright that I'm sure he'll be successful!"

They already know that. They are not looking for a canned response, they are smarter than that. I

"Larla, that sounds so tough! I've heard it's a really weird year for admissions, and I'm sure it's been hard for you and Larlo. I really hope he ends up with some good options to decide between, but wherever he ends up, he's so bright that I'm sure he'll be successful!"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My top student is 0/2. Top 10 student (~6 or 7) - school doesn't rank. Extremely hard curriculum, national level ECs (arguably world level - founder of open source communities that have big followings around the world), 3.9 unweighted, didn't submit scores due to cancelations, essays were well written, creative, and impressive.

DS is fine though. Once DS was ejected from Stanford, he decided he didn't really care anymore. He still has the state schools and Duke left.

PP, what was the other school? Makes you wonder what students would need to do to get an acceptance these days.

UNC

Okay I saw all the discussion on the UNC thread. Sounds like UNC might be employing yield protection. I’m sure your DC will get into some good schools. Or even pull a Mark Zuckerberg and forge his own path.