Anonymous wrote:I’m from Boston. Keep in mind that many Harvard professors live there too.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No school in DMV sends more than 3-5 kids to Harvard
Some years the big three schools do send more than 5 kids to Harvard
Exactly
No 1 school is sending 20 kids to Harvard.
Not TJ
Not GDS
Not even Andover
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No school in DMV sends more than 3-5 kids to Harvard
Some years the big three schools do send more than 5 kids to Harvard
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Potomac has a lot of insanely wealthy high tech families so per usual, there are probably a few legacies/high stakes donors in that number and maybe an athlete as well. And all also have to show a baseline of being pretty smart.
My kid is at Potomac. Yes wealthy families. But several of the patriarchs of the top families in terms of wealth, went to GW, Indiana, etc. I knew/knew about three of the Harvard kids last year (of the four that were admitted) and one was an athlete but the others were just bright unhooked kids that did super well and had good ECs.
Anonymous wrote:No school in DMV sends more than 3-5 kids to Harvard
Anonymous wrote:This thread. 13 pages. For exactly 9 first-hand accounts of who got in.
Of those 9, we had:
2 recruited athletes (Penn and Brown)
2 national musical ensemble members (Harvard and Yale)
1 legacy (Cornell)
4 "regular" kids
: 1 had a 3.96 and 35 ACT (Penn)
: 1 had 1580 SAT, 2 800 SAT IIs and is top student tho not ranked (Yale)
: 1 4.2/4.0 gpa, 35 Act 800 780, 770 (Yale)
: 1 undefined (Yale)
I think that’s actually a pretty good snapshot. 22% athletes, 11% legacy. And it shows that you have to be the very tip-top kid in your class with impeccable scores to have a shot.
Again, I’m talking about actual first-hand accounts from this year, from people who know. Not a bunch of gossip or BS.
Anonymous wrote:My daughter made it into Harvard yesterday. Public School, top of class, musician in a national ensemble.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These schools are always several steps ahead, just when you think you figured out their formula, they flip the script. They are looking for genuine intellectual ability, rare talent and kids who are not "created" by parents and college consultants. They have their ways of figuring this out. It's less about the schools they come from, once you pass the academic bar, the rest weighs a lot more.
HYP grad here. The top schools stay a few steps ahead but you’d be surprised at how many kids without ultra-rare talents figure out the formula and make it in.
Hence the influx of recent Water Polo "enthusiasts".
I live in California and water polo is like religion out here. Trust me, there is no shortage of great players. East coast poseurs will not fool anyone.
True, but East coast teams are not going to recruit 100% of the team from CA.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This athlete thing at Ivy's and other top schools is very frustrating. I'm happy for the girl who is an athlete and got into Penn, but my DS had very similar stats (actually higher test scores) and is well rounded with strong extracurriculars in music and sports (just not a top athlete) plus is a legacy. You would think that schools care more about well rounded, bright students than whether or not you are a top athlete. Sorry, guess it's sour grapes, but Ivy's don't even give athletic scholarships, though they clearly they find a way to make it work for athletes who they want to recruit.
I'm not sure why you find this frustrating. The Ivies (not Ivy's, btw) recognize that, generally speaking, it is much more difficult and takes much more dedication/hard work to become an elite athlete than to be "well rounded." I can also guarantee you that recruited athletes at Ivies are "bright," just like your DS. I would think (as many others, I'm sure) that Ivies would rather have a student who was able to become an elite athlete while also succeeding in school than a student who may have had slightly better stats with run-of-the mill ECs. Honestly, I think this is a no brainer.
+1 Very well said, PP.
U would be surprised how many athletes at Ivies are not that bright....same w donor $$$ kids
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These schools are always several steps ahead, just when you think you figured out their formula, they flip the script. They are looking for genuine intellectual ability, rare talent and kids who are not "created" by parents and college consultants. They have their ways of figuring this out. It's less about the schools they come from, once you pass the academic bar, the rest weighs a lot more.
HYP grad here. The top schools stay a few steps ahead but you’d be surprised at how many kids without ultra-rare talents figure out the formula and make it in.
Hence the influx of recent Water Polo "enthusiasts".
I live in California and water polo is like religion out here. Trust me, there is no shortage of great players. East coast poseurs will not fool anyone.