Anonymous wrote:Don’t trust naviance. My son with near perfect SAT score and 4.89 GPA was rejected from every single school except for his safeties.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Weighted GPAs are worthless

2. High unweighted GPAs are not going to get you anywhere in the top 25 without a very rigorous course load with 4 years of every academic subject including foreign language.

3. Any college with a 25% or less acceptance rate is a lottery for kids with nearly perfect stats

4. Naviance does not account for recruits, legacies, courseload, first gen status, full pay status, etc.

5. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball.

DD had straight As, even in APs and honors, won the Wellesley Book Award, was a STEM student, could pay full tuition anywhere, cash. Played sports as well. Great SAT scores. White female with no legacy, rejected from everything but her safeties. Applied to no Ivys by choice.

Don’t tell me her race didn’t play a role in this liberal academic environment

I worked in admissions and am currently an alum interviewer for my college. Your daughter sounds like an excellent student, so I can understand your disappointment, but there's a lot more to admissions than GPA and SAT scores. Before you play the race card, consider:

What were her recommendations like?
How did she do in interviews?
Did her essay add dimension to her profile as a strong student?
Did she hold any leadership positions -- you mention that she played sports, but was she a team captain?
Did she excel in any national STEM competitions?

First, there IS no disappointment on my or my husband's part. She got into a nice college and has continued to do great.. I didn't WANT a top school, don't care. But boy was she pressured by her peer group in this area! What shocked me was the absolute ridiculousness of the process.

Her teachers, frankly, were stunned. Look at the list you just put up above. Does that also apply towards minorities, or is it ok if they don't meet your (frankly) abusive criteria above.

What you are saying as a college recruiter/interviewer is that kids need to get almost perfect SAT scores, over-perform in academics, be team captains, win national competitions, and hold leadership positions? These kids are TEENAGERS for Christ sakes!

Do you NOT see how absolutely absurd this is? My GOD if this is your criteria, you just proved my point as to how abusive and unrealistic college admissions has become. You are a major part of the problem.

I feel you. My white daughter needed some FA for most colleges and she was ousted from most of the schools she applied. Top 10% in her top 5 private, top grades, ACT 34, won a state championship for a science event, team captain to two varsity for 2 years. Played one of those sports in club setting since she was 12. President of two major clubs and heavily involved. Worked PT at an ice cream shop. 13 year Girl Scout and volunteered 2 weeks a summer at a Girl Scout camp. She interned for 8 weeks and received a fabulous recommendation from that internship on top of 3 other recommendations. Her college counselor said all were great. She was literally at school, at a club meeting, playing a sport, volunteering, or working PT her entire 4 years of colleges. Any free time she was studying. She barely had time to socialize. She loved her school. She gave it her all.

She then watched so many minorities and full pay rich white kids below her academically at her school (some barely involved) get to PICK between top schools. Her and three other obvious white FA kids got squat. One is potentially our valedictorian. They are going to UMCP after being denied at all reached and targets. Accepted to UMCP and Penn State only, which were both safeties. We have one student who had to repeat a grade and is still on Calc AB as a senior, get into an Ivy. It is very hard for these kids to swallow. They are taught to work hard and treat everyone equally and then they watch as colleges do not treat them fairly. But it is a hard, but important lesson to learn. My nephew got bumped from many tech schools and watched as girls who had similar or lesser stats get in AND get merit aid. No different than white males having an easier time at SLAC's. You have to find out which colleges need you or move to North Dakota. Stats and EC's are not enough. Colleges play the number game.

Same happened at our private. URM's got in everywhere. Even the Asian students which so many people in public complain they don't get into their top schools because of being Asian. It is a massive hook, no denying that. If you look at the private school college sweatshirt pics, you can see the obvious too.

I suggest you google and learn by yourself or ask someone knowledgeable to learn from them. Being Asian is not a hook whther massive or the littlest one. In fact, Asians are discriminated against in admissions over all races, especially including White race. Be happy you are not Asian or else your kid will fare even worse in college admissions than being white. Asians have to study harder, get higher GPA, get higher standardized test results and should have more impressive extra curricular achievements than whites to get comparable college admissions outcomes. Don't be a dumb ass and spout nonsense just because your snowflake didn't get into his/her dream school.

You forgot to mention that [b]there are some schools where being Asian is a URM and a benefit[/b]. Not the ivies, but many other great schools.

Please list these schools. I have no knowledge of them. I might want to suggest them to my child to take a look when the time comes. TIA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Weighted GPAs are worthless

2. High unweighted GPAs are not going to get you anywhere in the top 25 without a very rigorous course load with 4 years of every academic subject including foreign language.

3. Any college with a 25% or less acceptance rate is a lottery for kids with nearly perfect stats

4. Naviance does not account for recruits, legacies, courseload, first gen status, full pay status, etc.

5. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball.

DD had straight As, even in APs and honors, won the Wellesley Book Award, was a STEM student, could pay full tuition anywhere, cash. Played sports as well. Great SAT scores. White female with no legacy, rejected from everything but her safeties. Applied to no Ivys by choice.

Don’t tell me her race didn’t play a role in this liberal academic environment

I worked in admissions and am currently an alum interviewer for my college. Your daughter sounds like an excellent student, so I can understand your disappointment, but there's a lot more to admissions than GPA and SAT scores. Before you play the race card, consider:

What were her recommendations like?
How did she do in interviews?
Did her essay add dimension to her profile as a strong student?
Did she hold any leadership positions -- you mention that she played sports, but was she a team captain?
Did she excel in any national STEM competitions?

First, there IS no disappointment on my or my husband's part. She got into a nice college and has continued to do great.. I didn't WANT a top school, don't care. But boy was she pressured by her peer group in this area! What shocked me was the absolute ridiculousness of the process.

Her teachers, frankly, were stunned. Look at the list you just put up above. Does that also apply towards minorities, or is it ok if they don't meet your (frankly) abusive criteria above.

What you are saying as a college recruiter/interviewer is that kids need to get almost perfect SAT scores, over-perform in academics, be team captains, win national competitions, and hold leadership positions? These kids are TEENAGERS for Christ sakes!

Do you NOT see how absolutely absurd this is? My GOD if this is your criteria, you just proved my point as to how abusive and unrealistic college admissions has become. You are a major part of the problem.

I feel you. My white daughter needed some FA for most colleges and she was ousted from most of the schools she applied. Top 10% in her top 5 private, top grades, ACT 34, won a state championship for a science event, team captain to two varsity for 2 years. Played one of those sports in club setting since she was 12. President of two major clubs and heavily involved. Worked PT at an ice cream shop. 13 year Girl Scout and volunteered 2 weeks a summer at a Girl Scout camp. She interned for 8 weeks and received a fabulous recommendation from that internship on top of 3 other recommendations. Her college counselor said all were great. She was literally at school, at a club meeting, playing a sport, volunteering, or working PT her entire 4 years of colleges. Any free time she was studying. She barely had time to socialize. She loved her school. She gave it her all.

She then watched so many minorities and full pay rich white kids below her academically at her school (some barely involved) get to PICK between top schools. Her and three other obvious white FA kids got squat. One is potentially our valedictorian. They are going to UMCP after being denied at all reached and targets. Accepted to UMCP and Penn State only, which were both safeties. We have one student who had to repeat a grade and is still on Calc AB as a senior, get into an Ivy. It is very hard for these kids to swallow. They are taught to work hard and treat everyone equally and then they watch as colleges do not treat them fairly. But it is a hard, but important lesson to learn. My nephew got bumped from many tech schools and watched as girls who had similar or lesser stats get in AND get merit aid. No different than white males having an easier time at SLAC's. You have to find out which colleges need you or move to North Dakota. Stats and EC's are not enough. Colleges play the number game.

Same happened at our private. URM's got in everywhere. Even the Asian students which so many people in public complain they don't get into their top schools because of being Asian. It is a massive hook, no denying that. If you look at the private school college sweatshirt pics, you can see the obvious too.

I suggest you google and learn by yourself or ask someone knowledgeable to learn from them. Being Asian is not a hook whther massive or the littlest one. In fact, Asians are discriminated against in admissions over all races, especially including White race. Be happy you are not Asian or else your kid will fare even worse in college admissions than being white. Asians have to study harder, get higher GPA, get higher standardized test results and should have more impressive extra curricular achievements than whites to get comparable college admissions outcomes. Don't be a dumb ass and spout nonsense just because your snowflake didn't get into his/her dream school.

You forgot to mention that [b]there are some schools where being Asian is a URM and a benefit[/b]. Not the ivies, but many other great schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Weighted GPAs are worthless

2. High unweighted GPAs are not going to get you anywhere in the top 25 without a very rigorous course load with 4 years of every academic subject including foreign language.

3. Any college with a 25% or less acceptance rate is a lottery for kids with nearly perfect stats

4. Naviance does not account for recruits, legacies, courseload, first gen status, full pay status, etc.

5. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball.

DD had straight As, even in APs and honors, won the Wellesley Book Award, was a STEM student, could pay full tuition anywhere, cash. Played sports as well. Great SAT scores. White female with no legacy, rejected from everything but her safeties. Applied to no Ivys by choice.

Don’t tell me her race didn’t play a role in this liberal academic environment

I worked in admissions and am currently an alum interviewer for my college. Your daughter sounds like an excellent student, so I can understand your disappointment, but there's a lot more to admissions than GPA and SAT scores. Before you play the race card, consider:

What were her recommendations like?
How did she do in interviews?
Did her essay add dimension to her profile as a strong student?
Did she hold any leadership positions -- you mention that she played sports, but was she a team captain?
Did she excel in any national STEM competitions?

First, there IS no disappointment on my or my husband's part. She got into a nice college and has continued to do great.. I didn't WANT a top school, don't care. But boy was she pressured by her peer group in this area! What shocked me was the absolute ridiculousness of the process.

Her teachers, frankly, were stunned. Look at the list you just put up above. Does that also apply towards minorities, or is it ok if they don't meet your (frankly) abusive criteria above.

What you are saying as a college recruiter/interviewer is that kids need to get almost perfect SAT scores, over-perform in academics, be team captains, win national competitions, and hold leadership positions? These kids are TEENAGERS for Christ sakes!

Do you NOT see how absolutely absurd this is? My GOD if this is your criteria, you just proved my point as to how abusive and unrealistic college admissions has become. You are a major part of the problem.

I feel you. My white daughter needed some FA for most colleges and she was ousted from most of the schools she applied. Top 10% in her top 5 private, top grades, ACT 34, won a state championship for a science event, team captain to two varsity for 2 years. Played one of those sports in club setting since she was 12. President of two major clubs and heavily involved. Worked PT at an ice cream shop. 13 year Girl Scout and volunteered 2 weeks a summer at a Girl Scout camp. She interned for 8 weeks and received a fabulous recommendation from that internship on top of 3 other recommendations. Her college counselor said all were great. She was literally at school, at a club meeting, playing a sport, volunteering, or working PT her entire 4 years of colleges. Any free time she was studying. She barely had time to socialize. She loved her school. She gave it her all.

She then watched so many minorities and full pay rich white kids below her academically at her school (some barely involved) get to PICK between top schools. Her and three other obvious white FA kids got squat. One is potentially our valedictorian. They are going to UMCP after being denied at all reached and targets. Accepted to UMCP and Penn State only, which were both safeties. We have one student who had to repeat a grade and is still on Calc AB as a senior, get into an Ivy. It is very hard for these kids to swallow. They are taught to work hard and treat everyone equally and then they watch as colleges do not treat them fairly. But it is a hard, but important lesson to learn. My nephew got bumped from many tech schools and watched as girls who had similar or lesser stats get in AND get merit aid. No different than white males having an easier time at SLAC's. You have to find out which colleges need you or move to North Dakota. Stats and EC's are not enough. Colleges play the number game.

Same happened at our private. URM's got in everywhere. Even the Asian students which so many people in public complain they don't get into their top schools because of being Asian. It is a massive hook, no denying that. If you look at the private school college sweatshirt pics, you can see the obvious too.

I suggest you google and learn by yourself or ask someone knowledgeable to learn from them. Being Asian is not a hook whther massive or the littlest one. In fact, Asians are discriminated against in admissions over all races, especially including White race. Be happy you are not Asian or else your kid will fare even worse in college admissions than being white. Asians have to study harder, get higher GPA, get higher standardized test results and should have more impressive extra curricular achievements than whites to get comparable college admissions outcomes. Don't be a dumb ass and spout nonsense just because your snowflake didn't get into his/her dream school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Weighted GPAs are worthless

2. High unweighted GPAs are not going to get you anywhere in the top 25 without a very rigorous course load with 4 years of every academic subject including foreign language.

3. Any college with a 25% or less acceptance rate is a lottery for kids with nearly perfect stats

4. Naviance does not account for recruits, legacies, courseload, first gen status, full pay status, etc.

5. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball.

DD had straight As, even in APs and honors, won the Wellesley Book Award, was a STEM student, could pay full tuition anywhere, cash. Played sports as well. Great SAT scores. White female with no legacy, rejected from everything but her safeties. Applied to no Ivys by choice.

Don’t tell me her race didn’t play a role in this liberal academic environment

I worked in admissions and am currently an alum interviewer for my college. Your daughter sounds like an excellent student, so I can understand your disappointment, but there's a lot more to admissions than GPA and SAT scores. Before you play the race card, consider:

What were her recommendations like?
How did she do in interviews?
Did her essay add dimension to her profile as a strong student?
Did she hold any leadership positions -- you mention that she played sports, but was she a team captain?
Did she excel in any national STEM competitions?

First, there IS no disappointment on my or my husband's part. She got into a nice college and has continued to do great.. I didn't WANT a top school, don't care. But boy was she pressured by her peer group in this area! What shocked me was the absolute ridiculousness of the process.

Her teachers, frankly, were stunned. Look at the list you just put up above. Does that also apply towards minorities, or is it ok if they don't meet your (frankly) abusive criteria above.

What you are saying as a college recruiter/interviewer is that kids need to get almost perfect SAT scores, over-perform in academics, be team captains, win national competitions, and hold leadership positions? These kids are TEENAGERS for Christ sakes!

Do you NOT see how absolutely absurd this is? My GOD if this is your criteria, you just proved my point as to how abusive and unrealistic college admissions has become. You are a major part of the problem.

I feel you. My white daughter needed some FA for most colleges and she was ousted from most of the schools she applied. Top 10% in her top 5 private, top grades, ACT 34, won a state championship for a science event, team captain to two varsity for 2 years. Played one of those sports in club setting since she was 12. President of two major clubs and heavily involved. Worked PT at an ice cream shop. 13 year Girl Scout and volunteered 2 weeks a summer at a Girl Scout camp. She interned for 8 weeks and received a fabulous recommendation from that internship on top of 3 other recommendations. Her college counselor said all were great. She was literally at school, at a club meeting, playing a sport, volunteering, or working PT her entire 4 years of colleges. Any free time she was studying. She barely had time to socialize. She loved her school. She gave it her all.

She then watched so many minorities and full pay rich white kids below her academically at her school (some barely involved) get to PICK between top schools. Her and three other obvious white FA kids got squat. One is potentially our valedictorian. They are going to UMCP after being denied at all reached and targets. Accepted to UMCP and Penn State only, which were both safeties. We have one student who had to repeat a grade and is still on Calc AB as a senior, get into an Ivy. It is very hard for these kids to swallow. They are taught to work hard and treat everyone equally and then they watch as colleges do not treat them fairly. But it is a hard, but important lesson to learn. My nephew got bumped from many tech schools and watched as girls who had similar or lesser stats get in AND get merit aid. No different than white males having an easier time at SLAC's. You have to find out which colleges need you or move to North Dakota. Stats and EC's are not enough. Colleges play the number game.

Same happened at our private. URM's got in everywhere. Even the Asian students which so many people in public complain they don't get into their top schools because of being Asian. It is a massive hook, no denying that. If you look at the private school college sweatshirt pics, you can see the obvious too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Weighted GPAs are worthless

2. High unweighted GPAs are not going to get you anywhere in the top 25 without a very rigorous course load with 4 years of every academic subject including foreign language.

3. Any college with a 25% or less acceptance rate is a lottery for kids with nearly perfect stats

4. Naviance does not account for recruits, legacies, courseload, first gen status, full pay status, etc.

5. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball.

DD had straight As, even in APs and honors, won the Wellesley Book Award, was a STEM student, could pay full tuition anywhere, cash. Played sports as well. Great SAT scores. White female with no legacy, rejected from everything but her safeties. Applied to no Ivys by choice.

Don’t tell me her race didn’t play a role in this liberal academic environment

I worked in admissions and am currently an alum interviewer for my college. Your daughter sounds like an excellent student, so I can understand your disappointment, but there's a lot more to admissions than GPA and SAT scores. Before you play the race card, consider:

What were her recommendations like?
How did she do in interviews?
Did her essay add dimension to her profile as a strong student?
Did she hold any leadership positions -- you mention that she played sports, but was she a team captain?
Did she excel in any national STEM competitions?

First, there IS no disappointment on my or my husband's part. She got into a nice college and has continued to do great.. I didn't WANT a top school, don't care. But boy was she pressured by her peer group in this area! What shocked me was the absolute ridiculousness of the process.

Her teachers, frankly, were stunned. Look at the list you just put up above. Does that also apply towards minorities, or is it ok if they don't meet your (frankly) abusive criteria above.

What you are saying as a college recruiter/interviewer is that kids need to get almost perfect SAT scores, over-perform in academics, be team captains, win national competitions, and hold leadership positions? These kids are TEENAGERS for Christ sakes!

Do you NOT see how absolutely absurd this is? My GOD if this is your criteria, you just proved my point as to how abusive and unrealistic college admissions has become. You are a major part of the problem.

I feel you. My white daughter needed some FA for most colleges and she was ousted from most of the schools she applied. Top 10% in her top 5 private, top grades, ACT 34, won a state championship for a science event, team captain to two varsity for 2 years. Played one of those sports in club setting since she was 12. President of two major clubs and heavily involved. Worked PT at an ice cream shop. 13 year Girl Scout and volunteered 2 weeks a summer at a Girl Scout camp. She interned for 8 weeks and received a fabulous recommendation from that internship on top of 3 other recommendations. Her college counselor said all were great. She was literally at school, at a club meeting, playing a sport, volunteering, or working PT her entire 4 years of colleges. Any free time she was studying. She barely had time to socialize. She loved her school. She gave it her all.

She then watched so many minorities and full pay rich white kids below her academically at her school (some barely involved) get to PICK between top schools. Her and three other obvious white FA kids got squat. One is potentially our valedictorian. They are going to UMCP after being denied at all reached and targets. Accepted to UMCP and Penn State only, which were both safeties. We have one student who had to repeat a grade and is still on Calc AB as a senior, get into an Ivy. It is very hard for these kids to swallow. They are taught to work hard and treat everyone equally and then they watch as colleges do not treat them fairly. But it is a hard, but important lesson to learn. My nephew got bumped from many tech schools and watched as girls who had similar or lesser stats get in AND get merit aid. No different than white males having an easier time at SLAC's. You have to find out which colleges need you or move to North Dakota. Stats and EC's are not enough. Colleges play the number game.

Same happened at our private. URM's got in everywhere. Even the Asian students which so many people in public complain they don't get into their top schools because of being Asian. It is a massive hook, no denying that. If you look at the private school college sweatshirt pics, you can see the obvious too.

Anonymous wrote:Your sense of grievance outweighs your evidence.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Weighted GPAs are worthless

2. High unweighted GPAs are not going to get you anywhere in the top 25 without a very rigorous course load with 4 years of every academic subject including foreign language.

3. Any college with a 25% or less acceptance rate is a lottery for kids with nearly perfect stats

4. Naviance does not account for recruits, legacies, courseload, first gen status, full pay status, etc.

5. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball.

DD had straight As, even in APs and honors, won the Wellesley Book Award, was a STEM student, could pay full tuition anywhere, cash. Played sports as well. Great SAT scores. White female with no legacy, rejected from everything but her safeties. Applied to no Ivys by choice.

Don’t tell me her race didn’t play a role in this liberal academic environment

I worked in admissions and am currently an alum interviewer for my college. Your daughter sounds like an excellent student, so I can understand your disappointment, but there's a lot more to admissions than GPA and SAT scores. Before you play the race card, consider:

What were her recommendations like?
How did she do in interviews?
Did her essay add dimension to her profile as a strong student?
Did she hold any leadership positions -- you mention that she played sports, but was she a team captain?
Did she excel in any national STEM competitions?

First, there IS no disappointment on my or my husband's part. She got into a nice college and has continued to do great.. I didn't WANT a top school, don't care. But boy was she pressured by her peer group in this area! What shocked me was the absolute ridiculousness of the process.

Her teachers, frankly, were stunned. Look at the list you just put up above. Does that also apply towards minorities, or is it ok if they don't meet your (frankly) abusive criteria above.

What you are saying as a college recruiter/interviewer is that kids need to get almost perfect SAT scores, over-perform in academics, be team captains, win national competitions, and hold leadership positions? These kids are TEENAGERS for Christ sakes!

Do you NOT see how absolutely absurd this is? My GOD if this is your criteria, you just proved my point as to how abusive and unrealistic college admissions has become. You are a major part of the problem.

I feel you. My white daughter needed some FA for most colleges and she was ousted from most of the schools she applied. Top 10% in her top 5 private, top grades, ACT 34, won a state championship for a science event, team captain to two varsity for 2 years. Played one of those sports in club setting since she was 12. President of two major clubs and heavily involved. Worked PT at an ice cream shop. 13 year Girl Scout and volunteered 2 weeks a summer at a Girl Scout camp. She interned for 8 weeks and received a fabulous recommendation from that internship on top of 3 other recommendations. Her college counselor said all were great. She was literally at school, at a club meeting, playing a sport, volunteering, or working PT her entire 4 years of colleges. Any free time she was studying. She barely had time to socialize. She loved her school. She gave it her all.

She then watched so many minorities and full pay rich white kids below her academically at her school (some barely involved) get to PICK between top schools. Her and three other obvious white FA kids got squat. One is potentially our valedictorian. They are going to UMCP after being denied at all reached and targets. Accepted to UMCP and Penn State only, which were both safeties. We have one student who had to repeat a grade and is still on Calc AB as a senior, get into an Ivy. It is very hard for these kids to swallow. They are taught to work hard and treat everyone equally and then they watch as colleges do not treat them fairly. But it is a hard, but important lesson to learn. My nephew got bumped from many tech schools and watched as girls who had similar or lesser stats get in AND get merit aid. No different than white males having an easier time at SLAC's. You have to find out which colleges need you or move to North Dakota. Stats and EC's are not enough. Colleges play the number game.

Same happened at our private. URM's got in everywhere. Even the Asian students which so many people in public complain they don't get into their top schools because of being Asian. It is a massive hook, no denying that. If you look at the private school college sweatshirt pics, you can see the obvious too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Weighted GPAs are worthless

2. High unweighted GPAs are not going to get you anywhere in the top 25 without a very rigorous course load with 4 years of every academic subject including foreign language.

3. Any college with a 25% or less acceptance rate is a lottery for kids with nearly perfect stats

4. Naviance does not account for recruits, legacies, courseload, first gen status, full pay status, etc.

5. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball.

DD had straight As, even in APs and honors, won the Wellesley Book Award, was a STEM student, could pay full tuition anywhere, cash. Played sports as well. Great SAT scores. White female with no legacy, rejected from everything but her safeties. Applied to no Ivys by choice.

Don’t tell me her race didn’t play a role in this liberal academic environment

I worked in admissions and am currently an alum interviewer for my college. Your daughter sounds like an excellent student, so I can understand your disappointment, but there's a lot more to admissions than GPA and SAT scores. Before you play the race card, consider:

What were her recommendations like?
How did she do in interviews?
Did her essay add dimension to her profile as a strong student?
Did she hold any leadership positions -- you mention that she played sports, but was she a team captain?
Did she excel in any national STEM competitions?

First, there IS no disappointment on my or my husband's part. She got into a nice college and has continued to do great.. I didn't WANT a top school, don't care. But boy was she pressured by her peer group in this area! What shocked me was the absolute ridiculousness of the process.

Her teachers, frankly, were stunned. Look at the list you just put up above. Does that also apply towards minorities, or is it ok if they don't meet your (frankly) abusive criteria above.

What you are saying as a college recruiter/interviewer is that kids need to get almost perfect SAT scores, over-perform in academics, be team captains, win national competitions, and hold leadership positions? These kids are TEENAGERS for Christ sakes!

Do you NOT see how absolutely absurd this is? My GOD if this is your criteria, you just proved my point as to how abusive and unrealistic college admissions has become. You are a major part of the problem.

I feel you. My white daughter needed some FA for most colleges and she was ousted from most of the schools she applied. Top 10% in her top 5 private, top grades, ACT 34, won a state championship for a science event, team captain to two varsity for 2 years. Played one of those sports in club setting since she was 12. President of two major clubs and heavily involved. Worked PT at an ice cream shop. 13 year Girl Scout and volunteered 2 weeks a summer at a Girl Scout camp. She interned for 8 weeks and received a fabulous recommendation from that internship on top of 3 other recommendations. Her college counselor said all were great. She was literally at school, at a club meeting, playing a sport, volunteering, or working PT her entire 4 years of colleges. Any free time she was studying. She barely had time to socialize. She loved her school. She gave it her all.

She then watched so many minorities and full pay rich white kids below her academically at her school (some barely involved) get to PICK between top schools. Her and three other obvious white FA kids got squat. One is potentially our valedictorian. They are going to UMCP after being denied at all reached and targets. Accepted to UMCP and Penn State only, which were both safeties. We have one student who had to repeat a grade and is still on Calc AB as a senior, get into an Ivy. It is very hard for these kids to swallow. They are taught to work hard and treat everyone equally and then they watch as colleges do not treat them fairly. But it is a hard, but important lesson to learn. My nephew got bumped from many tech schools and watched as girls who had similar or lesser stats get in AND get merit aid. No different than white males having an easier time at SLAC's. You have to find out which colleges need you or move to North Dakota. Stats and EC's are not enough. Colleges play the number game.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To build on black parent's snark - he/she is somewhat right. White/Asian unhooked students are chosen for the number of hoops they are willing to jump through. After they enter the selective college, somehow they must decompress and lose that mentality, or they won't be enter the top echelon of society, which is what the top schools give you an option for. I suspect this is part of the reason private school students do better. Generational wealth allowed them to achieve without grovelling.

Not sure what the solution is, but I have been seeing this problem for a while.

None of these narratives you’re telling yourself hold water.

My unhooked kid did get into a very top college. It was a stressful one. The drive that got kids in kept them going through multiple internships at once (at one point DC has a part-time job and 2 internships). Most kids had multiple internships and were taking more than the required number of classes. DC and DC’s friends got their dream jobs.

Second, my family has “old money” and this has nothing to do with admission to top colleges. Unless you have so much money that your family donated a building or endowed a chair within recent generations—great-great-great-grandpa doesn’t count—colleges don’t care. Sure, being able to apply ED because you can be full pay helps, but that’s it.

My kids went to public school, fwiw, except for a few years of private. I and other parents credit public school for making our kids into self-starters who can solve problems without a lot of hand-holding.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Weighted GPAs are worthless

2. High unweighted GPAs are not going to get you anywhere in the top 25 without a very rigorous course load with 4 years of every academic subject including foreign language.

3. Any college with a 25% or less acceptance rate is a lottery for kids with nearly perfect stats

4. Naviance does not account for recruits, legacies, courseload, first gen status, full pay status, etc.

5. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball.

DD had straight As, even in APs and honors, won the Wellesley Book Award, was a STEM student, could pay full tuition anywhere, cash. Played sports as well. Great SAT scores. White female with no legacy, rejected from everything but her safeties. Applied to no Ivys by choice.

Don’t tell me her race didn’t play a role in this liberal academic environment

I worked in admissions and am currently an alum interviewer for my college. Your daughter sounds like an excellent student, so I can understand your disappointment, but there's a lot more to admissions than GPA and SAT scores. Before you play the race card, consider:

What were her recommendations like?
How did she do in interviews?
Did her essay add dimension to her profile as a strong student?
Did she hold any leadership positions -- you mention that she played sports, but was she a team captain?
Did she excel in any national STEM competitions?

First, there IS no disappointment on my or my husband's part. She got into a nice college and has continued to do great.. I didn't WANT a top school, don't care. But boy was she pressured by her peer group in this area! What shocked me was the absolute ridiculousness of the process.

Her teachers, frankly, were stunned. Look at the list you just put up above. Does that also apply towards minorities, or is it ok if they don't meet your (frankly) abusive criteria above.

What you are saying as a college recruiter/interviewer is that kids need to get almost perfect SAT scores, over-perform in academics, be team captains, win national competitions, and hold leadership positions? These kids are TEENAGERS for Christ sakes!

Do you NOT see how absolutely absurd this is? My GOD if this is your criteria, you just proved my point as to how abusive and unrealistic college admissions has become. You are a major part of the problem.

I feel you. My white daughter needed some FA for most colleges and she was ousted from most of the schools she applied. Top 10% in her top 5 private, top grades, ACT 34, won a state championship for a science event, team captain to two varsity for 2 years. Played one of those sports in club setting since she was 12. President of two major clubs and heavily involved. Worked PT at an ice cream shop. 13 year Girl Scout and volunteered 2 weeks a summer at a Girl Scout camp. She interned for 8 weeks and received a fabulous recommendation from that internship on top of 3 other recommendations. Her college counselor said all were great. She was literally at school, at a club meeting, playing a sport, volunteering, or working PT her entire 4 years of colleges. Any free time she was studying. She barely had time to socialize. She loved her school. She gave it her all.

She then watched so many minorities and full pay rich white kids below her academically at her school (some barely involved) get to PICK between top schools. Her and three other obvious white FA kids got squat. One is potentially our valedictorian. They are going to UMCP after being denied at all reached and targets. Accepted to UMCP and Penn State only, which were both safeties. We have one student who had to repeat a grade and is still on Calc AB as a senior, get into an Ivy. It is very hard for these kids to swallow. They are taught to work hard and treat everyone equally and then they watch as colleges do not treat them fairly. But it is a hard, but important lesson to learn. My nephew got bumped from many tech schools and watched as girls who had similar or lesser stats get in AND get merit aid. No different than white males having an easier time at SLAC's. You have to find out which colleges need you or move to North Dakota. Stats and EC's are not enough. Colleges play the number game.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Weighted GPAs are worthless

2. High unweighted GPAs are not going to get you anywhere in the top 25 without a very rigorous course load with 4 years of every academic subject including foreign language.

3. Any college with a 25% or less acceptance rate is a lottery for kids with nearly perfect stats

4. Naviance does not account for recruits, legacies, courseload, first gen status, full pay status, etc.

5. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball.

DD had straight As, even in APs and honors, won the Wellesley Book Award, was a STEM student, could pay full tuition anywhere, cash. Played sports as well. Great SAT scores. White female with no legacy, rejected from everything but her safeties. Applied to no Ivys by choice.

Don’t tell me her race didn’t play a role in this liberal academic environment

I worked in admissions and am currently an alum interviewer for my college. Your daughter sounds like an excellent student, so I can understand your disappointment, but there's a lot more to admissions than GPA and SAT scores. Before you play the race card, consider:

What were her recommendations like?
How did she do in interviews?
Did her essay add dimension to her profile as a strong student?
Did she hold any leadership positions -- you mention that she played sports, but was she a team captain?
Did she excel in any national STEM competitions?

First, there IS no disappointment on my or my husband's part. She got into a nice college and has continued to do great.. I didn't WANT a top school, don't care. But boy was she pressured by her peer group in this area! What shocked me was the absolute ridiculousness of the process.

Her teachers, frankly, were stunned. Look at the list you just put up above. Does that also apply towards minorities, or is it ok if they don't meet your (frankly) abusive criteria above.

What you are saying as a college recruiter/interviewer is that kids need to get almost perfect SAT scores, over-perform in academics, be team captains, win national competitions, and hold leadership positions? These kids are TEENAGERS for Christ sakes!

Do you NOT see how absolutely absurd this is? My GOD if this is your criteria, you just proved my point as to how abusive and unrealistic college admissions has become. You are a major part of the problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's an example from DD's Naviance: I'm picking NYU, because it's popular, but my DD doesn't want to go there. In the last 3 years, 33 students have applied and 6 have been accepted. That's an acceptance rate of 18%, which is much lower than the national acceptance rate for NYU. Looking more closely at the Scattergram, 6 out of 7 students who applied with an SAT over 1400 got accepted. (I'm not sure how many years of application cycles the Scattergrams cover). There were many students waitlisted who scored between 1350 and 1400.

My DD is at a school with a high poverty rate. Less than 50% of students go directly to a 4 year university. A small percentage go out of state. I think that in this circumstance, a high SAT counts for a lot, because universities can't trust that an A means a lot (there isn't much competition). We have a very diverse school, and I want to assure the public that URM's are not getting high acceptance rates simply because they are URM.

It's also possible that NYU doesn't bother to admit many students from DD's school because NYU knows that it offers crappy financial aid. The yield is not likely to be high once students see the bottom line. My conclusion is that IF DD wanted to go to NYU, she would have a very good chance with a 1400+ SAT, but nothing is guaranteed. Thoughts?

NYU acceptance rate for 2019 was 16%. I am nit sure what old data you are looking at .... 2018 was 18%. So you entire point us dumb.