Anonymous wrote:Who keeps trying to make Rice happen? It’s a great school but most kids I know think it’s a niche school for quirky kids.

The word “quirky” needs to go away. Not every smart kid wants to join a fraternity or sorority. Mean mom energy.

Anonymous wrote:Seeing much more interest in non-Ivies in T25, than ivies from our non-DMV private HS.

Sure, because most kids realize how near impossible it is to get into the Ivies.

Who keeps trying to make Rice happen? It’s a great school but most kids I know think it’s a niche school for quirky kids.

Anonymous wrote:Probably has something to do with top schools requiring tests and some of the ones named in OP stayed test optional.

this right there. The kids who didn't apply this year wouldn't have gotten in anyways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's Test Optional. That's it.

It really is that simple.

The TO schools are loving it, they get extra $ in applications, get to look artificially selective, and can continue publishing high test scores that a fraction report.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:It's Test Optional. That's it.

It really is that simple.

The TO schools are loving it, they get extra $ in applications, get to look artificially selective, and can continue publishing high test scores that a fraction report.

Anonymous wrote:Because they don’t have the test scores. Lol

As the elites turn test required more kids can’t apply with their low @ss scores- that’s why TO schools got more applicants and test required less. It’s not rocket science for crying out loud.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Cornell was the most popular Ivy application at our school this year because people thought they could get in.

Same. And bc they gave a giant Greek life which is making a resurgence nationwide everywhere.

It's Test Optional. That's it.

I think it's a few things. Students are becoming much more strategic with where they apply ED/SCEA. Top students are realizing it's pointless to apply early to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, or Stanford unless they have a major hook. So that's four schools gone. Columbia is becoming less appealing because most students don't want all that noise. So that's five schools that most of the best students are not applying to.

Among the strongest young men in particular, they want to see solid engineering and business programs, so they're looking at those schools instead of colleges that are historically weak in those fields. I don't think test optional policies matter that much for strong students. Most of the T25 were TO this cycle. Generally, it's students with a 1400+ who are deciding not to submit. It's not a bunch of 1100s who are sneaking in through the back door. And all of those students have AP scores to back up their transcripts.

Also, there is much more desire to get out of the northeast for college these days. And an Ivy brand resonates much more with parents than with the students themselves. But really, a top school with good business and engineering and where the best unhooked students can apply early is going to get a lot more attention these days. I think schools that have a lot more gravitational pull for various reasons are Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice - the southern schools - and Cornell, Penn, Northwestern - because they are good in engineering and business. And, importantly, a student applying ED will have a shot at these schools.

Lots of kids applied to ivies at my kids’ school. Frankly doubtful that the ones who are going to northwestern or rice chose them over ivies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think applicants are becoming more strategic and are generally less interested in entering the Ivy fray.

Agree. I posted above. More high stats kids opting for ED at Northwestern, Chicago, Duke, WASP and not risking the Ivy dice roll.

My perfect stats magnet kid wanted WASP. Part fit, part strategy.

They are all great schools, but how is a college podcast so clueless? The ivies that went back to rest required are down and the others got more applications. Cornell has always had a ton of applications, its largest and most accessible.

Cornell was the most popular Ivy application at our school this year because people thought they could get in.

Anonymous wrote:Cornell is hot this year.

it does not matter. It is the No.8 in ivies anyway.