Anonymous
Post 04/04/2025 00:09     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote: It was definitely very competitive this year...

You really are a poor listener & so divorced from reality. After all this feedback you go "it was very competitive this year!"

No. it is very competitive EVERY YEAR.

Your kid is an average kid for these schools. There are many other really good kids out there too, some even extraordinary. Versus it being in the bag, your child would have been very very lucky to get in, same for every other kid.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2025 00:08     Subject: Disappointment
I’m so sorry. Her stats were incredible, and I understand the high expectations.

You mention being confused - I think many parents on this board either hired professional college counselors or did a lot of research themselves (many here listen to college podcasts or read College Confidential). Based on that knowledge, which we improperly assume everyone has, it sounds like you/she mis-categorized many schools. This is the reason for some of the snarkier feedback you are getting.

Also she got Monroe? And maybe Pitt Honors? Both of those shift the balance, and I’m surprised you didn’t put that in your first post.

A few other things - she’s pre-med, but I’m not seeing much activity other other people/other students? The people piece is important for pre-med. And you say she really liked CMU, but hadn’t actually been to Pittsburgh? How could she really like it? The rank? The web site?

I do wish her well, and I hope you can both come to acceptance soon.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2025 00:07     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This has to be fake. People cannot be this naive.

+1

Why does this seem "fake" to you? The cycle was very harsh this year, and I think that my DD and I have every right to feel disappointed.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2025 00:04     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:This has to be fake. People cannot be this naive.



+1
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2025 00:02     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You said “it was more of a safety.”

Yes, I said it was more of a safety than a reach, which would make it a target. Sorry if that wasn't clear.


Did you find the entire college admissions process overwhelming? A lot of uncertainty in these posts. A college counselor probably would have helped.


We mainly relied on DD's own research and school counselor.


You cannot complain if you put little effort into it. She got into great schools. You are the problem.


You guys are piranhas. It is totally understandable for OP and her DD to be disappointed based on her stats and efforts. If we are at at the place now where you are saying what mom did is 'little effort' because they didn't spend on a college counselor, then this process is totally screwed and you are a contributor.

I am not saying anyone is entitled to a spot, but I am saying that this dd is entitled to be disappointed.





Yass
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:59     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, you and your DD have a right to be disappointed. My high stats DC is too when we see low SAT students getting in to the top 5 schools (1390 SAT). This is happening and should be investigated.


Yes, DD said that one of her classmates that got into Brown (RD) had around a 1370 SAT and much lower GPA. ECs + essays must have been phenomenal...


Don't take SAT too seriously, you need spike to get in Ivies. If you are FGLI, that's spike, SAT 1240 can get you in top Lac.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:54     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who finds HS founders of non-profits to be borderline insulting? I worked in the non-profit world, so did dh. These are serious places and it takes as much (if not more) work than a business to be a really successful one. I know bc we now own a successful business. It's not some vanity project to be started by a 17 year old. So annoying. Change my mind.


Absolutely this. Along with “research.” Come on. It’s a rote, meaningless checking of boxes. When so many applicants are showing up with awesome profiles you don’t need one more thing that can be “achieved” by all the others as well. You need a personality that catches the attention of someone reading your file, an unusual skill, an/or whatever profile combination the admissions office is looking for at that moment in time.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:53     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You said “it was more of a safety.”

Yes, I said it was more of a safety than a reach, which would make it a target. Sorry if that wasn't clear.


Did you find the entire college admissions process overwhelming? A lot of uncertainty in these posts. A college counselor probably would have helped.


We mainly relied on DD's own research and school counselor.


You cannot complain if you put little effort into it. She got into great schools. You are the problem.


You guys are piranhas. It is totally understandable for OP and her DD to be disappointed based on her stats and efforts. If we are at at the place now where you are saying what mom did is 'little effort' because they didn't spend on a college counselor, then this process is totally screwed and you are a contributor.

I am not saying anyone is entitled to a spot, but I am saying that this dd is entitled to be disappointed.



Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:52     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Call me crazy, but personally, I think schools see kids with 15 APs (all 5s) and think "she'll graduate early so that's a year less of tuition." It's a business.


Hmm, this does make quite a bit of sense. I actually thought that all her APs would give her a boost, especially with her scores.


This actually makes no sense because most of these schools are privates won't allow more than a couple of courses for credit so she would be going all 4 years anyway. The APs are only useful for demonstrating rigor and for course placement.


Yes, but UVA accepts AP credits - We were the most surprised with this WL. Did not expect it at all.


Yes, You DD should get in UVA, and big chance she will be picked-up from all WLs, she has pretty good stats, but lack leadership, sound award, job experience, major is also very competitive, maybe essay is weak too?
JHU would be hard reach. My DD got in JHU last year, will slightly better stats, multiple leadership positions, national award, numerous state awards, solid job experience, most important, she's none stem major.

It's not end of the world, she can transfer if doesn't get off WLs.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:51     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You said “it was more of a safety.”

Yes, I said it was more of a safety than a reach, which would make it a target. Sorry if that wasn't clear.


Did you find the entire college admissions process overwhelming? A lot of uncertainty in these posts. A college counselor probably would have helped.


We mainly relied on DD's own research and school counselor.


You cannot complain if you put little effort into it. She got into great schools. You are the problem.

This is... strangely harsh. Of course we put effort into it, I was just clarifying that DD did in fact do her own research before applying and was guided by her school counselor.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:50     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:Anyone else facing a lot of disappointment during this cycle? DD got into a couple target schools + most of her safeties... Rejected or WL from the rest. She was (imo and told to us by many others) a great applicant - High stats, great ECs + essays, LORs... Her interviews all went very well, especially JHU. She applied to JHU EA and the rest RD, and we're from NOVA. Intended major is BME (biomed engineering).

Stats:
4.0 UW/4.7 W GPA
1570 SAT (800 M, 770 R&W)
14 APs, all 5s

ECs:
- A few regional awards (STEM)
- 200+ volunteer hours @ local hospital
- Founder of non-profit
- Research w/ prof at T30
- Competitive summer program for BME
- Lots of community service

Results:
JHU EA - Deferred -> Rejected
Princeton - Rejected
Brown - Rejected
Dartmouth - Rejected
Columbia - Rejected
Duke - Rejected
UVA - WL
Cornell - WL
CMU - WL
UNC CH - WL
VT - Accepted
W&M - Accepted
Lehigh - Accepted
UPitt - Accepted

DD is incredibly upset and so are we... JHU was her dream school but she relied on UVA + CMU as well. Anyone here confused and facing a similar situation?We all were convinced that DD had it in the bag - Worst of all is that many of her classmates w/ lower stats and worse ECs have gotten into a few of these schools.


She doesn't sound well rounded and the volunteering and non-profit are often more for show than substance. She got into great schools and did well for herself. Be happy.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:49     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:By VT do you mean VA Tech? Tech is better than UVA for engineering anyway.

And Lehigh is a great choice for engineering.

I do agree with those stats I would have expected a bit more success tho! This was a competitive year, but I wonder if maybe she had a bad rec? Did you read her essays?

Yes, VA Tech. Both her LOR teachers have a close relationship with DD, but both are STEM teachers so maybe weak writing skills? I did read her essays and thought they were very good - She got other positive feedback on them as well, but maybe they weren't what the school was looking for? It was definitely very competitive this year...
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:49     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You said “it was more of a safety.”

Yes, I said it was more of a safety than a reach, which would make it a target. Sorry if that wasn't clear.


Did you find the entire college admissions process overwhelming? A lot of uncertainty in these posts. A college counselor probably would have helped.


We mainly relied on DD's own research and school counselor.


You cannot complain if you put little effort into it. She got into great schools. You are the problem.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:48     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:OP, you and your DD have a right to be disappointed. My high stats DC is too when we see low SAT students getting in to the top 5 schools (1390 SAT). This is happening and should be investigated.


Investigated by whom and why? These schools can take whoever they want.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 23:46     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:I hate to see the hate. I am so sorry this happened to your DD. It hurts. She had amazing stats and it wasn’t unreasonable to expect more acceptances. Hang in there.

TJ sends a bunch to Pitt every year. Both my kids applied and toured, and we were impressed. Pittsburgh is a great place to go to school!

Hope it works out!

Thank you! We're arranging a visit to get a feel, neither of us were ever in Pittsburgh.