T15 university. White affluent male, non-legacy.

Did NOT have the highest grades in class, nor the the most rigorous classes. 1550 SAT. No awards of any type.

I think what likely tipped the balance for him is certainly one and likely two killer recommendations. ie, thoughtful, all original, well-written and specific. Of course I didn't see the letters, but these 2 teachers have told me unsolicited what they think about DS as a student so I assume they said the same in print.

Also, and I've posted before about this, DS has a couple of unusual and very genuine passions that you can't fake starting junior year. Those served as "ECs"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top SLAC. I think what helped was SLACs look at whole picture.

This. Agree with PP that SLACs seem more likely than huge universities to look at the whole student, not solely tossing out applications if they don't make a specific, numeric GPA/test scores cutoff. I think essays really matter with schools where they aren't having to wade through thousands upon thousands of applicants

A relative worked in college admissions at two top SLACs. What they shared: admissions offices slice and dice in various ways, including by test scores. There may not be a cut off, but all things but scores being equal may move an app from maybe to no.

Anonymous wrote:Top SLAC. I think what helped was SLACs look at whole picture.

This. Agree with PP that SLACs seem more likely than huge universities to look at the whole student, not solely tossing out applications if they don't make a specific, numeric GPA/test scores cutoff. I think essays really matter with schools where they aren't having to wade through thousands upon thousands of applicants

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:T10 and in descending order:

ED full pay
Multiple Varsity sports and captain
High test scores
Most rigorous HS classes with straight As
Variety of EC clubs, including

T10 SLAC in descending order:

ED full pay male
high test score
ECs with consistent focus on DEI
varsity sports, not captain till after admission
HS college office director calling AD

PP here: DS wanted to apply to a T5 SLAC. His school college advisor indicated that would probably not work out for him, so they talked through what reaches might be more possible. In the end, no one from their school got into the particular SLAC. While DS still likes some of its offerings not present at his current, he is relieved that he didn't gamble as it didn't work out for his peers with stronger grades/classes.

Anonymous wrote:T10 and in descending order:

ED full pay
Multiple Varsity sports and captain
High test scores
Most rigorous HS classes with straight As
Variety of EC clubs, including

T10 SLAC in descending order:

ED full pay male
high test score
ECs with consistent focus on DEI
varsity sports, not captain till after admission
HS college office director calling AD

T10 and in descending order:

ED full pay
Multiple Varsity sports and captain
High test scores
Most rigorous HS classes with straight As
Variety of EC clubs, including

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National awards, unique ECs, great gpa/test scores, great relationships with teachers/gc, essay investment, timing of some awards (was able to contact AO with additional awards about 6 weeks after app submission). Got into 3 reach schools (T15).

Can you please elaborate? what unique ECs?

And could you please let us know what awards you told AO after application was submitted?

Variety of arts and music. Awards across sciences and arts. Sports capt. Club pres. Update was NMF + a regional arts award and national finalist for another arts award.

Notre Dame Mendoza

- REA: although it's not as helpful as ED
- Being Asian: on the contrary I think it helped as the school has much lesser Asian sutents compared to other T20 schools, and it's putting more effort to make the school more diverse.

Kid is very happy there so far.

Do people really ask to see their admissions records at their college??? Wow....

My child was told by DCUM they wouldn't get into a couple schools but they did. Had very good ECs, which probably offset the middling academic record and learning issues.

One of our kids got into a top 50 college with bottom 50% stats. Full pay. Nothing else stands out in the application.

We have 3 kids; all got into their reach school. For the oldest, I'd say that recommendations might have tipped it. For the middle, a great essay. And, for the third, sports.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one knows. It is a bit of a black box.

People who do and don't get into lottery schools have their theories...but I would not put much stock in them.

This. For everyone who thinks they know why their kid got in, there is another same story kid who didn't. I wish there was really a way of knowing.

IMO, there is no way to really know. I think it boils down to catching the AO eye with application. They take less than 5 mins to review most applications, and after reading 100s, anything that makes you stand out gives you a better chance.
So for example, for one supplemental at a school, there was the option to "show" your answer (submit art, a video of art/music/dance/etc). My kid submitted a dance video figuring it would help catch the AO attention (and it would better showcase my kid). Who wouldn't be happy to watch a 2 min video rather than reading another essay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National awards, unique ECs, great gpa/test scores, great relationships with teachers/gc, essay investment, timing of some awards (was able to contact AO with additional awards about 6 weeks after app submission). Got into 3 reach schools (T15).

Can you please elaborate? what unique ECs?

And could you please let us know what awards you told AO after application was submitted?

Anonymous wrote:National awards, unique ECs, great gpa/test scores, great relationships with teachers/gc, essay investment, timing of some awards (was able to contact AO with additional awards about 6 weeks after app submission). Got into 3 reach schools (T15).

Can you please elaborate? what unique ECs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one knows. It is a bit of a black box.

People who do and don't get into lottery schools have their theories...but I would not put much stock in them.

This. For everyone who thinks they know why their kid got in, there is another same story kid who didn't. I wish there was really a way of knowing.

There is. Your kid can FERPA their admissions file in the first year they matriculate. I believe the school the destroys the file after that first year.
In the file, they will see reader 1,2..n comments, and the committee vote. For my kid, there were a lot of codes used but you could roughly make out why (and youtube helps too)

Really? This article states otherwise.

https://www.collegeconfidential.com/articles/see-my-admissions-file-ferpa/

I think the PP is saying you can FERPA your file where you matriculate, which is exactly what that article says. You cannot FERPA your file where you were denied. FWIW my college keeps its admissions ecords forever.