Full pay is king

And they have a "video essay" where you can show you are classy or charming and physically desirable.

Anonymous wrote:A major, major advantage for going to Sidwell and STA. A very smart kid there can enjoy four years of high school by focusing on developing interests without worrying/stressing about college at all.

Huh?

This mythologizing is nuts.

They just want full pay students who have extremely high test scores (1500+ SAT) and good grades in rigorous courses, and some talent. Prefer a niche activity (bassoon not violin) where it's easier to be highly rated.

can you have several Bs on your transcript at sidwell at get in ed1 to UChicago?

A major, major advantage for going to Sidwell and STA. A very smart kid there can enjoy four years of high school by focusing on developing interests without worrying/stressing about college at all.

They take a lot from Sidwell and St. Albans. They took 10 from Sidwell this year and 8 are going. The 8 kids all got in EA, ED1 or ED2. The two who got in RD chose Harvard and Columbia. The RD admissions rate was 1%.

You must apply ED1. If you don't get in ED1 then Do Not apply ED2. It's very unlikely you will get in. You can apply EA and if deferred, change to ED2. Even though they say test-optional you should have strong scores, especially coming from a private. They always get some very strong applicants ED2. These are the kids who were deferred/denied from HYP and decided not to take their chances in RD.

Lots of ECs. Especially sports or orchestra

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Anonymous wrote:Most DC private schools sent very few students to UChicago. Maret sent a single student there this year, who probably has the highest GPA at Maret. NCS sent a single girl there. STA and Sidwell sent a bunch, but unless you are at Cum Laude level, there is no guarantee. Some students with lower GPA got in, but those tend to have hooks.

UChicago accepts a bunch of students from some top private schools throughout the country, but DC only has two such schools. If you are at Maret, Landon, and even NCS, you will not receive the feeder school treatment.

Holton takes 3-4 girls from Holton (out of about 80 in the graduating class). That’s a lot.

Sorry, I meant UChicago takes 3-4 girls from Holton…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most DC private schools sent very few students to UChicago. Maret sent a single student there this year, who probably has the highest GPA at Maret. NCS sent a single girl there. STA and Sidwell sent a bunch, but unless you are at Cum Laude level, there is no guarantee. Some students with lower GPA got in, but those tend to have hooks.

UChicago accepts a bunch of students from some top private schools throughout the country, but DC only has two such schools. If you are at Maret, Landon, and even NCS, you will not receive the feeder school treatment.

Holton takes 3-4 girls from Holton (out of about 80 in the graduating class). That’s a lot.

UChicago really likes applicants who have long-term interests of any sort. Doesn't really matter much what it is or even if you are exceptional at it. The fact that you stick with your interests is important. It is a tough school and they want students who will grind it out the entire four years.

Also, be interesting. So hard to quantify but it is a thing. It isn't enough to be smart and talented and hardworking. They want students who are all of those things and so fun to be around (fun as in nerdy fun).

So a kid who refurbishes old cars and REALLY geeks out over the tensile strength of aftermarket parts will catch their eye.

Smart, Fun, Geeky, Self-motivated

Intellectual and unusual students. Not diversity/community service unusual, manic pixie dream girl (academic edition) unusual. If your son gets/maintains excellent grades and writes an interesting response to one of their particular essay prompts (interesting is way more important than showing he’s an awesome student/wants to save the world/whatever), he should be fine.

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Anonymous wrote:I think my kid got in because of his essays and recommendation letters. I mean his grades and SAT were nothing to scoff at either but I’m sure everyone else applying also had 4.0s and 1600s.

Not even close.

?

What are you confused about? Most people attending, let along applying, do not have 1600s. GPAs are meaningless so not worthy of comment.

ah... my bad. Should've said... as with the 90% applying with a 3.75-4.0 GPA and 99% 1400+ SATs. Apologies for not being precise.

You are now being less precise.

They do not require a diversity essay. They like intellectual kids. Show your interests in research and possibly pursuing a PhD.

Anonymous wrote:I agree they dont seem as community-minded, not that I care. They seem to have a rather traditional view that college is about education so rigor, rigor, rigor .. even if you got a b+. Dont' really care about your activism, etc. Not sure they care about your PT job either.

Hire someone to help keep up with those prompts. They take a lot of time.

Can't attest to the other aspects but my kid did not have a job at all their entire high school career and got in EA.