Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 16:01     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Since you appear to be searching with an open mind and essentially a blank sheet of paper, this fairly general Princeton Review list, "Their Students Love These Colleges", may be of interest:

https://www.princetonrevi...e-colleges
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 15:57     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:Any school in the top 100 / top 25 SLACs will offer great opportunities for very smart, unhooked kids.

If you're asking for which super-selective (i.e, T10 or WASP) schools look kindly on the unhooked/ generically high stats applicant, the answer is none.

That's not to say it's impossible for such a student to get accepted at such a school, but it is unlikely and, when the rare acceptance happens, usually random (i.e., explained by no known data).


This seems the best answer to me (and fits with application experience of our 24 high rigor, 4.0, 1520, lots of music and sports ECs, part time job throughout year)
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 15:45     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:There are hundreds of schools that work exceedingly well for students like you describe. Get a Fiske Guide and see which schools resonate and are affordable. Find schools at a range of rejectivity levels.
This. "Ranking" is so toxic.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 15:43     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:So if all the kids with hooks like legacy, athletics, first gen, national awards and pro level art go to HYPS, what is the best schools for normal, extremely smart, hardworking kids with normal ec's? I think I'd like my dc to be surrounded by kids that fall into the latter group.

B1G and ACC (except Duke) conference schools
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 15:41     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:I would say U Chicago, Northwestern, Hopkins
And Rice are your best options but only with ED


Agree. The reality is that ED is a "hook" you can create for T20 schools, good news is it's a helluva lot easier than a passion project, bad news is it means taking Ivies off the table (except Cornell).

My kid looked at many of the schools listed above and chose Chicago for ED. One and done.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 15:36     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
I would say U Chicago, Northwestern, Hopkins
And Rice are your best options but only with ED
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 15:08     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
University of Iowa doesn't look at any of that stuff. Just plugs your GPA and ACT/SAT into a formula. Go Hawkeyes!
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 15:05     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Any school in the top 100 / top 25 SLACs will offer great opportunities for very smart, unhooked kids.

If you're asking for which super-selective (i.e, T10 or WASP) schools look kindly on the unhooked/ generically high stats applicant, the answer is none.

That's not to say it's impossible for such a student to get accepted at such a school, but it is unlikely and, when the rare acceptance happens, usually random (i.e., explained by no known data).
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 15:05     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So if all the kids with hooks like legacy, athletics, first gen, national awards and pro level art go to HYPS, what is the best schools for normal, extremely smart, hardworking kids with normal ec's? I think I'd like my dc to be surrounded by kids that fall into the latter group.


I'm not sure what you mean by "normal" ECs, but there are lots of schools that want the best and brightest regardless of legacy and connections and hooks -

MIT
Rice
Northwestern
Vanderbilt
Chicago
CalTech
Cornell
Johns Hopkins
Notre Dame
CMU
WashU
Emory
Harvey Mudd
Pomona
Bowdoin
Swarthmore
Michigan
Berkeley
UCLA
Georgia Tech
West Point
Annapolis
Air Force

And the honors programs at most state flagships will have super smart and accomplished students, particularly these days as more and more families are priced out of private universities.


These are mostly extremely expensive schools aside from the Academies. Great wealth is a hook.


Great wealth is a hook at 100% of private colleges and universities. It's almost besides the point.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:56     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Definitely consider honors colleges at UGA, Penn State and other schools. Some do require extra applications, but it's a good way to get a boost.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:53     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So if all the kids with hooks like legacy, athletics, first gen, national awards and pro level art go to HYPS, what is the best schools for normal, extremely smart, hardworking kids with normal ec's? I think I'd like my dc to be surrounded by kids that fall into the latter group.


I'm not sure what you mean by "normal" ECs, but there are lots of schools that want the best and brightest regardless of legacy and connections and hooks -

MIT
Rice
Northwestern
Vanderbilt
Chicago
CalTech
Cornell
Johns Hopkins
Notre Dame
CMU
WashU
Emory
Harvey Mudd
Pomona
Bowdoin
Swarthmore
Michigan
Berkeley
UCLA
Georgia Tech
West Point
Annapolis
Air Force

And the honors programs at most state flagships will have super smart and accomplished students, particularly these days as more and more families are priced out of private universities.


Vandy not only has a parent legacy but also a sibling legacy. ND gives more of a legacy bump than literally any other college. NW also has a very strong kegracy preference. Maybe don’t answer if you don’t know.


+1
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:52     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:Rice! They don't care as much about your ECs or making the world a better place. Rice, however, wants kids with very high stats, perfect GPA, high test scores, etc.


Disagree. They want the extremely high stats and community service/EC passion.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:49     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So if all the kids with hooks like legacy, athletics, first gen, national awards and pro level art go to HYPS, what is the best schools for normal, extremely smart, hardworking kids with normal ec's? I think I'd like my dc to be surrounded by kids that fall into the latter group.


I'm not sure what you mean by "normal" ECs, but there are lots of schools that want the best and brightest regardless of legacy and connections and hooks -

MIT
Rice
Northwestern
Vanderbilt
Chicago
CalTech
Cornell
Johns Hopkins
Notre Dame
CMU
WashU
Emory
Harvey Mudd
Pomona
Bowdoin
Swarthmore
Michigan
Berkeley
UCLA
Georgia Tech
West Point
Annapolis
Air Force

And the honors programs at most state flagships will have super smart and accomplished students, particularly these days as more and more families are priced out of private universities.


These are mostly extremely expensive schools aside from the Academies. Great wealth is a hook.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:19     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Anonymous wrote:Here's an article confirming that
BC considers legacy.https://www.bcheights.com/2023/02/26/bc-omits-its-consideration-of-legacy-admissions-from-common-data-set-unlike-many-neighbor-institutions/


Sorry, better link. https://www.bcheights.com/2023/02/26/bc-omits-its-consideration-of-legacy-admissions-from-common-data-set-unlike-many-neighbor-institutions/
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:18     Subject: Options for smart kids without hooks
Here's an article confirming that
BC considers legacy.https://www.bcheights.com/2023/02/26/bc-omits-its-consideration-of-legacy-admissions-from-common-data-set-unlike-many-neighbor-institutions/