Anonymous
11/13/2025 09:50
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:From several threads this week, it seems GPA is more important than rigor at ivy league schools. Below a certain gpa, ivy league schools become impossible no matter the rigor.
Outside ivy leagues, is there any t20 school that is more willing to take a high rigor (multi variable and a bunch of other high level science courses) but rank outside top 10% ( but still top 20, 30%, etc). What if they have 1580-1600 scores to validate?
Or do you think this type should focus on state flagships instead?
Not at all true from our private or the neighboring private where we have access to SCOIR and know many kids and families. Ivies want both top rigor and top GPA unhooked, usually top3-5% especially if it is RD, minimally top10% plus all have to have very top rigor if unhooked. Hooked kids do not need top rigor for ivies, nor top rank. It is a different game for hooked kids. The only ivy that takes unhooked outside top10% rank is Cornell and those kids all have top rigor in all areas if they get in with a below 10% GPA. They also have been males.
+1. This. I have no idea where OP gets the idea that GPA is more important. It is very clear that top GPA, top test score, Max rigor, great ECs and great LOR are what you need for Ivies and top SLACs. Even at UVA (26), you need a 4.5 GPA, 35 ACT, and SAT 1510 at the 75th percentile to get in, and UVA is very clear they want to see maximum rigor.
My kid is unhooked RD at an Ivy. Straight As in top rigor, high scores, and great ECs and recs.
Nobody unhooked is getting in w/out top rigor.
Anonymous
11/13/2025 09:47
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:From several threads this week, it seems GPA is more important than rigor at ivy league schools. Below a certain gpa, ivy league schools become impossible no matter the rigor.
Outside ivy leagues, is there any t20 school that is more willing to take a high rigor (multi variable and a bunch of other high level science courses) but rank outside top 10% ( but still top 20, 30%, etc). What if they have 1580-1600 scores to validate?
Or do you think this type should focus on state flagships instead?
Haven't read all the responses, but is this post a joke?
ALL the T20 expect top rigor AND top grades. Without it, only a student with an amazing hook has a chance of being accepted.
Yes, OP doesn’t know what they are talking about. You are correct
Anonymous
11/13/2025 09:25
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:From several threads this week, it seems GPA is more important than rigor at ivy league schools. Below a certain gpa, ivy league schools become impossible no matter the rigor.
Outside ivy leagues, is there any t20 school that is more willing to take a high rigor (multi variable and a bunch of other high level science courses) but rank outside top 10% ( but still top 20, 30%, etc). What if they have 1580-1600 scores to validate?
Or do you think this type should focus on state flagships instead?
From our private, Duke values rigor more than GPA, for unhooked kids, as does Hopkins, Rice, WashU, for non-ivies. WashU and Rice take slightly lower GPA than Duke and Hopkins, as in lower second decile, barely in top 20%, vs just outside T10%. This is from a private school where that GPA is still well within the UVA -EA/RD acceptance range. UVA dips well into the 3rd decile for EA/RD as long as top rigor, UVA-ED sometimes goes to 4th decile for top rigor.
IF you are in-state UVA, your kid's GPA needs to be within the green-check area of Naviance for UVA to have a shot at T20, even with top rigor.
Similar at our private. Duke, Hopkins, Rice, WashU look beyond numbers. Multivariable is very rare at our school. Most ivy admits are humanities major, take either Calculus AB or precalculus.
Non DMV private, no multivariate in school, very humanities focused, though STEM strong too. All Ivy admits have calculus - AB or BC depending. The following colleges look way past transcript - very major dependent. CCO spent a lot of time advising on strategic major choice:
Stanford
Northwestern
Brown
Cornell
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Rice
Notre Dame
WashU
Michigan
USC
Anonymous
11/13/2025 09:18
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:From several threads this week, it seems GPA is more important than rigor at ivy league schools. Below a certain gpa, ivy league schools become impossible no matter the rigor.
Outside ivy leagues, is there any t20 school that is more willing to take a high rigor (multi variable and a bunch of other high level science courses) but rank outside top 10% ( but still top 20, 30%, etc). What if they have 1580-1600 scores to validate?
Or do you think this type should focus on state flagships instead?
Haven't read all the responses, but is this post a joke?
ALL the T20 expect top rigor AND top grades. Without it, only a student with an amazing hook has a chance of being accepted.
Anonymous
11/13/2025 09:16
Subject: Re:Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think they are willing if upward trend and high rigor, especially for younger boys with high test scores in all areas.
Younger boys? What does that mean?
non-redshirted that may have been very young freshman year.
Really? You think they actually go out of their way to cross-reference gender and birthday in order to give these boys the benefit of the doubt?
Why would they bother when there are so many other boys with consistently high rigor AND high stats all the way through high school?
Anonymous
11/13/2025 01:12
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:From several threads this week, it seems GPA is more important than rigor at ivy league schools. Below a certain gpa, ivy league schools become impossible no matter the rigor.
Outside ivy leagues, is there any t20 school that is more willing to take a high rigor (multi variable and a bunch of other high level science courses) but rank outside top 10% ( but still top 20, 30%, etc). What if they have 1580-1600 scores to validate?
Or do you think this type should focus on state flagships instead?
From our private, Duke values rigor more than GPA, for unhooked kids, as does Hopkins, Rice, WashU, for non-ivies. WashU and Rice take slightly lower GPA than Duke and Hopkins, as in lower second decile, barely in top 20%, vs just outside T10%. This is from a private school where that GPA is still well within the UVA -EA/RD acceptance range. UVA dips well into the 3rd decile for EA/RD as long as top rigor, UVA-ED sometimes goes to 4th decile for top rigor.
IF you are in-state UVA, your kid's GPA needs to be within the green-check area of Naviance for UVA to have a shot at T20, even with top rigor.
Similar at our private. Duke, Hopkins, Rice, WashU look beyond numbers. Multivariable is very rare at our school. Most ivy admits are humanities major, take either Calculus AB or precalculus.
Anonymous
11/12/2025 23:53
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:From several threads this week, it seems GPA is more important than rigor at ivy league schools. Below a certain gpa, ivy league schools become impossible no matter the rigor.
Outside ivy leagues, is there any t20 school that is more willing to take a high rigor (multi variable and a bunch of other high level science courses) but rank outside top 10% ( but still top 20, 30%, etc). What if they have 1580-1600 scores to validate?
Or do you think this type should focus on state flagships instead?
State flagships: UIUC, Georgia tech, Purdue
Tech schools: Stevens institute of technology, RIT, etc
LACs: Carleton, Grinnell
Any idea what GT and Purdue would do with the classic "upward trend", all As in five junior year APs with some Bs freshman year?
Anonymous
11/12/2025 23:32
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:From several threads this week, it seems GPA is more important than rigor at ivy league schools. Below a certain gpa, ivy league schools become impossible no matter the rigor.
Outside ivy leagues, is there any t20 school that is more willing to take a high rigor (multi variable and a bunch of other high level science courses) but rank outside top 10% ( but still top 20, 30%, etc). What if they have 1580-1600 scores to validate?
Or do you think this type should focus on state flagships instead?
Not at all true from our private or the neighboring private where we have access to SCOIR and know many kids and families. Ivies want both top rigor and top GPA unhooked, usually top3-5% especially if it is RD, minimally top10% plus all have to have very top rigor if unhooked. Hooked kids do not need top rigor for ivies, nor top rank. It is a different game for hooked kids. The only ivy that takes unhooked outside top10% rank is Cornell and those kids all have top rigor in all areas if they get in with a below 10% GPA. They also have been males.
+1. This. I have no idea where OP gets the idea that GPA is more important. It is very clear that top GPA, top test score, Max rigor, great ECs and great LOR are what you need for Ivies and top SLACs. Even at UVA (26), you need a 4.5 GPA, 35 ACT, and SAT 1510 at the 75th percentile to get in, and UVA is very clear they want to see maximum rigor.
Anonymous
11/12/2025 23:14
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Take the rank statistics with a grain of salt. If you read the fine print in the CDS, most colleges only get 20-25% of applicants sharing their rank. High schools don't put it on the transcript anymore. Obviously the applicants volunteering their rank are in the 90+ percentile.
Anonymous
11/12/2025 22:09
Subject: Re:Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think they are willing if upward trend and high rigor, especially for younger boys with high test scores in all areas.
Younger boys? What does that mean?
non-redshirted that may have been very young freshman year.
Makes sense, mine was around 15 when he took the SAT and got a 1580, but more immature due to not being held back, September baby. Few Bs in 9th but then took off.
Anonymous
11/12/2025 22:06
Subject: Re:Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think they are willing if upward trend and high rigor, especially for younger boys with high test scores in all areas.
Younger boys? What does that mean?
non-redshirted that may have been very young freshman year.
Anonymous
11/12/2025 22:03
Subject: Re:Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:I think they are willing if upward trend and high rigor, especially for younger boys with high test scores in all areas.
Younger boys? What does that mean?
Anonymous
11/12/2025 21:56
Subject: Re:Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
I think they are willing if upward trend and high rigor, especially for younger boys with high test scores in all areas.
Anonymous
11/12/2025 21:51
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:From several threads this week, it seems GPA is more important than rigor at ivy league schools. Below a certain gpa, ivy league schools become impossible no matter the rigor.
Outside ivy leagues, is there any t20 school that is more willing to take a high rigor (multi variable and a bunch of other high level science courses) but rank outside top 10% ( but still top 20, 30%, etc). What if they have 1580-1600 scores to validate?
Or do you think this type should focus on state flagships instead?
State flagships: UIUC, Georgia tech, Purdue
Tech schools: Stevens institute of technology, RIT, etc
LACs: Carleton, Grinnell
Anonymous
11/12/2025 21:45
Subject: Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?
Anonymous wrote:T20 and other top schools are not fooled by applicants who avoided more challenging classes like Calc BC and Physics. This also applies to applicants without an AP English class.
I think this is true. Our private school counselor noted, IB SL clearly worse than IB HL. If you get IB diploma with just SL and not challenging HL, then doesn't cut it. They respect the harder IB HLs.