Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 22:14     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If ECs only marginally have something to do with the intended major, that is an obvious sign of coaching.


This makes no sense. My DS’s EC was chorus, yet he majored in biochemistry.


What T20 school did he get into?


If he did or didn’t get in it wasn’t because he was overcoached. Kids get accepted or rejected for lots of reasons.


Did he have any ECs that aligned with his major though? Where did he end up.


It’s so confusing- sometimes people say, that kid got in because his ECs lined up with his major. And now this thread is like, but.. don’t have them line up TOO much, of course. I am SMH. What the heck is a kid supposed to do?!?!?


Be themselves and communicate in a sincere, real honest way
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 20:43     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:Overly coached students will have:
Manufactured passion
Strategic essays
Carefully planned extracurriculars all tied around their niche interest
Extracurriculars will be loaded with numbers —xxx dollars, xxx hours. Everything will be impact impact impact.


This actually works.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 20:41     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If ECs only marginally have something to do with the intended major, that is an obvious sign of coaching.


This makes no sense. My DS’s EC was chorus, yet he majored in biochemistry.


What T20 school did he get into?


If he did or didn’t get in it wasn’t because he was overcoached. Kids get accepted or rejected for lots of reasons.


Did he have any ECs that aligned with his major though? Where did he end up.


It’s so confusing- sometimes people say, that kid got in because his ECs lined up with his major. And now this thread is like, but.. don’t have them line up TOO much, of course. I am SMH. What the heck is a kid supposed to do?!?!?


have some alignment (3-4) but not too obvious or much. and don't look like a "striver"
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 20:25     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If ECs only marginally have something to do with the intended major, that is an obvious sign of coaching.


This makes no sense. My DS’s EC was chorus, yet he majored in biochemistry.


What T20 school did he get into?


If he did or didn’t get in it wasn’t because he was overcoached. Kids get accepted or rejected for lots of reasons.


Did he have any ECs that aligned with his major though? Where did he end up.


It’s so confusing- sometimes people say, that kid got in because his ECs lined up with his major. And now this thread is like, but.. don’t have them line up TOO much, of course. I am SMH. What the heck is a kid supposed to do?!?!?


Why do you care about what other people say? Why can't your kids do themselves?
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 20:22     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If ECs only marginally have something to do with the intended major, that is an obvious sign of coaching.


This makes no sense. My DS’s EC was chorus, yet he majored in biochemistry.


What T20 school did he get into?


If he did or didn’t get in it wasn’t because he was overcoached. Kids get accepted or rejected for lots of reasons.


Did he have any ECs that aligned with his major though? Where did he end up.


It’s so confusing- sometimes people say, that kid got in because his ECs lined up with his major. And now this thread is like, but.. don’t have them line up TOO much, of course. I am SMH. What the heck is a kid supposed to do?!?!?
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:12     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
ADHD
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:11     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If ECs only marginally have something to do with the intended major, that is an obvious sign of coaching.


This makes no sense. My DS’s EC was chorus, yet he majored in biochemistry.


What T20 school did he get into?


If he did or didn’t get in it wasn’t because he was overcoached. Kids get accepted or rejected for lots of reasons.


Did he have any ECs that aligned with his major though? Where did he end up.


I have no idea. I am not his parent. But having EC’s unrelated to major is the opposite of overcoached.

Over coached is the kid whose parent or college counselor has found lots of activities for the kid to do that align with a major they deem to be undersubscribed, which the kid is applying for with the plan to switch to biochemistry.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:10     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:- unnatural, overly polished, or hyper-strategic essays

- overly strategic and complicated extracurriculars

- lack of authenticity or vulnerability (or if it is there, it seems performative)

- lack of passion (it should basically just exude from the common app)




I think it's this with the crazy wacky "passion projects" that are unnatural for a 17 yo.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:09     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:What are the telltale signs of an overcoached application? It’s a word used in another post, but I am not familiar with it.


Signs of an over coached application:

1) Parent(s) post on DCUM.
2) Admitted to, or merely applied, to a WASP.
3) Has firm ideas about what a “T20” is.
4) Wants to know you kid’s stats.
5) Double digit APs
6) Thinks weighted GPA is a thing
7) Ever uses the word “rigor” without immediately following it with “mortis”
8) Is worried in-state UVa numbers this year
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:07     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If ECs only marginally have something to do with the intended major, that is an obvious sign of coaching.


This makes no sense. My DS’s EC was chorus, yet he majored in biochemistry.


What T20 school did he get into?


If he did or didn’t get in it wasn’t because he was overcoached. Kids get accepted or rejected for lots of reasons.


Did he have any ECs that aligned with his major though? Where did he end up.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:05     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If ECs only marginally have something to do with the intended major, that is an obvious sign of coaching.


This makes no sense. My DS’s EC was chorus, yet he majored in biochemistry.


What T20 school did he get into?


If he did or didn’t get in it wasn’t because he was overcoached. Kids get accepted or rejected for lots of reasons.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 16:57     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:It is not that difficult. Sure AO's do not get paid much, but they are not idiots. I can identify a dozen college counselors, just from reading the app if they advised that student. The activity wordings and essays (word choices, ending) are like DNA fingerprints for anyone who has gone through reading applications for a couple of cycles. You cannot but be turned off by such tactics.

That is why, when I see people spending tons of money on college counselors, it makes me smile.


Nope. Now the kids with counselors from CBOs and Matriculate have ALL the same essays. Why? AI tools (and no they don't write the essay - but yes the tools have improved tremendously).

It's not the essays.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 16:40     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:The absurdity never ends—pushing kids to learn calculus in middle school to look like geniuses, or forcing them into niche sports and obscure hobbies just to appear “passionate” or unique. And for what? Colleges often don’t improve your financial future or social mobility if you’re not going to contribute much to yourself or society. All that time and effort—basically wasted. So meaningless.


Students take calculus in 11th or 12th grade. Not middle school.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 16:39     Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
It’s not a work interview. Did you even read the original post? It doesn’t need to be several paragraphs long rehashing the entire interview or adding new information. Seriously?
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 16:33     Subject: Re:Signs of an overcoached application
^ the thank u note, dummy

What to write in a work interview note.