Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 13:22     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To use a non-politically correct phrase from when I was younger - at some point you might have too many Indian chiefs and not enough Indians - everyone can't be a superstar at everything. So if everyone is spiky because they are "the best" at something, the campus culture gets toxic. As it is, these kids are all among the best academically.

The idea is that everyone is spiky at different things, together forming a well-rounded class.
You got the wrong idea.


This, but also the same spikes can be seen as very different among kids.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 13:16     Subject: Re:Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The problem is that the “well-rounded” student is going to major in Econ or CS if a boy or biosciences if a girl. That’s not really well-rounded from the school’s perspective, because it makes for the opposite of a well-rounded school.


Not true at all.

Well, if you put it that way- so convincingly - you must be right. Thank you for your insight.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 13:13     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
I don’t get why people think kids who get accepted aren’t well-rounded. The kids I’ve known who have gotten into ivy or ivy+ have all been well rounded. Sometimes they are rounded with a spike, meaning that they were strong students in both humanities and math, with high math and verbal SAT, 5s across all AP subjects, AND with top achievements in one of these domains, or went far above and beyond in some unacademic extracurricular.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:52     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Indulge me in your admission trend predictions for the next 5 years or so. Will we ever see the well-rounded kid make a comeback over the “spiky” kid? I know that people, including AOs, have come around to how manufactured these spiky narratives can be, and yet, it still seems to be the best way to gain admission. Why does this persist and will we ever see the end of it? Or has the common app put an end to giving an edge to the well rounded applicant forever?


I am hoping they will eliminate or at least reduce institutional priorities.
MC kids constitute the vast majority of the applicants, but only getting the smallest number of acceptances. If this does not change, spiky or well roundedness doesn't matter because it's still MC kids fighting for that very small number of seats.


Unintentionally funniest post of the day lol



Schools should stop having missions and priorities other than taking as many Montgomery County children as they possibly can. As we know students in Montgomery County are the most deserving and brilliant children in the State of Maryland (and the DMV). Any school, T20 or otherwise, that claims to value educational access should reinforce their commitment to the access that really matters. How many Montgomery County children they can enroll.


MC = middle class.
No one is talking about Montgomery County.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:51     Subject: Re:Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
The key is spikey interest/impact/awards AND breadth in interests (sport, art, etc)
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:50     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
Anonymous wrote:To use a non-politically correct phrase from when I was younger - at some point you might have too many Indian chiefs and not enough Indians - everyone can't be a superstar at everything. So if everyone is spiky because they are "the best" at something, the campus culture gets toxic. As it is, these kids are all among the best academically.

The idea is that everyone is spiky at different things, together forming a well-rounded class.
You got the wrong idea.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:47     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Indulge me in your admission trend predictions for the next 5 years or so. Will we ever see the well-rounded kid make a comeback over the “spiky” kid? I know that people, including AOs, have come around to how manufactured these spiky narratives can be, and yet, it still seems to be the best way to gain admission. Why does this persist and will we ever see the end of it? Or has the common app put an end to giving an edge to the well rounded applicant forever?


I am hoping they will eliminate or at least reduce institutional priorities.
MC kids constitute the vast majority of the applicants, but only getting the smallest number of acceptances. If this does not change, spiky or well roundedness doesn't matter because it's still MC kids fighting for that very small number of seats.


Unintentionally funniest post of the day lol



Schools should stop having missions and priorities other than taking as many Montgomery County children as they possibly can. As we know students in Montgomery County are the most deserving and brilliant children in the State of Maryland (and the DMV). Any school, T20 or otherwise, that claims to value educational access should reinforce their commitment to the access that really matters. How many Montgomery County children they can enroll.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:45     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
Anonymous wrote:Spike is a college counselor's lifeline and a way to get clients. There is no money, no FOMO, no incentive to hire a college counselor who does not have a secret sauce ("spike"). Reverse this and if you have a kid at Ivy, find out from their experience (at least in the first semester they are all sharing lots of details of their applications). It looks a lot different from the common narrative here.


No one said you had to hire someone for the spike. Imo the spike exists or it doesn't. Passionate interesting kids generally have one....
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:44     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
eastcoastmom wrote:My DD had a very spiky application (humanities based) and I was worried that she was not well rounded enough. She did not have maximum rigor in math/science classes but doubled up in advanced classes relating to her major.

Her counselor did say that because of her "spike" there was an authenticity and cohesive narrative to her application that was evident in her leadership positions, activities, classes, and essays. It ultimately landed her in top 10 ED school but I'm not sure if there is one strategy that works for everyone.


Same for my DC. just posted in another thread. Got into 4 T20 (and 1 T10) last cycle bc of that authentic/cohesive narrative. Without the utmost top STEM rigor. And TO to boot.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:36     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
To use a non-politically correct phrase from when I was younger - at some point you might have too many Indian chiefs and not enough Indians - everyone can't be a superstar at everything. So if everyone is spiky because they are "the best" at something, the campus culture gets toxic. As it is, these kids are all among the best academically.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:34     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:33     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
Spike is a college counselor's lifeline and a way to get clients. There is no money, no FOMO, no incentive to hire a college counselor who does not have a secret sauce ("spike"). Reverse this and if you have a kid at Ivy, find out from their experience (at least in the first semester they are all sharing lots of details of their applications). It looks a lot different from the common narrative here.
eastcoastmom
Post 02/11/2026 11:53     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
My DD had a very spiky application (humanities based) and I was worried that she was not well rounded enough. She did not have maximum rigor in math/science classes but doubled up in advanced classes relating to her major.

Her counselor did say that because of her "spike" there was an authenticity and cohesive narrative to her application that was evident in her leadership positions, activities, classes, and essays. It ultimately landed her in top 10 ED school but I'm not sure if there is one strategy that works for everyone.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 11:14     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Society will eventually have to confront what’s authentic.

Truly exceptional, spiky kids will be our hope in the age of the coming AI generation.

It won't be because of where they attend colleges.


Why do you conclude that ?


AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a filter that exposes who is truly qualified. No amount of packaging or decoration can manufacture real competence. With AI, authenticity is laid bare.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 10:36     Subject: Predicting admission trends - is the “spiky” applicant here to stay?
Anonymous wrote:The well-rounded kid is such a middle-class invention. Colleges want wealthy, highly-successful kids and alumni.