Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:54     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:Call me crazy, but personally, I think schools see kids with 15 APs (all 5s) and think "she'll graduate early so that's a year less of tuition." It's a business.


Not true for most schools in this list. APs don’t count towards credits, mostly just for placement.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:53     Subject: Disappointment
Can she turn to friends for additional moral support? If my kid’s experience is typical, then she can’t be the only one in her peer group who’s had some disappointments in the process. Hardly anyone in my kid’s ‘24 peer group got into their first choice and many ended up at colleges less selective than their first choices (and are happy!)
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:53     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:Kid with similar stats. TJ. Rejected by some of the same. WL at uva. Looking at many of the same options. It’s just how it is. Tough luck. That’s what we chalk it up to. Target options are very good. Lots of smart kids at those schools. She’ll be very successful.


Thank you, wishing the best for your DC! Glad to know that we're not the only one in this situation...
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:53     Subject: Disappointment
No, it was likely the major choice. Lots of competition there.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:52     Subject: Re:Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Was the founder of a non-profit legit? That’s the type of thing an AO will look into


Yes, she founded it with a couple friends as co-founders, approved + legit.


A real non profit under the tax laws doesnt make it “legit” in the AO’s eyes. Even more watered down if done with friends without you being able to explain how this was so important.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:51     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I smell a 🧌


Do you think her profile is too "basic"? She says she regrets not picking more creative ECs, although I think her ECs were perfectly suited for her major + demonstrated her passion.


Yeah, I agree there is nothing that stands out in her ECs.

ECs:
not impressive: - A few regional awards (STEM)
Actually good: - 200+ volunteer hours @ local hospital
everyone has one: - Founder of non-profit
this year AOs don't like research for some reason: - Research w/ prof at T30
everyone has one: - Competitive summer program for BME
everyone has this: - Lots of community service

This year I heard Stanford retracted an acceptance because the applicant lied about volunteer hours.
Are those 200 volunteer hours @ local hospital registered with the school?


Yes, she made sure that everything was registered. I'm assuming the more "basic" ECs were the factor harming her application?
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:49     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:Call me crazy, but personally, I think schools see kids with 15 APs (all 5s) and think "she'll graduate early so that's a year less of tuition." It's a business.


Elite schools don’t give credit for APs.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:48     Subject: Re:Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:Was the founder of a non-profit legit? That’s the type of thing an AO will look into


Yes, she founded it with a couple friends as co-founders, approved + legit.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:48     Subject: Re:Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:Her high stats just allows her app to be really reviewed.
- regional awards are not really impressive for the schools she was hoping for

- community service/hosp volunteer - almost all kids have volunteering - a neutral/ not helpful factor

- Founder of non-profit - impact on community and other teens, years, what did she do?

- Research w/ prof at T30 - more details needed: paid, competitive app process, published, what did she do?

- Competitive summer program for BME: where? How competitive? I’ve seen people say something is competitive and it was not. Not saying that is your kid…but details matter

Job?

Art?

This sounds like a highly qualified academic profile but fairly mediocre (for schools at that level) ECs.


I agree, ecs seem a bit lacking. No sports or school clubs? What did she do after school every day?
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:48     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yikes. Bad personality maybe. But also just a very competitive cycle.


I'm definitely biased but she's a very motivated, hardworking girl... Always willing to help someone out. Watching decisions crush a lot of her confidence is so painful. I told her that she shouldn't compare herself to her peers, but idk how most people wouldn't be incredibly upset if a classmate w/ lower stats and less effort made it in instead of you.


You need to stop this part, the comparing. Neither you or your daughter know what the entire application packet of her peers with "lower stats" actually looks like. You think that you know the stats but you quite possibly do not. And, you don't know what the rest of the application looks like.

Your daughter looks like a great student and she had the academics to get over the bar and into the game which is a great accomplishment but comparing to others only leads to frustration because you don't really know yet you assume. Don't let that kind of angst consume your daughter. She has some great options and it is time to work on loving one of those options.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:48     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I smell a 🧌


Do you think her profile is too "basic"? She says she regrets not picking more creative ECs, although I think her ECs were perfectly suited for her major + demonstrated her passion.


Yeah, I agree there is nothing that stands out in her ECs.

ECs:
not impressive: - A few regional awards (STEM)
Actually good: - 200+ volunteer hours @ local hospital
everyone has one: - Founder of non-profit
this year AOs don't like research for some reason: - Research w/ prof at T30
everyone has one: - Competitive summer program for BME
everyone has this: - Lots of community service

This year I heard Stanford retracted an acceptance because the applicant lied about volunteer hours.
Are those 200 volunteer hours @ local hospital registered with the school?
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:47     Subject: Disappointment
Kid with similar stats. TJ. Rejected by some of the same. WL at uva. Looking at many of the same options. It’s just how it is. Tough luck. That’s what we chalk it up to. Target options are very good. Lots of smart kids at those schools. She’ll be very successful.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:46     Subject: Disappointment
Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry. It must sting so much. She's bright and qualified for all those schools.

Please go to admitted students days. If she has honors/special program options at any of the places she was admitted, it may take some of the hurt away.


Yeah, it's been tough lately. She's still managing to hold it together after all this, but I can tell how much of her confidence this cycle has taken away. We're planning a few visits to some of these places, hopefully it can give her a more positive perspective.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:46     Subject: Re:Disappointment
Her high stats just allows her app to be really reviewed.
- regional awards are not really impressive for the schools she was hoping for

- community service/hosp volunteer - almost all kids have volunteering - a neutral/ not helpful factor

- Founder of non-profit - impact on community and other teens, years, what did she do?

- Research w/ prof at T30 - more details needed: paid, competitive app process, published, what did she do?

- Competitive summer program for BME: where? How competitive? I’ve seen people say something is competitive and it was not. Not saying that is your kid…but details matter

Job?

Art?

This sounds like a highly qualified academic profile but fairly mediocre (for schools at that level) ECs.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2025 19:45     Subject: Re:Disappointment
Was the founder of a non-profit legit? That’s the type of thing an AO will look into