Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 20:16     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:Half of the ivies had increased applications, other privates in the top15 had increases too. There is no evidence of waning interest in elites.


+++ the ivies and the like were extremely popular this cycle from our private! Every top student seemed to apply to at least 4 ivies and many other T20s. It used to be even the top kids would do 2 maybe 3 ivies and couple other elites, but not this year.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 19:58     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
My kid is going to Vandy. We are thrilled but her first choice was ivy schools but didn’t get in.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 19:54     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:I think it's a few things. Students are becoming much more strategic with where they apply ED/SCEA. Top students are realizing it's pointless to apply early to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, or Stanford unless they have a major hook. So that's four schools gone. Columbia is becoming less appealing because most students don't want all that noise. So that's five schools that most of the best students are not applying to.

Among the strongest young men in particular, they want to see solid engineering and business programs, so they're looking at those schools instead of colleges that are historically weak in those fields. I don't think test optional policies matter that much for strong students. Most of the T25 were TO this cycle. Generally, it's students with a 1400+ who are deciding not to submit. It's not a bunch of 1100s who are sneaking in through the back door. And all of those students have AP scores to back up their transcripts.

Also, there is much more desire to get out of the northeast for college these days. And an Ivy brand resonates much more with parents than with the students themselves. But really, a top school with good business and engineering and where the best unhooked students can apply early is going to get a lot more attention these days. I think schools that have a lot more gravitational pull for various reasons are Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice - the southern schools - and Cornell, Penn, Northwestern - because they are good in engineering and business. And, importantly, a student applying ED will have a shot at these schools.


Complete bs. I know multiple high achieving HS kids in the DMV. And they are obsessed with the Ivies. Way more so than their parents actually
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 18:33     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who keeps trying to make Rice happen? It’s a great school but most kids I know think it’s a niche school for quirky kids.


The word “quirky” needs to go away. Not every smart kid wants to join a fraternity or sorority. Mean mom energy.


Would you prefer I say school for nerds? Quirky seems preferable.


“Nerds” would totally be better. And as your kid older, you’ll discover most of the students going to T20 schools are nerds with something. The prom queen goes to different schools.


All of the adults I know who went to T20 schools self identify as nerds. The adults who want to be seen as cool are pretty much all dummies. I’m sure there are exceptions of course.


Well, it's my post you are referring to and I went to a T10 for undergrad and a T5 for law school, and don't identify as a nerd. I guess my college and law school friends don't know you.


30 years ago is a long time ago. These days you generally need to bring it. There are exceptions of course with the hooked people. But for unhooked, you generally need to be pretty stellar - unlike 30 years ago.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 18:11     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the word, but my kid is in this category where they are very social, likes gym, lowkey get togethers, not a partier with no interest in Greek life. Plenty of these types and quirky isn’t the word.


It’s the norm nowadays. My son and his friends are all like this. They were athletes (some still play in college) , lots of friends, social.

I am so glad they aren’t majoring in partying/tailgaiting like me and my friends. I swear so many of my generation have alcohol use disorder as adults. We also had DDriving issues with the kids that do party.

So much healthier to have other outlets and be confident enough to not have to get sh@t faced to socialize.


+100
So glad my kids didn’t want anywhere with a big Greek presence
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 18:05     Subject: Re:Shifting interest in T25 schools
Mothers still more concerned about their kids’ popularity and social status. So pathetic.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 18:05     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the word, but my kid is in this category where they are very social, likes gym, lowkey get togethers, not a partier with no interest in Greek life. Plenty of these types and quirky isn’t the word.


It’s the norm nowadays. My son and his friends are all like this. They were athletes (some still play in college) , lots of friends, social.

I am so glad they aren’t majoring in partying/tailgaiting like me and my friends. I swear so many of my generation have alcohol use disorder as adults. We also had DDriving issues with the kids that do party.

So much healthier to have other outlets and be confident enough to not have to get sh@t faced to socialize.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 18:01     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who keeps trying to make Rice happen? It’s a great school but most kids I know think it’s a niche school for quirky kids.


The word “quirky” needs to go away. Not every smart kid wants to join a fraternity or sorority. Mean mom energy.


Would you prefer I say school for nerds? Quirky seems preferable.


“Nerds” would totally be better. And as your kid older, you’ll discover most of the students going to T20 schools are nerds with something. The prom queen goes to different schools.


My good looking athlete is at a T10. Prom Queen can marry middle manager at her different school.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 17:56     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who keeps trying to make Rice happen? It’s a great school but most kids I know think it’s a niche school for quirky kids.


The word “quirky” needs to go away. Not every smart kid wants to join a fraternity or sorority. Mean mom energy.


Would you prefer I say school for nerds? Quirky seems preferable.


“Nerds” would totally be better. And as your kid older, you’ll discover most of the students going to T20 schools are nerds with something. The prom queen goes to different schools.


All of the adults I know who went to T20 schools self identify as nerds. The adults who want to be seen as cool are pretty much all dummies. I’m sure there are exceptions of course.


Well, it's my post you are referring to and I went to a T10 for undergrad and a T5 for law school, and don't identify as a nerd. I guess my college and law school friends don't know you.


Interesting. I also attended a T5 law school and everyone there was a nerd, even the Brett Kavanaugh types who thought they were cool.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 17:47     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who keeps trying to make Rice happen? It’s a great school but most kids I know think it’s a niche school for quirky kids.


The word “quirky” needs to go away. Not every smart kid wants to join a fraternity or sorority. Mean mom energy.


Would you prefer I say school for nerds? Quirky seems preferable.


“Nerds” would totally be better. And as your kid older, you’ll discover most of the students going to T20 schools are nerds with something. The prom queen goes to different schools.


All of the adults I know who went to T20 schools self identify as nerds. The adults who want to be seen as cool are pretty much all dummies. I’m sure there are exceptions of course.


Well, it's my post you are referring to and I went to a T10 for undergrad and a T5 for law school, and don't identify as a nerd. I guess my college and law school friends don't know you.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 17:25     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
I can’t speak for all these kids, but my non-partier, doesn’t like Greek life, not quirky social kid would be pleased to be classified as a nerd. Their nerdiness doesn’t show on the outside much, they can move in a lot of circles.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 17:21     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who keeps trying to make Rice happen? It’s a great school but most kids I know think it’s a niche school for quirky kids.


The word “quirky” needs to go away. Not every smart kid wants to join a fraternity or sorority. Mean mom energy.


Would you prefer I say school for nerds? Quirky seems preferable.


“Nerds” would totally be better. And as your kid older, you’ll discover most of the students going to T20 schools are nerds with something. The prom queen goes to different schools.


All of the adults I know who went to T20 schools self identify as nerds. The adults who want to be seen as cool are pretty much all dummies. I’m sure there are exceptions of course.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 16:50     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
who knows. this kid seems to think he could have/should have done better?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1keco03/did_i_get_screwed_over_and_could_i_have_done/
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 16:35     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who keeps trying to make Rice happen? It’s a great school but most kids I know think it’s a niche school for quirky kids.


The word “quirky” needs to go away. Not every smart kid wants to join a fraternity or sorority. Mean mom energy.


Would you prefer I say school for nerds? Quirky seems preferable.


“Nerds” would totally be better. And as your kid older, you’ll discover most of the students going to T20 schools are nerds with something. The prom queen goes to different schools.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2025 16:26     Subject: Shifting interest in T25 schools
I think this is about "influencers" on A2C, TikTok, instagram. Who, I admit, I follow.

The story they tell is that SCEA is zero help, and if you're not hooked, can harm you.

You're better off EDing a half step or full step down and locking something in.

The lesson is that those T5 schools are out of favor - they're getting more apps now that pre-pandemic (less than when they were test optional and everyone was throwing one in). The story is they're IMPOSSIBLE really if you're unhooked so don't throw away your shot at ED. Use it wise ie, a T20/25, not T5.