It’s also worth noting that full-pay students are the ones effectively funding this support. I fully agree with helping low-SES students, but it feels unfair that full-pay families end up subsidizing people who only pretend to be poor.

And then there are kids on Reddit asking, “My parents didn’t go to college in the U.S.—am I first-gen?”

Seriously

One from our Maryland private, kid with an impressive theater background.

They are creating a system that makes people want to do that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://fortune.com/2025/12/11/elite-colleges-new-affirmative-action-record-numbers-of-low-income-students-enrolling/

I respect elite schools’ efforts to support low-SES students, but it’s frustrating to see people sharing strategies to game the system by pretending to be low income, especially when they can hide assets overseas.

Wow people actually do that for admissions?

Anonymous wrote:https://fortune.com/2025/12/11/elite-colleges-new-affirmative-action-record-numbers-of-low-income-students-enrolling/

I respect elite schools’ efforts to support low-SES students, but it’s frustrating to see people sharing strategies to game the system by pretending to be low income, especially when they can hide assets overseas.

https://fortune.com/2025/12/11/elite-colleges-new-affirmative-action-record-numbers-of-low-income-students-enrolling/

Anonymous wrote:DC was deferred. DC public school, TO, 3.95/4.95 in an IB program. Has interesting ECs and probably strong LoR that keeps them in the running. Obviously very realistic about chances. The decision letter said they should send in mid-year grades and any other material by the end of January. What other material should they send?

Send test scores!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC got rejected Princeton early action. Sibling attended. No Q1 grade request.

is this from today i want to understand if this is an issue for my application or just trend for this year. what were ur stats

My dc was deferred but knows of 5 kids who were rejected. From what dc is hearing from friends there were a lot of rejections this year. It is true that in past years they deferred 70% of so, but I think that has been shifting to fewer deferrals each yar.

This is better for the kids, no point in false hope. May open some of them to ED2.

Rejected! Kid is disappointed but got to move on.

Anonymous wrote:DC was deferred- anyone get accepted after a deferral?

Yes, siblings very often are accepted after deferral.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC got rejected Princeton early action. Sibling attended. No Q1 grade request.

is this from today i want to understand if this is an issue for my application or just trend for this year. what were ur stats

My dc was deferred but knows of 5 kids who were rejected. From what dc is hearing from friends there were a lot of rejections this year. It is true that in past years they deferred 70% of so, but I think that has been shifting to fewer deferrals each yar.

How many apps this year ?

Anonymous wrote:Accepted! CA public school.

Counselor received a Q1 request last week.

Congratulation! Do you mind sharing the stats?

Accepted! CA public school.

Counselor received a Q1 request last week.

Anonymous wrote:1580, all As, 4.94 weighted, all 5's, highest rigor, rejected

me too, i think it might just be trend this year