Learned: 1) the system can be gamed 2) tune out the "must have highest rigor in every class" bs. Creates unnecessary stress and toxic hs experience. Just get highest uw gpa you can get. 3) lean heavily into your kids academic strengths/interest and excel in those. Go deep, show curiosity and impact beyond your hs. Don't need fancy expensive programs but need a plan. 5) Every essay should be custom. Thats the ultimate demonstrated interest- kids who can write about specific programs and resources that will help them achieve their goals. Show them how well you fit. Lead them to water, so to speak. Be reflective. 6) be distinct from your hs peers. 7) choose major and schools that tightly fit your profile. Be intentional about school fit. Applying to every ivy or t20 doesn't make sense unless you are status hunting. They are so diffferent... 8) reviewing historical data from your hs is very important when deciding where to ed. 9) most elite ed acceptances from our private were urm and legacy. Rd still tbd. 10) process will feel 'unfair' when lower stats kids get in but that's the problem with predicting outcomes under a 'holistic admissions' process. Can't control the outcome but can have a plan to increase odds

Anonymous wrote:There’s are great opportunities everywhere. I’m an East Coast SLAC snob but changed or expanded my thinking when we saw the southern public flagships.

I had a similar experience. I couldn't have imagined my kids NOT going to a private college. But budget and preferences led my DD elsewhere and I can't believe how clueless I was to all the wonderful options. There are almost NO bad options.

Sometimes your kid will do better in RD than early. Maybe the application is stronger? Different competition from intra-school? Class shaping priorities? Who knows.

And it all works out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your major matters maybe more than stats. And your “story.”

This, 100%. My kid had a very meh SAT score and great GPA due to MCPS grade inflation, and very mediocre essays and still got into a lot of good schools, including Georgia, Michigan and UCLA. I think it had to do with his story - he focused on one area for an EC, then founded a club relating to it, did 2 internships (that were, frankly, BS) and applied for the major related to it. Also helped to be full pay at OOS publics.

Agree.
And I think the internships with legitimate entities matter a lot. If a HS kid can get an internship, that shows the college this kid will easily get a college internship and then a job, and hopefully thrive. What a school hopes for, to be honest.

The niche story/connection to EC is basically a requirement for a lot of schools now.

Anonymous wrote:Your major matters maybe more than stats. And your “story.”

This, 100%. My kid had a very meh SAT score and great GPA due to MCPS grade inflation, and very mediocre essays and still got into a lot of good schools, including Georgia, Michigan and UCLA. I think it had to do with his story - he focused on one area for an EC, then founded a club relating to it, did 2 internships (that were, frankly, BS) and applied for the major related to it. Also helped to be full pay at OOS publics.

This is my third and final child going through this process, so I feel like I have learned a lot over the past five years.

My biggest take is if you want your child to do well- it really does help to have to have a hook that revolves around either a specific major/intended major/ interest. Instead of having 15 random clubs and ECs, carefully cultivate a list that will match your hook and essays.

Your major matters maybe more than stats. And your “story.”

My kid got into a lot more schools than I expected. My kid did a lot of research and understood the Current admission process better than I did. They have lots of good choices and I an happy and less stressed.

You kid will get in and be happy at schools that are not T10 or Ivy League.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surprising ? How “state school” has been rebranded to “public FLAGSHIP dammit” in just 3-4 years’ time.

Look, Beth, we all knew your kid was never going to apply, let alone attend, UW-Stevens Point. Just say your kid is applying to “several state schools” and chose “Wisconsin.”

FLAGSHIP dammit is the new North Bethesda North Potomac Hill East

lol

Just say Rockville.

Not to take this rat race too seriously!

Where they go won't determine their future. It's really just a 4-year pit stop during a hopefully very long life.

Anonymous wrote:Don't let your kid re-read their applications in the days before RD comes out.....agonizing about essay choices.

Not good!!!

Why would a kid do that?!?!!? They need to let it go. There is literally nothing they can do at this point.
Except start researching the acceptances they have and decide which they like best

Don't let your kid re-read their applications in the days before RD comes out.....agonizing about essay choices.

Not good!!!

The value of some flagships. My DS is thriving at his and has an amazing paid internship at a research lab overseas doing legit research.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What has surprised you - that you were clueless about?

Fake virtue signaling and faux activism are highly valued in the process by the liberal arts majors that are the AOs at these schools. Tough road for great, but not elite, scholar-athletes and brilliant, but introverted kids.

T20 AO want kids who will get out of their dorms and be active on campus. Contribute. Be both joiners and leaders. In a wide variety of activities - not just robotics.
After you meet the baseline for stats, they then need to be able to imagine what you will do on campus. How exactly are you contributing? How productive are you in the day-to-day life of the campus? The best indicator of what you will do on a college campus will come from your ECs and your LORs.
LOR are a stealth area of "points" in this process.
Make sure you understand the AO scoring process for the reach schools. Review your application with that rubric in mind.

Exactly, and I am saying the rubric values fake virtue signaling and faux activism. As long as they THINK you are going to be active on campus on some cutting edge social issue of the day, you are in a great position.

Maybe not anymore? #columbia

The actual strength boosts give you. You really don't need to be a top student, just born with the right maladies.