*meant to say many of the ivy admits were obviously more black in 2021. This year it seems extreme swing to almost no blacks and a lot more Asians and whites.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immediately after Floyd’s murder many schools increased their diversity efforts. That combined with the sudden test optional/blind practices (mostly due to Covid but also partly because of diversity pushes) created some new obstacles for the unhooked but academically strong. That period contributed to the anti DEI sentiment of today.

With many things, when the pendulum swings too far one way, it often overcorrects in the other.

Admissions were particularly brutal for the HS class of ‘21, since there were fewer slots following many deferred admissions from the year before, due to Covid.

I’ve been hearing this claim.. but would love to see actual data back it up.

My guess is that test optional impacted admissions which led to a surge in apps to top schools. Admissions offices were overwhelmed. More schools are weighing test scores heavily now, even if still test optional.

I remember that year. I remember we were looking at private schools and their college matriculation and that year seemed to have hurt private school admissions. Almost all the top Ivy admits looked to be back from several top private and publics. This year in particular, the privates have done very very well.

I have no official backup and I’m not vested enough to plot it. I’m sure someone else has this data and can share.

At our well regarded public high school, the smart Asians are doing well in college admissions. It seems to be a good year for smart Asians and rich white kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid! Waitlisted at UVA and NEU. 3.98/4.5, 1560. 9 APs/2 DE. CS major. He did NOT take AP lang/lit. I'm sure that was the killer. Really hoping that 760V and A's in honors would have helped. Oh well. Kid is happy
Direct admit to UMD with Honors placement and merit.

Sounds like this kid?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1k968dy/got_screwednow_what/

There's nothing and that kid's post that would indicate he was a shoe in for some kind of top college. The only achievement listed is a high test score and something called international ECS. Whatever that is. And the major was an extremely competitive major. There's nothing in the post to indicate the level of extreme disappointment is warranted.

He's in a badplace - hope he's mentally ok. From his comments, looks like he was maybe WL at cornell too:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1jdes2l/screw_this_admissions_cycle/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid! Waitlisted at UVA and NEU. 3.98/4.5, 1560. 9 APs/2 DE. CS major. He did NOT take AP lang/lit. I'm sure that was the killer. Really hoping that 760V and A's in honors would have helped. Oh well. Kid is happy
Direct admit to UMD with Honors placement and merit.

Sounds like this kid?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1k968dy/got_screwednow_what/

Whew, not my kid!! HS class of 23.

I mean, reading that I immediately understand WHY he got rejected at all his reaches. He basically admits his essays suck -- probably didn't try hard because he thought his stats made him a slam dunk, which is a kind of arrogance that's going to come through to an admissions officer. Suggesting UMD kids aren't smart because the school has a 50% admissions rate?

Nothing about this guy screams "admit me." He'll have trouble getting hired, too. He needs a complete attitude adjustment. And a huge dose of humility.

What a loser.

Anonymous wrote:25% of Asian kids score 1400+ on the SAT.

Only 4% of White and 1% of Hispanic and Black kids do.

Asians are underrepresented at elite schools given their high grades and board scores.

There is no lack of Asian representation at top schools. Asians aren't the only students that are recruited athletes or recruited musicians or recruited artists or recruited scientists or recruited writers or any of the other dozens of talents that these schools seek. You need to stop whining and go out and practice more or something.

Anonymous wrote:25% of Asian kids score 1400+ on the SAT.

Only 4% of White and 1% of Hispanic and Black kids do.

Asians are underrepresented at elite schools given their high grades and board scores.

But a lot of them get those scores because they go to cram schools. They're not naturally smarter or anything. And the problem with this framing is your premise is these scores are the primary criterion elite schools value -- or should value. They're not. And shouldn't be.

As it is, Asian kids are WOEFULLY overrepresented and we really should cut back on them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid! Waitlisted at UVA and NEU. 3.98/4.5, 1560. 9 APs/2 DE. CS major. He did NOT take AP lang/lit. I'm sure that was the killer. Really hoping that 760V and A's in honors would have helped. Oh well. Kid is happy
Direct admit to UMD with Honors placement and merit.

Sounds like this kid?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1k968dy/got_screwednow_what/

There's nothing and that kid's post that would indicate he was a shoe in for some kind of top college. The only achievement listed is a high test score and something called international ECS. Whatever that is. And the major was an extremely competitive major. There's nothing in the post to indicate the level of extreme disappointment is warranted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid! Waitlisted at UVA and NEU. 3.98/4.5, 1560. 9 APs/2 DE. CS major. He did NOT take AP lang/lit. I'm sure that was the killer. Really hoping that 760V and A's in honors would have helped. Oh well. Kid is happy
Direct admit to UMD with Honors placement and merit.

Sounds like this kid?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1k968dy/got_screwednow_what/

This student might need some perspective on college admissions. Absent a hook such as athletics, admissions to most elite schools is essentially a black box. And here's the reality: most of us have no idea what these colleges are looking for on a year-to-year basis.

Yes, this student has impressive stats, and someone probably told them that this was the path to a top college (whatever "top" really means). But that's simply not how it works at highly selective schools. Was this student unfairly treated? Absolutely not. Would I feel disappointed if I had worked to that level and couldn't get into my dream school(s)? Probably.

Students should be told from the beginning that a 4.0 GPA and 1600 SAT score are probably solid for their state flagship university, but an Ivy League admission is still a crapshoot and potentially not worth the singular focus. Parents, please set realistic expectations and don't fall victim to the Dunning-Kruger effect when advising your children on how to get into elite colleges. The process involves many factors beyond academic metrics, and overconfidence in understanding this complex system often leads to disappointment.

25% of Asian kids score 1400+ on the SAT.

Only 4% of White and 1% of Hispanic and Black kids do.

Asians are underrepresented at elite schools given their high grades and board scores.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was an EXTRAORDINARILY tough year for:
CS
Math
Engineering
Business


I think in that order.

People say this every year.

Nope. Different this year - and schools are pivoting away from their admits. Interesting how much higher math has gotten in the pecking order too. Get off of here and onto the anon forums with the AOs. They'll break it down for you.

Anonymous wrote:This was an EXTRAORDINARILY tough year for:
CS
Math
Engineering
Business


I think in that order.

People say this every year.

You are not guaranteed the school you want. You need to apply to enough schools that you can get into. No one is screwed. There is a school for everyone.

This was an EXTRAORDINARILY tough year for:
CS
Math
Engineering
Business


I think in that order.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top of class, 1590 sat, 36 ACT, great EC's, national awards, 15 AP's, denied everywhere, even UChicago EDII and now at Michigan. Could have been that the letter of recommendations were not the greatest. That's the problem with holisitic admissions. Everything could be perfect but the schools are just looking for something else.

A lot of Asian kids know the feeling.

So do a lot of non-asian kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid! Waitlisted at UVA and NEU. 3.98/4.5, 1560. 9 APs/2 DE. CS major. He did NOT take AP lang/lit. I'm sure that was the killer. Really hoping that 760V and A's in honors would have helped. Oh well. Kid is happy
Direct admit to UMD with Honors placement and merit.

Sounds like this kid?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1k968dy/got_screwednow_what/

Whew, not my kid!! HS class of 23.

I felt bad for that reddit kid.