Anonymous wrote:My two had similar stats from a high performing public. Additionally, they both had outstanding ECs, internships, school leadership, and both were athletes, with one being actively recruited by D3 schools. One had a significant national award in a STEM field. They were also good writers and made the most of their essays. I didn't read their LOCs, but I'm sure they were very good. They are both very outgoing and fun to be around.

Both kids knew the realities of college admissions today. It really is a crapshoot for top students from high performing public schools. Stats-wise - I think they both got Bs in Spanish in 8th grade, but otherwise straight As in the most difficult classes, and one had a 35 and the other a 1520. But that doesn't really distinguish them from a lot of their classmates. The competition is fierce at good publics in the DMV, Bay Area, Tri-State area, and Chicago. There are a lot of great students out there at high performing publics.

I think the ECs and the leadership are what mattered in the end, plus the essays, particularly one of them, which was hilarious and would definitely bring any admissions reader to champion them at the table where they decide these things. Being charming and funny is very helpful, both in college admissions and life. We also visited about 10 schools all together, dragging the younger sibling along to be efficient. That was very enlightening. A parent brings their 90s biases, but things have changed a lot since then. All the people shooting for Ivies - visit them before applying.

Ultimately, they played the ED game. I think one might have wanted to take a shot at Stanford. And the other, MIT. But they both really connected with a couple of T20 schools where applying ED makes a difference. Both got in to their schools in the ED round. One and done with the both of them. Didn't get a chance to apply anywhere else. And they are both very happy with their college experience. So it all worked out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, based on our experience, be aware of the OOS Top Publics with single digit OOS acceptance rates with 60,000 and more applications. In addition to Ivies and other T20s, these are some of the most difficult gets. We found that out this last cycle.

I really fail to see why those are so attractive to people.

My kids applied to instate public schools but no out of state publics. I'm not paying private $ for public quality. Nope.

You fail to see why UCLA, Cal, Michigan, UNC and UVA would be attractive?

For OOS, correct. I'd rather my kid go private if not getting instate tuition.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS 2023, 4.0,4.8, 1590, NMSF, CS and Math major
Rejected - MIT, CMU,
Waitlisted - UIUC
Accepted with merit - UMD (attending), UVA, UMBC
Accepted no merit - UMich, GTech

Your kid got the Jefferson at UVA?
They don't give merit otherwise.

Anonymous wrote:My two had similar stats from a high performing public. Additionally, they both had outstanding ECs, internships, school leadership, and both were athletes, with one being actively recruited by D3 schools. One had a significant national award in a STEM field. They were also good writers and made the most of their essays. I didn't read their LOCs, but I'm sure they were very good. They are both very outgoing and fun to be around.

Both kids knew the realities of college admissions today. It really is a crapshoot for top students from high performing public schools. Stats-wise - I think they both got Bs in Spanish in 8th grade, but otherwise straight As in the most difficult classes, and one had a 35 and the other a 1520. But that doesn't really distinguish them from a lot of their classmates. The competition is fierce at good publics in the DMV, Bay Area, Tri-State area, and Chicago. There are a lot of great students out there at high performing publics.

I think the ECs and the leadership are what mattered in the end, plus the essays, particularly one of them, which was hilarious and would definitely bring any admissions reader to champion them at the table where they decide these things. Being charming and funny is very helpful, both in college admissions and life. We also visited about 10 schools all together, dragging the younger sibling along to be efficient. That was very enlightening. A parent brings their 90s biases, but things have changed a lot since then. All the people shooting for Ivies - visit them before applying.

Ultimately, they played the ED game. I think one might have wanted to take a shot at Stanford. And the other, MIT. But they both really connected with a couple of T20 schools where applying ED makes a difference. Both got in to their schools in the ED round. One and done with the both of them. Didn't get a chance to apply anywhere else. And they are both very happy with their college experience. So it all worked out.

Anonymous wrote:My two had similar stats from a high performing public. Additionally, they both had outstanding ECs, internships, school leadership, and both were athletes, with one being actively recruited by D3 schools. One had a significant national award in a STEM field. They were also good writers and made the most of their essays. I didn't read their LOCs, but I'm sure they were very good. They are both very outgoing and fun to be around.

Both kids knew the realities of college admissions today. It really is a crapshoot for top students from high performing public schools. Stats-wise - I think they both got Bs in Spanish in 8th grade, but otherwise straight As in the most difficult classes, and one had a 35 and the other a 1520. But that doesn't really distinguish them from a lot of their classmates. The competition is fierce at good publics in the DMV, Bay Area, Tri-State area, and Chicago. There are a lot of great students out there at high performing publics.

I think the ECs and the leadership are what mattered in the end, plus the essays, particularly one of them, which was hilarious and would definitely bring any admissions reader to champion them at the table where they decide these things. Being charming and funny is very helpful, both in college admissions and life. We also visited about 10 schools all together, dragging the younger sibling along to be efficient. That was very enlightening. A parent brings their 90s biases, but things have changed a lot since then. All the people shooting for Ivies - visit them before applying.

Ultimately, they played the ED game. I think one might have wanted to take a shot at Stanford. And the other, MIT. But they both really connected with a couple of T20 schools where applying ED makes a difference. Both got in to their schools in the ED round. One and done with the both of them. Didn't get a chance to apply anywhere else. And they are both very happy with their college experience. So it all worked out.

Anonymous wrote:
1560 SAT
4.0 Unweighted, 4.57 weighted
14 APs with all fives on the 9 tests taken before applying
Took Calc 3 junior summer, got an A (he LOVES math and will major in it)
Merit Finalist
Captain and MVP of his rowing team (4 years on the team)
3 years juried music with awards
Helped run the family business (with demonstrated financial impact!)

Applied to Yale (legacy AND rowing official visit with pre-read), Princeton, Penn, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Cornell, Uchicago. Waitlisted at Northwestern and Cornell and rejected at the rest.

He going to Penn State, which he was actually happy with from the beginning of the process, thankfully, which is why he only applied to a few top schools.

He is starting out with 66 credits and can graduate in three years with a double major OR in four with an integrated masters (applied math and applied statistic).

Sidebar: We invested the additional money we saved for college which will have a dramatic impact on his financial future. He is thrilled! And he joked about hoping it happened because he is pretty sure the social life is going to be so much better and is convinced he can get a great education pretty much anywhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is just a regular smart boy (private school) with a 35 ACT and high gpa/rigor. I never even thought he might have a chance at a top 20 because he is a classic 1990s-style well rounded kid. Athlete, involved in school clubs, part-time job. Nothing national level. Are these type of kids actually applying to top 20s? He would like a school like Dartmouth, Vandy, Duke or Brown, but I told him he would never get in. Should he throw in a few super reach apps?

If you are willing to spend the money then apply as I do think he has a shot. I wouldn't put Vandy in the same category as the others, however.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, based on our experience, be aware of the OOS Top Publics with single digit OOS acceptance rates with 60,000 and more applications. In addition to Ivies and other T20s, these are some of the most difficult gets. We found that out this last cycle.

I really fail to see why those are so attractive to people.

My kids applied to instate public schools but no out of state publics. I'm not paying private $ for public quality. Nope.

You fail to see why UCLA, Cal, Michigan, UNC and UVA would be attractive?

Anonymous wrote:It appears that it is harder to get into college than when we all applied. But what about for the very high stats kids?

Can some of you please share how it went for your child who went through the process if your kid was max rigor, 1550 plus, top grades, great but not national award winning extracurricular.

My child is having trouble finishing up their college lists and part of the reason is we really just have no idea how it will all go with the reach schools. We also don't know what school is "worth" taking your shot early. This child will be happiest with an intense, highly academic crowd.

Anonymous wrote:MCPS 2023, 4.0,4.8, 1590, NMSF, CS and Math major
Rejected - MIT, CMU,
Waitlisted - UIUC
Accepted with merit - UMD (attending), UVA, UMBC
Accepted no merit - UMich, GTech

Anonymous wrote:My kid is just a regular smart boy (private school) with a 35 ACT and high gpa/rigor. I never even thought he might have a chance at a top 20 because he is a classic 1990s-style well rounded kid. Athlete, involved in school clubs, part-time job. Nothing national level. Are these type of kids actually applying to top 20s? He would like a school like Dartmouth, Vandy, Duke or Brown, but I told him he would never get in. Should he throw in a few super reach apps?

Anonymous wrote:My kid is just a regular smart boy (private school) with a 35 ACT and high gpa/rigor. I never even thought he might have a chance at a top 20 because he is a classic 1990s-style well rounded kid. Athlete, involved in school clubs, part-time job. Nothing national level. Are these type of kids actually applying to top 20s? He would like a school like Dartmouth, Vandy, Duke or Brown, but I told him he would never get in. Should he throw in a few super reach apps?