Anonymous wrote:Unhooked, smart kids go well applying ED at Chicago & Cornell from our non-DMV private.

*do well

Unhooked, smart kids go well applying ED at Chicago & Cornell from our non-DMV private.

Anonymous wrote:Do unhooked ever get into to 20 schools?
No

Yes, mine did

My CS kid without a hook is sophomore at Rice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older one was a recruited athlete with much lower grades so we are in different territory with my younger son's who is a junior with: 4.0, SAT 1510, a few strong activities & leadership roles within common clubs found in his public school but no app or national awards or huge spike. Full pay. Undecided but probably economics & history. Lot's of AP's with 4s and 5s, part time job. Wants to ED at Vanderbilt (like the rest of his class). Seems like a very typical public school profile. Is this a wasted ED?

Why is there a large athletic gap between your two sons? Or was your older one a daughter? Or different fathers?

There is a gap in athleticism between those who make it pro and siblings who don’t but usually that separation doesn’t happen for going to college (cooper flagg’s brother plays in college for example).

Are you kidding?
I have two kids (same dad, same gender) one is athletic and one isn't. There is no great mystery there, sometimes apples fall off the tree in different directions. One is blond and the other is brunette, go figure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older one was a recruited athlete with much lower grades so we are in different territory with my younger son's who is a junior with: 4.0, SAT 1510, a few strong activities & leadership roles within common clubs found in his public school but no app or national awards or huge spike. Full pay. Undecided but probably economics & history. Lot's of AP's with 4s and 5s, part time job. Wants to ED at Vanderbilt (like the rest of his class). Seems like a very typical public school profile. Is this a wasted ED?

Choose history not economics. And find a particular niche in history to be excited about - not just history generally. What are his historical interests?
Do something history this summer?
https://www.wm.edu/as/niahd/precol/
https://www.nationalhistoryacademy.org/

You don’t “apply for history” at Vanderbilt. That’s not a thing. Probably at any school, but definitely not at Vanderbilt

Correct.
You don't apply for a major. You are a history applicant.
Your application is "read" (in committee) as an applicant for a history major - or whatever major you list. Ofc, you aren't assigned to history when admitted....but your ECs are likely not compelling for your application if it doesn't tell a story.

Still no.

- parent of a Vanderbilt history major.

My kid got into Vanderbilt in RD and applied as a certain unpopular major. DC passed but I’d imagine the undersubscribed major played a role? Maybe not!

My point is that you don’t apply “to a major” at Vanderbilt. Or probably at most schools outside of engineering and maybe undergraduate business.

Yes. You are a college applicant with an academic interest or major listed that is “considered” when your application is reviewed.

https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-major-college-applications

“What I mean by that is that students who choose majors that support their academic and extracurricular activities present themselves in the best light. Because the vast majority of colleges consider a student's major choice in the admissions process, being thoughtful about what you select can be a difference maker.“

https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/determine-what-major-to-list-on-your-applications

“Note, though, that I use the word "applicant" not "major" for a reason. Students don't typically declare their major until sophomore year of college. At most colleges, you are not bound to the major you list on the application. However, you are bound to the undergraduate school/program you were admitted to. For example, if you list a major within the liberal arts program at a university, you are bound to that liberal arts program unless you apply and get admitted as an internal transfer to another program, like the business or engineering school at the university. Students change their minds, though. There is inherent flexibility built into American higher education.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes- DS accepted REA @ HYP. 1530 SAT from a small boarding school that hadn’t sent a student to this college in 5 years.

Student was pointy in academics but strong everywhere, multi-sport athlete, took the highest rigor possible. Excellent LOR where at least one teacher called him a once-in-a-decade type student.

He had an EC related to his interests that no one else is doing… it happened organically and shows real intellectual curiosity. He’s still doing it now.

Wouldn't that EC be a hook if no one else is doing it?

No, people are using the word "hook" as a distinguishing trait, but that's not it. A hook is a recruited athlete, URM/FGLI, faculty kid, legacy, or development kid. Those are all of the actual hooks that put kids in a different pile.

- feeder school applicant
- geographically desirable (rural, state they don’t have a student from yet)
- kid of a famous or wealthy parent
- kid who is very well known (been on tv a lot, massive social media following)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older one was a recruited athlete with much lower grades so we are in different territory with my younger son's who is a junior with: 4.0, SAT 1510, a few strong activities & leadership roles within common clubs found in his public school but no app or national awards or huge spike. Full pay. Undecided but probably economics & history. Lot's of AP's with 4s and 5s, part time job. Wants to ED at Vanderbilt (like the rest of his class). Seems like a very typical public school profile. Is this a wasted ED?

Choose history not economics. And find a particular niche in history to be excited about - not just history generally. What are his historical interests?
Do something history this summer?
https://www.wm.edu/as/niahd/precol/
https://www.nationalhistoryacademy.org/

You don’t “apply for history” at Vanderbilt. That’s not a thing. Probably at any school, but definitely not at Vanderbilt

Correct.
You don't apply for a major. You are a history applicant.
Your application is "read" (in committee) as an applicant for a history major - or whatever major you list. Ofc, you aren't assigned to history when admitted....but your ECs are likely not compelling for your application if it doesn't tell a story.

Still no.

- parent of a Vanderbilt history major.

My kid got into Vanderbilt in RD and applied as a certain unpopular major. DC passed but I’d imagine the undersubscribed major played a role? Maybe not!

My point is that you don’t apply “to a major” at Vanderbilt. Or probably at most schools outside of engineering and maybe undergraduate business.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes- DS accepted REA @ HYP. 1530 SAT from a small boarding school that hadn’t sent a student to this college in 5 years.

Student was pointy in academics but strong everywhere, multi-sport athlete, took the highest rigor possible. Excellent LOR where at least one teacher called him a once-in-a-decade type student.

He had an EC related to his interests that no one else is doing… it happened organically and shows real intellectual curiosity. He’s still doing it now.

Wouldn't that EC be a hook if no one else is doing it?

No, people are using the word "hook" as a distinguishing trait, but that's not it. A hook is a recruited athlete, URM/FGLI, faculty kid, legacy, or development kid. Those are all of the actual hooks that put kids in a different pile.

Anonymous wrote:Yes- DS accepted REA @ HYP. 1530 SAT from a small boarding school that hadn’t sent a student to this college in 5 years.

Student was pointy in academics but strong everywhere, multi-sport athlete, took the highest rigor possible. Excellent LOR where at least one teacher called him a once-in-a-decade type student.

He had an EC related to his interests that no one else is doing… it happened organically and shows real intellectual curiosity. He’s still doing it now.

Wouldn't that EC be a hook if no one else is doing it?

Yes, if you are strategic and a good writer/story. Mine didnt, fwiw.

Anonymous wrote:My older one was a recruited athlete with much lower grades so we are in different territory with my younger son's who is a junior with: 4.0, SAT 1510, a few strong activities & leadership roles within common clubs found in his public school but no app or national awards or huge spike. Full pay. Undecided but probably economics & history. Lot's of AP's with 4s and 5s, part time job. Wants to ED at Vanderbilt (like the rest of his class). Seems like a very typical public school profile. Is this a wasted ED?

Why is there a large athletic gap between your two sons? Or was your older one a daughter? Or different fathers?

There is a gap in athleticism between those who make it pro and siblings who don’t but usually that separation doesn’t happen for going to college (cooper flagg’s brother plays in college for example).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older one was a recruited athlete with much lower grades so we are in different territory with my younger son's who is a junior with: 4.0, SAT 1510, a few strong activities & leadership roles within common clubs found in his public school but no app or national awards or huge spike. Full pay. Undecided but probably economics & history. Lot's of AP's with 4s and 5s, part time job. Wants to ED at Vanderbilt (like the rest of his class). Seems like a very typical public school profile. Is this a wasted ED?

Choose history not economics. And find a particular niche in history to be excited about - not just history generally. What are his historical interests?
Do something history this summer?
https://www.wm.edu/as/niahd/precol/
https://www.nationalhistoryacademy.org/

You don’t “apply for history” at Vanderbilt. That’s not a thing. Probably at any school, but definitely not at Vanderbilt

Correct.
You don't apply for a major. You are a history applicant.
Your application is "read" (in committee) as an applicant for a history major - or whatever major you list. Ofc, you aren't assigned to history when admitted....but your ECs are likely not compelling for your application if it doesn't tell a story.

Still no.

- parent of a Vanderbilt history major.

My kid got into Vanderbilt in RD and applied as a certain unpopular major. DC passed but I’d imagine the undersubscribed major played a role? Maybe not!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid sounds exactly like yours and wants to ED to Duke.

Wow! So it can happen! Congratulations on Duke. My sister went there and had the best experience. So regular kid with out all the extra bells and Regenoeron competition or X Writers Workshop or Math Olympiad can get into Duke?

Regular kids. Sure. Excellent stats and full pay. Regular only on this board.

We are not full pay (or hooked) and DD was admitted to a T10 in December. Not good to generalize.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older one was a recruited athlete with much lower grades so we are in different territory with my younger son's who is a junior with: 4.0, SAT 1510, a few strong activities & leadership roles within common clubs found in his public school but no app or national awards or huge spike. Full pay. Undecided but probably economics & history. Lot's of AP's with 4s and 5s, part time job. Wants to ED at Vanderbilt (like the rest of his class). Seems like a very typical public school profile. Is this a wasted ED?

Choose history not economics. And find a particular niche in history to be excited about - not just history generally. What are his historical interests?
Do something history this summer?
https://www.wm.edu/as/niahd/precol/
https://www.nationalhistoryacademy.org/

You don’t “apply for history” at Vanderbilt. That’s not a thing. Probably at any school, but definitely not at Vanderbilt

Correct.
You don't apply for a major. You are a history applicant.
Your application is "read" (in committee) as an applicant for a history major - or whatever major you list. Ofc, you aren't assigned to history when admitted....but your ECs are likely not compelling for your application if it doesn't tell a story.

Still no.

- parent of a Vanderbilt history major.