Anonymous
02/27/2026 18:27
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not sure. My kid is a freshman at UT and he is blown away by how smart his peers are there. Sort of surprised me.
Even the 50% auto-admit in-staters
Wdym
Anonymous
02/27/2026 18:18
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What makes you think anything does? You are under the delusion that on group is better than the other.
+1. For top flagships, there is also a lot of overlap with students who get into both.
+1 My state flagship was UC Berkeley. Lots of overlap.
Wonder if that's still true now that UC-Berk is test blind. Not many kids with poor scores are also applying to test required top schools. Just keeping it real.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 18:17
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For us, definitely the money. A T10 might be life changing, but the education is probably equal at a T50. Some employers will like to see the grit it takes to navigate a large public flagship.
lol No
Harvard was life-changing for me. And the reason why DS is going there next year.
Add Harvard to the list:
Colleges That Change Lives https://share.google/UDIE9qBBGuXqQE4L0
Anonymous
02/27/2026 18:16
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What makes you think anything does? You are under the delusion that on group is better than the other.
+1. For top flagships, there is also a lot of overlap with students who get into both.
+1 My state flagship was UC Berkeley. Lots of overlap.
Cal has a lot of state flagships.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 18:08
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What makes you think anything does? You are under the delusion that on group is better than the other.
+1. For top flagships, there is also a lot of overlap with students who get into both.
+1 My state flagship was UC Berkeley. Lots of overlap.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 17:52
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:Not sure. My kid is a freshman at UT and he is blown away by how smart his peers are there. Sort of surprised me.
Even the 50% auto-admit in-staters
Anonymous
02/27/2026 17:44
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Not sure. My kid is a freshman at UT and he is blown away by how smart his peers are there. Sort of surprised me.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 17:29
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For us, definitely the money. A T10 might be life changing, but the education is probably equal at a T50. Some employers will like to see the grit it takes to navigate a large public flagship.
Ha! Every college is life changing!
Right? Finally leaving behind nagging or pushy insecure parents IS life-changing… haha.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 17:27
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:To get into most state flagships like UT Austin or UVA, you need top academics, leadership experience, heavy involvement during the summer, volunteering, and more. What extra things do students do to get into top 20 universities?
Hooks. That's it.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 17:24
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:$$$. That's your answer. $$$.
Yup. This obsession with T20 schools only exists in a very narrow segment of the population, and those people will spend all sorts of money on activities, camps, and whatever builds the resume for a T20. Larlo from the mid-sized city suburb's mom is not funding his nonprofit for a college app boost.
The gatekeeping is becoming more obvious. I stopped participating in that nonsense a long time ago, and I’m far less stressed without being caught up in the rat race. If money can buy “prestige,” then it doesn’t hold much real value.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 17:19
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:$$$. That's your answer. $$$.
Not joking. My kids are in good public schools in DMV. They are good students definitely above average but not the tippy top ones, also with varsity, band, volunteer and other activities. Most of our friends’ kids are in similar situations. Normally, this type of kids get offers from state flagship and some T20, of course full pay. Generally, in our friends’ circle, if someone goes to state flag, our feeling is “ok, that parents don’t have money/ don’t want to pay.” That’s all. There is other difference.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 17:00
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:High schools. If they go to a top private school, the chances they get into a T20 minus HYPMS is greater than a same person going to a public high school.
100% true for top independent schools. For friends who sent their kids to private schools in SF, NYC, and DC, there has been almost a 50% chance that they will end up at least at UChicago. Those schools have counseling offices where they speak directly with the UChicago admissions office about their students and get feedback. Kids with the same stats and extracurriculars from these privates will do immensely better than kids who apply from even top public schools.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 16:57
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:$$$. That's your answer. $$$.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 16:40
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:For us, definitely the money. A T10 might be life changing, but the education is probably equal at a T50. Some employers will like to see the grit it takes to navigate a large public flagship.
Ha! Every college is life changing!
Anonymous
02/27/2026 16:33
Subject: What separates the students who get into state flagships versus those who get into T20 universities?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For us, definitely the money. A T10 might be life changing, but the education is probably equal at a T50. Some employers will like to see the grit it takes to navigate a large public flagship.
lol No
Harvard was life-changing for me. And the reason why DS is going there next year.
lol There are a lot colleges that change peoples lives. I would say most. That's what college does. It's not only Harvard. Congrats on your life changing experience there, however.