Anonymous wrote:If he is at a private school, you need to lean on their guidance. What are they suggesting for an ED? Have you seen the scattergrams?

What subject is the outside research project in?

Northwestern likes kids with multiple interdisciplinary spikes. Make sure he shows a lot of demonstrated interest. There are a lot of ideas here for him for this summer.

- continue the pt job (can you tie into behavioral economics)
- add in an in school independent study into his transcript if his high school allows it for senior year and make the topic related to behavioral economics
- review his full activities list to ensure he’s had impact and leadership as well as showing a community orientation and long-term commitment

I second this. Consider adding something like this into this summer to accentuate his econ spike:

https://fte.org/students/student-programs/
https://www.coursera.org/learn/duke-behavioral-finance (free)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its a phrase used by some expensive private counselors and on an obscure podcast.

Normal people have no idea what OP is referring to with that phrase.

I'm OP and got the phrase from DCUM!

Sadly the private has had lousy college counseling so far but we will press for more assistance.

I welcome other ideas for less reach-y schools, thanks again.

A lot of the less-reachy schools require demonstrated interest (in person or virtually):

Case; Pitt; Davidson (register for a self-guided tour and go in person to meet this rep this fall); U-Vermont; CU-Boulder (climbing!).

Some schools focus less on ECs - WashU? And they heavily track demonstrated interest.

Anonymous wrote:Its a phrase used by some expensive private counselors and on an obscure podcast.

Normal people have no idea what OP is referring to with that phrase.

I'm OP and got the phrase from DCUM!

Sadly the private has had lousy college counseling so far but we will press for more assistance.

I welcome other ideas for less reach-y schools, thanks again.

Its a phrase used by some expensive private counselors and on an obscure podcast.

Normal people have no idea what OP is referring to with that phrase.

I have never seen or heard anyone use that particular, odd phrase before. You travel in very strange circles.

"Strong standard" doesn't make any sense if you are talking about a kid with high SATs and grades. That's not what the word "Standard" means....

If he is at a private school, you need to lean on their guidance. What are they suggesting for an ED? Have you seen the scattergrams?

What subject is the outside research project in?

Northwestern likes kids with multiple interdisciplinary spikes. Make sure he shows a lot of demonstrated interest. There are a lot of ideas here for him for this summer.

- continue the pt job (can you tie into behavioral economics)
- add in an in school independent study into his transcript if his high school allows it for senior year and make the topic related to behavioral economics
- review his full activities list to ensure he’s had impact and leadership as well as showing a community orientation and long-term commitment

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GPA is 3.9UW/4.5W; SAT 1510; highest rigor at a private school.

LMAO! How is this your weird phrase "Strong Standard"? Standard means average. I assumed we were talking about a B-/C+ kid with an 1000 SAT.

Thanks all. OP here. My understanding was that standard strong (sorry I reversed the words) referred to kids with strong stats but nothing crazy-remarkable--no national awards, no published research, etc. That's how I've seen the term used before. I know there are many such kids out there!

To the poster who "lol-ed" about Case and U Rochester's cognitive science programs--this is part of our challenge. Statistically I imagine my kid is most likely to land at one of his target schools. But this is also a kid whose major is uncertain right now (the two I put in the OP are maybe the most likely, but he could go in other directions). We are looking for schools that are strong across science AND social science, and I'm not sure what the best candidates are in this target category.

Re extracurriculars/other parts of the application: My kid's ECs are largely not academic, another reason I'm not sure how to think about his chances at various schools. His deep, overriding passion is rock climbing, which he's pursued in a number of different ways for years including through employment and leadership. He does it because he adores it and it keeps him grounded (no pun intended), but he is not a top climber in the region/country and is not winning climbing competitions. He has other ECs as well including an unrelated during-the-year job that he's held through high school, and some leadership positions at his high school. He is pursuing an outside research project but that's the main academic EC he's got.

Behavioral economics is actually something he's interested in. It may be that econ ends up as a minor, hard to say right now.

His private has done great by him academically but has a real mix of kids and is not a highly competitive school. He loved Northwestern as a reach but I don't know how realistic that is, and want to make sure we have a balanced list. Thanks again for the suggestions and input.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GPA is 3.9UW/4.5W; SAT 1510; highest rigor at a private school.

LMAO! How is this your weird phrase "Strong Standard"? Standard means average. I assumed we were talking about a B-/C+ kid with an 1000 SAT.

I understood what OP meant. My kid is the same way. Good grades, scores, and rigor, with typical ECs & no hooks. Those kids are a dime a dozen in this area.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GPA is 3.9UW/4.5W; SAT 1510; highest rigor at a private school.

My private kids got into Northwestern, Cornell, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Michigan with these stats - and not the very top rigor.’

What are the ECs/awards? Is there a stronger to one area/major?

Agree. I’d also try and find uncommon spikes. Economics is a very common topic.

Behavioral economics? Find ECs/in school research or capstone to tie it in?

Example: if your kid works in a grocery store, he might discuss the power of arranging certain items right at the entry store or in certain places to catch the consumers eye?

He should check out Behavioural Economics. A classic book is Thinking Fast and Slow, although some chapters have not held up to the test of time.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9HdU7N4P0o

Gigerenzer is another good author

CMU is strong in Econ, cognitive science, and behavioural Econ.

If he's from a good private, see about doing a UChicago summer program and then ED 0 or otherwise ED 1 to UChicago.

Anonymous wrote:GPA is 3.9UW/4.5W; SAT 1510; highest rigor at a private school.

LMAO! How is this your weird phrase "Strong Standard"? Standard means average. I assumed we were talking about a B-/C+ kid with an 1000 SAT.

Anonymous wrote:As a comment on your son's tentative choices, URochester and CWRU offer excellent programs in cognitive science, and may be difficult to beat academically while also considering your broader criteria.

lol

Anonymous wrote:GPA is 3.9UW/4.5W; SAT 1510; highest rigor at a private school.

My private kids got into Northwestern, Cornell, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Michigan with these stats - and not the very top rigor.’

What are the ECs/awards? Is there a stronger to one area/major?

Take a look at RPI - Rensselaer. It has a very strong program for cognitive science, not sure about econ.

Anonymous wrote:GPA is 3.9UW/4.5W; SAT 1510; highest rigor at a private school.

This kid if he could show spikes in both economics and cognitive sciences through rec letters, essay, and ECs has a very good chance at Northwestern ED. Possible targets are UVA EA, UMD EA, Wisconsin EA, and BU RD. Good luck.