Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

My kid has a 3.9 at a Big3; can he/she move the target/reaches to target?

If they are maintaining straight As in junior senior year in rigorous courses I’d say you’d get into 3 of the 6 regular and probably 5 of the 6 if you ED. It’s all still such a crap shoot. The benefit for strong kids now is that they will have all their junior year grades with face to face in session school. I think the past seniors got screwed because grades were so wonky and inflated during remote learning.

Thx. My kid has the 3.9 and change (3.95?) through junior year. We not a legacy/URM/recruit. Just smart and really driven. Would be thrilled with Michigan. Hard to know how high to aim.

3.95 at big 3: Mighican is basically a certainty.

God shot at Michigan. Chicago. Cornell if ED. Need test scores and good ECs.

Chicago if ED.

Don't waste an ED on Cornell unless you are legacy.

Chicago is harder to get into than cornell. It also doesn’t have back doors like the school of human ecology and ag.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

My kid has a 3.9 at a Big3; can he/she move the target/reaches to target?

No.

It isn't about your kids stats, it is about the number of kids who have similar records who are applying to all of the same schools.

There are X times the number of kids applying for generally the same number of seats that existed 30 years ago.

so the 3.95 kid has the same options as the 3.75 kid?

I can't answer specifically the impact of the 0.20 differential, but it needs to be said that STA, NCS, GDS and Sidwell aren't identical when it comes time to assign grades.

Anecdotally, GDS kids who I know personally have all had higher GPAs than my Sidwell teen. As in, > 3.90. Their ACT/SATs were easily lower, even when superscored. One girl had a 4.0 at GDS and her mom acted like that wasn't a big deal, all you need to do is work hard! That sort of situation is a unicorn at Sidwell.

Doesn't this all depend on how hard the classes are you are taking? At my kids' top private, certain classes are WAY more rigorous (Multivariable Calc, Advanced Chem, Physics C, etc.). So a GPA alone doesn't mean all that much unless you know what classes the kid has taken.

This is always a factor. There are plenty of threads on DCUM where people write x-number of APs, but they haven’t said if the APs are ‘easier’ or harder. Taking Calculus and whatever are the hardest courses across the curriculum counts way more than accumulating APs/ IBs in classes that are less challenging.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

Toronto, McGill, Bates, Tulane and Wisc are NOT safeties. I would say Bates and Tulane are likely with this profile, especially if full pay ED.

I would also encourage your high performing DS to include some highly ranking international schools as “likelies” since their admission is a bit more predictable ie the UK schools like Edinburg and St Andrew’s only care about your scores.

I do think Reed, Bates, Tulane, Dickinson, Gettysburg and Wisconsin are extremely likely. Bates is not need-blind so if the applicant is full pay, that helps. .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

My kid has a 3.9 at a Big3; can he/she move the target/reaches to target?

No.

It isn't about your kids stats, it is about the number of kids who have similar records who are applying to all of the same schools.

There are X times the number of kids applying for generally the same number of seats that existed 30 years ago.

so the 3.95 kid has the same options as the 3.75 kid?

I can't answer specifically the impact of the 0.20 differential, but it needs to be said that STA, NCS, GDS and Sidwell aren't identical when it comes time to assign grades.

Anecdotally, GDS kids who I know personally have all had higher GPAs than my Sidwell teen. As in, > 3.90. Their ACT/SATs were easily lower, even when superscored. One girl had a 4.0 at GDS and her mom acted like that wasn't a big deal, all you need to do is work hard! That sort of situation is a unicorn at Sidwell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

My kid has a 3.9 at a Big3; can he/she move the target/reaches to target?

No.

It isn't about your kids stats, it is about the number of kids who have similar records who are applying to all of the same schools.

There are X times the number of kids applying for generally the same number of seats that existed 30 years ago.

so the 3.95 kid has the same options as the 3.75 kid?

I can't answer specifically the impact of the 0.20 differential, but it needs to be said that STA, NCS, GDS and Sidwell aren't identical when it comes time to assign grades.

Anecdotally, GDS kids who I know personally have all had higher GPAs than my Sidwell teen. As in, > 3.90. Their ACT/SATs were easily lower, even when superscored. One girl had a 4.0 at GDS and her mom acted like that wasn't a big deal, all you need to do is work hard! That sort of situation is a unicorn at Sidwell.

Doesn't this all depend on how hard the classes are you are taking? At my kids' top private, certain classes are WAY more rigorous (Multivariable Calc, Advanced Chem, Physics C, etc.). So a GPA alone doesn't mean all that much unless you know what classes the kid has taken.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

My kid has a 3.9 at a Big3; can he/she move the target/reaches to target?

No.

It isn't about your kids stats, it is about the number of kids who have similar records who are applying to all of the same schools.

There are X times the number of kids applying for generally the same number of seats that existed 30 years ago.

so the 3.95 kid has the same options as the 3.75 kid?

I can't answer specifically the impact of the 0.20 differential, but it needs to be said that STA, NCS, GDS and Sidwell aren't identical when it comes time to assign grades.

Anecdotally, GDS kids who I know personally have all had higher GPAs than my Sidwell teen. As in, > 3.90. Their ACT/SATs were easily lower, even when superscored. One girl had a 4.0 at GDS and her mom acted like that wasn't a big deal, all you need to do is work hard! That sort of situation is a unicorn at Sidwell.

At the end of junior year my DC had all As at GDS except for 1 A- 1 B+ 1 B and was told they were in the top 5% of class, fwiw.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

My kid has a 3.9 at a Big3; can he/she move the target/reaches to target?

No.

It isn't about your kids stats, it is about the number of kids who have similar records who are applying to all of the same schools.

There are X times the number of kids applying for generally the same number of seats that existed 30 years ago.

Semester grades or annual grades?

so the 3.95 kid has the same options as the 3.75 kid?

I can't answer specifically the impact of the 0.20 differential, but it needs to be said that STA, NCS, GDS and Sidwell aren't identical when it comes time to assign grades.

Anecdotally, GDS kids who I know personally have all had higher GPAs than my Sidwell teen. As in, > 3.90. Their ACT/SATs were easily lower, even when superscored. One girl had a 4.0 at GDS and her mom acted like that wasn't a big deal, all you need to do is work hard! That sort of situation is a unicorn at Sidwell.

At the end of junior year my DC had all As at GDS except for 1 A- 1 B+ 1 B and was told they were in the top 5% of class, fwiw.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

My kid has a 3.9 at a Big3; can he/she move the target/reaches to target?

No.

It isn't about your kids stats, it is about the number of kids who have similar records who are applying to all of the same schools.

There are X times the number of kids applying for generally the same number of seats that existed 30 years ago.

so the 3.95 kid has the same options as the 3.75 kid?

I can't answer specifically the impact of the 0.20 differential, but it needs to be said that STA, NCS, GDS and Sidwell aren't identical when it comes time to assign grades.

Anecdotally, GDS kids who I know personally have all had higher GPAs than my Sidwell teen. As in, > 3.90. Their ACT/SATs were easily lower, even when superscored. One girl had a 4.0 at GDS and her mom acted like that wasn't a big deal, all you need to do is work hard! That sort of situation is a unicorn at Sidwell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

My kid has a 3.9 at a Big3; can he/she move the target/reaches to target?

No.

It isn't about your kids stats, it is about the number of kids who have similar records who are applying to all of the same schools.

There are X times the number of kids applying for generally the same number of seats that existed 30 years ago.

so the 3.95 kid has the same options as the 3.75 kid?

I can't answer specifically the impact of the 0.20 differential, but it needs to be said that STA, NCS, GDS and Sidwell aren't identical when it comes time to assign grades.

Anecdotally, GDS kids who I know personally have all had higher GPAs than my Sidwell teen. As in, > 3.90. Their ACT/SATs were easily lower, even when superscored. One girl had a 4.0 at GDS and her mom acted like that wasn't a big deal, all you need to do is work hard! That sort of situation is a unicorn at Sidwell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

Toronto, McGill, Bates, Tulane and Wisc are NOT safeties. I would say Bates and Tulane are likely with this profile, especially if full pay ED.

I would also encourage your high performing DS to include some highly ranking international schools as “likelies” since their admission is a bit more predictable ie the UK schools like Edinburg and St Andrew’s only care about your scores.

I’m the person who listed these. Okay, maybe Toronto and McGill are closer to Target. They rely much more on test scores and I think an early application from a student with strong test scores is very, very likely. I think international colleges are good choices for likelies for strong students because they are likely to adapt well, will have international experience upon graduating, have access to world-class opportunities and, in the case of McGill, may come out with a strong foreign language.

I do think Reed, Bates, Tulane, Dickinson, Gettysburg and Wisconsin are extremely likely. Bates is not need-blind so if the applicant is full pay, that helps.

I just went through this with my niece and friends who applied from a top NY school (not one of the top 3 in NY so probably pretty comparable to a top DC school). This student - especially if full pay - is likely to be helped by the test optional policies in place right now. Fewer kids are presenting scores and the kids from the top schools are expected to bring in top scores. The best strategy is to identify an ED1 and ED2 school.

Toronto has grade deflation and can be a pretty tough adjustment. The Canadian schools also do a lot less hand holding than many US schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

Toronto, McGill, Bates, Tulane and Wisc are NOT safeties. I would say Bates and Tulane are likely with this profile, especially if full pay ED.

I would also encourage your high performing DS to include some highly ranking international schools as “likelies” since their admission is a bit more predictable ie the UK schools like Edinburg and St Andrew’s only care about your scores.

I’m the person who listed these. Okay, maybe Toronto and McGill are closer to Target. They rely much more on test scores and I think an early application from a student with strong test scores is very, very likely. I think international colleges are good choices for likelies for strong students because they are likely to adapt well, will have international experience upon graduating, have access to world-class opportunities and, in the case of McGill, may come out with a strong foreign language.

I do think Reed, Bates, Tulane, Dickinson, Gettysburg and Wisconsin are extremely likely. Bates is not need-blind so if the applicant is full pay, that helps.

I just went through this with my niece and friends who applied from a top NY school (not one of the top 3 in NY so probably pretty comparable to a top DC school). This student - especially if full pay - is likely to be helped by the test optional policies in place right now. Fewer kids are presenting scores and the kids from the top schools are expected to bring in top scores. The best strategy is to identify an ED1 and ED2 school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

My kid has a 3.9 at a Big3; can he/she move the target/reaches to target?

If they are maintaining straight As in junior senior year in rigorous courses I’d say you’d get into 3 of the 6 regular and probably 5 of the 6 if you ED. It’s all still such a crap shoot. The benefit for strong kids now is that they will have all their junior year grades with face to face in session school. I think the past seniors got screwed because grades were so wonky and inflated during remote learning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. Here’s a selection of really nice schools, of different sizes and locations that could be of interest, depending on major and setting. Lots of very different schools.

Reach: Northwestern, Cornell, U Penn, U Chicago, Bowdoin, Brown, Dartmouth
Target / Reach: Michigan, Rochester, Wash U, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Tufts
Target: Colby, Colgate, U Washington, Boston College, NYU
Safeties: Univ of Toronto, McGill, Wisconsin, Reed, Bates, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Tulane

Toronto, McGill, Bates, Tulane and Wisc are NOT safeties. I would say Bates and Tulane are likely with this profile, especially if full pay ED.

I would also encourage your high performing DS to include some highly ranking international schools as “likelies” since their admission is a bit more predictable ie the UK schools like Edinburg and St Andrew’s only care about your scores.