DD at top 3 SLAC. Perfect grades, high test scores, one outstanding recommendation ("best student I ever had..."), interesting ECs, ED2, full pay, not from the DC area.

Our private school counselors told us it’s actually “ need visually impaired”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Match stats, URM and full pay. There are admissions books which basically say such applicants are a golden goose, with admissions reps literally giddy when they come across them.

+100 DCs good friend was this. They got into 5 Ivies.

Ivies are need blind and some not very diverse. At admitted students day, mine was surprised by lack or URM presence (confirmed by current URM student) and high percentage of elite private school white/Asian kids in her admitted students group.

You’ve been told a lie about need blind admissions. Don’t believe it.
https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/2-reasons-need-blind-admissions-farce/

That stupid blog post has been around a long time, and has no facts, no evidence, and it written by a woman who makes a fortune selling her services for $1M dollars, primarily to overseas applicants. Yes, ONE MILLION DOLLARS. No joke. She writes it because she needs her "customers" to believe it.

All the years elite colleges have been need blind, not one person of the hundreds - maybe thousands - of admissions officers who have worked there have even hinted that it was a lie. Including the few dozen like Michelle Hernandez, Chuck Hughes, Rachel Toor and others who have written "tell-all" books about it. That's quite a conspiracy! Almost not believable! Because it isn't.

Schools that claim to be need blind in admission are, in fact NEED BLIND FOR ADMISSION. End period.

Know why that is easy for them? Because the top candidates overwhelmingly come from the upper classes. That's why they can be need blind so easily, and why the majority of their students are from upper income families. It it self selecting.

So do not be afraid to ask for financial aid at need blind colleges. The admissions office will not know and it will have no affect on your admission.

3rd generation legacy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Match stats, URM and full pay. There are admissions books which basically say such applicants are a golden goose, with admissions reps literally giddy when they come across them.

+100 DCs good friend was this. They got into 5 Ivies.

Ivies are need blind and some not very diverse. At admitted students day, mine was surprised by lack or URM presence (confirmed by current URM student) and high percentage of elite private school white/Asian kids in her admitted students group.

You’ve been told a lie about need blind admissions. Don’t believe it.
https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/2-reasons-need-blind-admissions-farce/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Match stats, URM and full pay. There are admissions books which basically say such applicants are a golden goose, with admissions reps literally giddy when they come across them.

+100 DCs good friend was this. They got into 5 Ivies.

Ivies are need blind and some not very diverse. At admitted students day, mine was surprised by lack or URM presence (confirmed by current URM student) and high percentage of elite private school white/Asian kids in her admitted students group.

Anonymous wrote:luck...luck...luck....we told our DC that with his stats (1450 SAT, 4.4 GPA, 7 APs) he earned the right to "buy a lottery ticket" and apply....after that it is all luck. He did get into his reach -- but he made 2 campus visits, one in the summer, one in the school year and included a student interview.

So. I would say that is not exactly luck or lottery. He did a great job connecting with the university and communicating how he will thrive there as well as his intent to commit. Congrats!

Anonymous wrote:It depends who applies from your area or high school. Are there lots of first generation students applying? Lots of underrepresented minorities applying? Are there recruited athletes from your school taking a spot? There are so many variables.

Why pick on 1st gen or urm? How about legacy, well connected, highly visible (publications, awards, internships, public office), or highly enriched? Those are key variables you've omitted.

Anonymous wrote:Mine in T15 and it was a complete reach. ADHD and IEP since prek. 3.4 and 1 AP (taken senior year). Did a varsity sport but had an amazing essay. He got a 29 on ACT. I put it on his list as a "what the hell." And he got in! It really believe it was the essay and the admissions counselor taking the time to really look at him. He isn't the best student but he is a great kid and a hard worker. Maybe it was his recommendations? I have younger kids so I still have access to Naviance and I love looking at the school scattergram and seeing him on there. I am sure people think it is a recruiter athlete. Nope, my kid!

Did he reference his adhd in the essay? I have an adhd who is incredibly bright and has great grades/scores, but not impeccable like most in this tier. She has been researching different aspects of adhd and owning it as part of her identity through her discoveries. I think she could turn this into a great essay, but others here warn against it. Curious as to how yours handled it. Thanks and congrats!

Mine did- too SLAC- he was a recruited athlete- applied regular decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And money + URM is the golden ticket.

This was the golden ticket, now it's high stat First Gen or white male.

Are you being sarcastic?

I have noticed the disparities in male vs. female applicants in the common data sets. Is being a male really consider an advantage at this point?

Yes. The advantage for males is slight, but real.

Anonymous wrote:

And money + URM is the golden ticket.

This was the golden ticket, now it's high stat First Gen or white male.

Are you being sarcastic?

I have noticed the disparities in male vs. female applicants in the common data sets. Is being a male really consider an advantage at this point?

Anonymous wrote:It depends who applies from your area or high school. Are there lots of first generation students applying? Lots of underrepresented minorities applying? Are there recruited athletes from your school taking a spot? There are so many variables.

If an application stands out, the person will get in regardless of the others applying. Remember (parents and applicants) that there is no notion of desert in elite college admissions!

Son got into his reach last year. His grades were average, his SAT slightly above average. BUT...

• he took very difficult classes; 7 AP classes, a mix of STEM and humanities
• he took the same language for five years (including middle school); did a summer Governor's school for the same language
• played the same instrument for 6 years
• played a varsity sport for 4 years
• had a very personal, unique and insightful essay

He is not an URM. I'm not sure what it was that put him over the edge, but he's at the school now and we are all still sort of in awe.

It depends who applies from your area or high school. Are there lots of first generation students applying? Lots of underrepresented minorities applying? Are there recruited athletes from your school taking a spot? There are so many variables.