Anonymous
02/09/2026 20:30
Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Overly coached students will have:
Manufactured passion
Strategic essays
Carefully planned extracurriculars all tied around their niche interest
Extracurriculars will be loaded with numbers —xxx dollars, xxx hours. Everything will be impact impact impact.
This actually works.
Does it though? I’m not sure it does.
+1 AOs aren't idiots. They value authenticity in applications, and a little humor doesn't hurt.
I'd like to think this, but all the overcoached kids I know did great in college admissions. It's a sign of full pay. Which all colleges need.
Full pay is not valued and does not give any advantage at any of the T20's. HYPSM is not going to droll over your full pay kid! LOL
+1 Also, everyone is complaining that other kids were overcoached. It's not so much overcoaching, but more the families prepared ahead of time. You can do the same for your kids. You hear all the time how hard it is to get into colleges so prepare your kid to put their best foot forward. That is different from overcoaching.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 20:27
Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Overly coached students will have:
Manufactured passion
Strategic essays
Carefully planned extracurriculars all tied around their niche interest
Extracurriculars will be loaded with numbers —xxx dollars, xxx hours. Everything will be impact impact impact.
This actually works.
Does it though? I’m not sure it does.
+1 AOs aren't idiots. They value authenticity in applications, and a little humor doesn't hurt.
I'd like to think this, but all the overcoached kids I know did great in college admissions. It's a sign of full pay. Which all colleges need.
Full pay is not valued and does not give any advantage at any of the T20's. HYPSM is not going to droll over your full pay kid! LOL
Anonymous
02/09/2026 17:56
Subject: Re:Signs of an overcoached application
Our friends this cycle that got private counselors all had their kids switch to undersubscribed majors - philosophy for one, medical humanities for another - both went in to counselor meeting saying they wanted pre med and were told to apply as something else. Then the counselor helped mold their activities to fit the new major. Worked for both. Kids will go back to pre med once they get to college.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 17:51
Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Overly coached students will have:
Manufactured passion
Strategic essays
Carefully planned extracurriculars all tied around their niche interest
Extracurriculars will be loaded with numbers —xxx dollars, xxx hours. Everything will be impact impact impact.
This actually works.
Does it though? I’m not sure it does.
+1 AOs aren't idiots. They value authenticity in applications, and a little humor doesn't hurt.
I'd like to think this, but all the overcoached kids I know did great in college admissions. It's a sign of full pay. Which all colleges need.
All the kids with the $$$ counselors from NY get in REA/ED.
AO like a polish application and a clear narrative. They like strong, memorable, unique essays.
At least at ourprivate.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 17:32
Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Overly coached students will have:
Manufactured passion
Strategic essays
Carefully planned extracurriculars all tied around their niche interest
Extracurriculars will be loaded with numbers —xxx dollars, xxx hours. Everything will be impact impact impact.
This actually works.
Does it though? I’m not sure it does.
+1 AOs aren't idiots. They value authenticity in applications, and a little humor doesn't hurt.
I'd like to think this, but all the overcoached kids I know did great in college admissions. It's a sign of full pay. Which all colleges need.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 17:28
Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:So what’s the answer? No one here agrees.
The answer is to be authentic, which looks different for each kid. This is my feedback coming from a T5 school myself, and as a former alum interviewer.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 17:13
Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Both my kids got into their reaches with essays they wrote with no editing or coaching. When I read them, they were good, but mostly they sounded like 17-year olds telling a story.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 13:25
Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:EMT still works if you can do that at 16 in your state
Works for what? T10? I'd imagine you have to do a LOT more than just that.
well, of course. my kid did a lot more than just EMT, but it's a real job with real experience and real training.
but yeah, you have to have 1550 and get basically perfect grades and also have impact in school and real intellectual curiosity/achievement that you can demonstrate. and also something that is different and it all has to tie together in a narrative.
that's how it works now. how it will work in 5 years? who knows
Agreed. But if you have these high stats and more average ECs with a common narrative, you can still get into top 25 school. Top 10 isn’t happening though.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 12:46
Subject: Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:EMT still works if you can do that at 16 in your state
Works for what? T10? I'd imagine you have to do a LOT more than just that.
well, of course. my kid did a lot more than just EMT, but it's a real job with real experience and real training.
but yeah, you have to have 1550 and get basically perfect grades and also have impact in school and real intellectual curiosity/achievement that you can demonstrate. and also something that is different and it all has to tie together in a narrative.
that's how it works now. how it will work in 5 years? who knows
Anonymous
02/09/2026 12:41
Subject: Re:Signs of an overcoached application
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would say it's the kids who seem to magically check every box. Like, of course they have great grades and played a varsity sport and have a couple of leadership roles. But then you're reading the supplemental essays, and OMG, they had a magical encounter with a homeless man while doing their weekly volunteer time. And then WOW, they created an app to put an end to food waste. And WHOA, they taught themselves Creole to connect better with the lunch lady?
I know a few of these.
And… did they get in? You are rolling your eyes at this but unless their admissions officers called you up and said they rejected these… friends’ kids? because they seemed overly coached, then… what is your point?
I remain frustrated and irritated at this process. Do a lot! Don’t do too much. Be authentic. But amazing. Sigh. This whole process sucks for students today.
Sometimes, yes, those kids get in.