Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 12:04     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
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.


Admissions officers at colleges use the phrase “standard strong” when going to committee and evaluating applicants. They created it not DCUM.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 12:00     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
"To the poster who "lol-ed" about Case and U Rochester's cognitive science programs"

It seems this poster seeks to interfere with the good faith contributions of others — nothing more.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 11:57     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Anonymous wrote:
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)



Agree. I wouldn’t list Econ unless kid actually has some relevant knowledge/tie-in.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 11:49     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Anonymous wrote:Here's a suggested schoo list:

Male
(Full pay?)
GPA is 3.9UW/4.5W;
SAT 1510;
The highest rigor at a private school.
Major interests: economics & cog science


Reach (choose 1 for ED and 1 for ED2 in the event of ED1 rejection):
Northwestern
UChicago
CMU
WashU


Target:
Case
Lehigh
Denison
UMiami
Tulane
Wake
Northweastern
BU
BC
Villanova

Likely:
Pitt (rolling - apply in August)
Syracuse
Vermont
CU-Boulder
Dickinson
Elon



If you kid likes Rochester it is as good as any school on that list.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 11:06     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
BU and Tufts would be reaches RD. Apply ed and they are probably targets for this profile.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 10:43     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Anonymous wrote:Here's a suggested schoo list:

Male
(Full pay?)
GPA is 3.9UW/4.5W;
SAT 1510;
The highest rigor at a private school.
Major interests: economics & cog science


Reach (choose 1 for ED and 1 for ED2 in the event of ED1 rejection):
Northwestern
UChicago
CMU
WashU


Target:
Case
Lehigh
Denison
UMiami
Tulane
Wake
Northweastern
BU
BC
Villanova

Likely:
Pitt (rolling - apply in August)
Syracuse
Vermont
CU-Boulder
Dickinson
Elon



Thank you pp! This is very helpful.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 10:39     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Anonymous wrote:so I'm dumb, can you tell me what 'strong standard' means at the core of this thread?

Is it a kid who has done well at a school with high rigor?


OP here, as I said earlier I mistakenly reversed the words and meant standard strong.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 10:29     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Anonymous wrote:so I'm dumb, can you tell me what 'strong standard' means at the core of this thread?

Is it a kid who has done well at a school with high rigor?


Great grades and scores but nothing that makes them stand out or be compelling. No spike. Limited impact in ECs.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 10:28     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Here's a suggested schoo list:

Male
(Full pay?)
GPA is 3.9UW/4.5W;
SAT 1510;
The highest rigor at a private school.
Major interests: economics & cog science


Reach (choose 1 for ED and 1 for ED2 in the event of ED1 rejection):
Northwestern
UChicago
CMU
WashU


Target:
Case
Lehigh
Denison
UMiami
Tulane
Wake
Northweastern
BU
BC
Villanova

Likely:
Pitt (rolling - apply in August)
Syracuse
Vermont
CU-Boulder
Dickinson
Elon

Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 10:26     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
so I'm dumb, can you tell me what 'strong standard' means at the core of this thread?

Is it a kid who has done well at a school with high rigor?
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 10:23     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Since there appears to be a high school student on the thread, I'll address the OP directly. Although my comment on the CogSci programs of URochester and Case Western was based largely on knowledge of these schools, this site may be of interest:

https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/best-colleges-for-cognitive-science/

For the undergraduate study of cognitive science, it ranks URochester 12th nationally and Case Western Reserve 26th.

College transitions Methodology is not about academic quality. It’s a ranking of graduation rates and salary, which is mostly locale and choices, not having much at all to do with the college itself. I wish people stopped posting this poor source as fact.


It’s as valid as the link someone posted ranking graduate schools by publications as a valid ranking for undergraduate studies.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 10:06     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
OP - study your school profile, school matriculations (and scattergrams if you have access) and IG for this year. Input what you can into claude and ask for analysis based on your kids stats.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 09:57     Subject: Re:Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.



My DS is slightly below the OP’s stats while attending a magnet school with the highest rigor. no spikes.
UVA waitlisted, BU RD rejected.


OP here. I know it’s brutal out there, congrats to your kid (and you) on making it through the process. Can I ask what schools he was accepted to and considered, and where he ended up?
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 09:47     Subject: Re:Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Anonymous wrote:
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.



My DS is slightly below the OP’s stats while attending a magnet school with the highest rigor. no spikes.
UVA waitlisted, BU RD rejected.
Anonymous
Post 05/11/2026 09:37     Subject: Targets for "strong standard" kid interested in economics or cognitive science
Anonymous wrote: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....


It's standard strong. IECs and AOs use it ALL the time.