Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The VT thread is exactly what got me down his rabbit hole.

This! And please don't say DC can just go OOS somewhere else. Some of the most equivalent/appealing options are pretty far away because NC, FL, GA prioritize in state apps. And... now my family gets to pay OOS tuition plus the additional costs associated with those logistics because my very solid student is being shut out of VT for OOS apps.

Your kid doesn't have to go OOS as there are a number of other in-state options in Virginia. Maybe not as "appealing" as VT, but good schools nonetheless, including schools with engineering programs.

Nothing particularly special about Tech that GMU doesn’t have

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2020, 2021 and 2023 grad. Honestly, each year seems a bit worse than the last. Lots of deferrals, lots of WL that don’t move and it becomes harder and harder to predict results because the application numbers rise so much each year. 2023 feels the worst to me, but 2021 was hard because my DC couldn’t visit and tour schools.

And that's what keeps the application numbers climbing. My DC is in at 3 "safeties" so we know he's going to college (albeit out of state (thanks VT) which we're less jazzed about because of cost). Not a tippy top student or an engineering/CS major who has to worry about yield protection, just a run of the mill hardworking student.

Surely he doesn't have to go OOS, with all the great options available in VA...
DP

We made the mistake of thinking he was a perfect fit for VT. Like really perfect based on their motto and admitted student stats and what he brought to the table. Ultimately it's fine, we can affort OOS, but that's where I was hopeful he'd end up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2020, 2021 and 2023 grad. Honestly, each year seems a bit worse than the last. Lots of deferrals, lots of WL that don’t move and it becomes harder and harder to predict results because the application numbers rise so much each year. 2023 feels the worst to me, but 2021 was hard because my DC couldn’t visit and tour schools.

And that's what keeps the application numbers climbing. My DC is in at 3 "safeties" so we know he's going to college (albeit out of state (thanks VT) which we're less jazzed about because of cost). Not a tippy top student or an engineering/CS major who has to worry about yield protection, just a run of the mill hardworking student.

Surely he doesn't have to go OOS, with all the great options available in VA...
DP

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2020, 2021 and 2023 grad. Honestly, each year seems a bit worse than the last. Lots of deferrals, lots of WL that don’t move and it becomes harder and harder to predict results because the application numbers rise so much each year. 2023 feels the worst to me, but 2021 was hard because my DC couldn’t visit and tour schools.

And that's what keeps the application numbers climbing. My DC is in at 3 "safeties" so we know he's going to college (albeit out of state (thanks VT) which we're less jazzed about because of cost). Not a tippy top student or an engineering/CS major who has to worry about yield protection, just a run of the mill hardworking student.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone knows.
Test optional policies have increased the pool of qualified applicants to the top schools by many fold.

Also, the class applying this year had Covid-era grading for 2 years of the 3 that are considered for applications. In DCPS (for instance) the lowest grade a kid could get was a B if he/she did any work. MCPS bumped all final grades up by one letter grade. Lots of stuff like this happened all around the country in giant school districts (so hundreds of thousands of students impacted).

The class of 2025 will be the first that will have all 4 years back in a classroom with normal grading scales.

No, test optional doesn't increase the pool of qualified applicants. It increases the pool of applicants, and admissions offices either lack objective criteria for selecting the "stand-out" kids OR they are using test optional policies to provide cover for selecting a profile of students that are less academically prepared, but meet preferred demographic and political criteria. Either way, kids who used to get into top schools are being pushed down the ladder.

Have you noticed the posts from people whose child scored 1200 on the SAT, so did not submit scores, but were accepted to great programs? Yup...

DP. Do you have any idea how many posts like that are just trolls, trying to get under your skin? Why do you believe them? Obviously, a real person isn't going to post their kid's scores and then say, "but she went TO." They'll simply say "TO."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My average student has done quite well. I could be wrong but maybe it’s effecting the high stat kids more. Just look outside the same 50 schools everyone is applying to and apply broadly and your student will get into some. It’s a numbers game. But don’t despair it’s not as bad as people on DCUM/CC make it out to be.

Same with my kid with a GPA of 3.3. Or maybe I’m just more realistic about which schools he should apply to.

No need to take a jab. What is a target school for a 3.85UW gpa/1400 SAT student? My DC was rejected from JMU.

How many students from their school applied to JMU?

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone knows.
Test optional policies have increased the pool of qualified applicants to the top schools by many fold.

Also, the class applying this year had Covid-era grading for 2 years of the 3 that are considered for applications. In DCPS (for instance) the lowest grade a kid could get was a B if he/she did any work. MCPS bumped all final grades up by one letter grade. Lots of stuff like this happened all around the country in giant school districts (so hundreds of thousands of students impacted).

The class of 2025 will be the first that will have all 4 years back in a classroom with normal grading scales.

No, test optional doesn't increase the pool of qualified applicants. It increases the pool of applicants, and admissions offices either lack objective criteria for selecting the "stand-out" kids OR they are using test optional policies to provide cover for selecting a profile of students that are less academically prepared, but meet preferred demographic and political criteria. Either way, kids who used to get into top schools are being pushed down the ladder.

Have you noticed the posts from people whose child scored 1200 on the SAT, so did not submit scores, but were accepted to great programs? Yup...

Overall, it is a numbers game due to the ease with which one can apply to 20 or more schools.

Because college now requires a tremendous investment of money and time, there is an abundance of information about majors, earnings, and careers that results in the best credentialed applicants fighting for the same super elite colleges and universities.

Many applicants to the most selective universities do not understand what these schools are seeking beyond athletic talent or URM status. The most uninformed advisors state that the most selective schools are seeking "accomplishments" or "national or international awards or recognition". This is incorrect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone knows.
Test optional policies have increased the pool of qualified applicants to the top schools by many fold.

Also, the class applying this year had Covid-era grading for 2 years of the 3 that are considered for applications. In DCPS (for instance) the lowest grade a kid could get was a B if he/she did any work. MCPS bumped all final grades up by one letter grade. Lots of stuff like this happened all around the country in giant school districts (so hundreds of thousands of students impacted).

The class of 2025 will be the first that will have all 4 years back in a classroom with normal grading scales.

Qualified by the NEW standards. That is key. Many have test scores abysmally low for the schools and never would have applied if they actually had to submit their scores. Now you have people with a 26-27 ACT and 1050 SAT applying to Ivies and Hopkins.

DP. I'm curious how you could possibly know what their scores are if they apply TO? Often, kids who are just below the 50% threshold, choose to go TO because they think their score will disadvantage them. We're talking 1200/1300, etc. These are not "abysmally low," by any definition.

My DC’s 1380 SAT was too low compared to their peers in school, which is why they went TO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My average student has done quite well. I could be wrong but maybe it’s effecting the high stat kids more. Just look outside the same 50 schools everyone is applying to and apply broadly and your student will get into some. It’s a numbers game. But don’t despair it’s not as bad as people on DCUM/CC make it out to be.

Same with my kid with a GPA of 3.3. Or maybe I’m just more realistic about which schools he should apply to.

No need to take a jab. What is a target school for a 3.85UW gpa/1400 SAT student? My DC was rejected from JMU.

Anonymous wrote:Half the posters on CC are parents whose kids graduated hs 15-20 years ago. I’m not joking. Just take any advice they offer with a grain of salt.

Agree, but for different reasons.

Many have an agenda promoting one school. Most do not understand what the most selective schools are seeking in a student. It is an echo chamber on steroids due to need to remain in good graces with moderators and furthered by ridiculous "like" buttons that identify the poster who "liked" a particular poster's post. (Very much like a junior high school popularity contest combined with fear of not falling in line with a moderator's agenda.)

Most are moms with a lot of time on their hands who fancy themselves as college experts because their kid went through the process and because they are able to regurgitate the echo chamber thoughts.

Due to one expert poster, that site is excellent for those interest in the University of California system schools and the California State system schools.

Overall, the site is about 50% accurate and 50% misinformation. The advice on writing college app essays is shallow and often lacks understanding of the purpose of the college app essays for the most selective schools (doesn't matter much--if at all--at less selective schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been lurking on this board and College Confidential since DC started freshman year in the fall and I am so shocked and sad for so many of what seem to be stellar students on paper getting deferred or even outright rejected from what used to be deemed "safety' schools. I know we're in a bit of a bubble in the DC area and it can be more competitive trying to get into certain schools from certain school systems (or at least that's what I'm told) but it seems to be especially bad this year? Do you think some of it is a result of COVID with '21 and '22 students taking gap years, and will normalize over time or do you think it will only get worse?

Parents say that every year.. this year is especially bad?? No its been like this

+1. Yes, parents say that every.single.year. Process hasn’t changed and it isn’t any worse. What has changed is now it’s your kid’s turn to go thru the meat grinder and that makes it look and feel much worse than years before.

That isn’t correct, the test optional years have been harder given the huge increase in applications to top schools. Thar said, this year is pretty similar to last year in terms of results.

Schools are saying they are receiving 20% or more applications than ever before. So yes, it is factually harder than it has been in the past.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The VT thread is exactly what got me down his rabbit hole.

This! And please don't say DC can just go OOS somewhere else. Some of the most equivalent/appealing options are pretty far away because NC, FL, GA prioritize in state apps. And... now my family gets to pay OOS tuition plus the additional costs associated with those logistics because my very solid student is being shut out of VT for OOS apps.

Your kid doesn't have to go OOS as there are a number of other in-state options in Virginia. Maybe not as "appealing" as VT, but good schools nonetheless, including schools with engineering programs.

+1
Yep. Our kid did not get into his first choice VA school last year, so he chose another VA school and loves it there. There is such a thing as telling your kids that they will only be going to one of the many excellent VA schools. Not sure why people think they "have" to go OOS if they don't get in. We are extremely lucky to have all these great state schools in VA.

Anonymous wrote:

The VT thread is exactly what got me down his rabbit hole.

This! And please don't say DC can just go OOS somewhere else. Some of the most equivalent/appealing options are pretty far away because NC, FL, GA prioritize in state apps. And... now my family gets to pay OOS tuition plus the additional costs associated with those logistics because my very solid student is being shut out of VT for OOS apps.

DP. What does this mean? Are you saying an OOS student was accepted over your kid? If so, how could you possibly know this? Competition is fierce in-state for VT. I'm not sure why people can't understand that they can't possibly accept everyone who applies.

Anonymous wrote:Half the posters on CC are parents whose kids graduated hs 15-20 years ago. I’m not joking. Just take any advice they offer with a grain of salt.

+1
I think many of them have migrated over here. Lots of the same whining.