Anonymous
Post 04/27/2026 21:12     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
Bottom 4 deciles:

JMU, Ole Miss, Auburn, Alabama, Denison, Elon, SMU, South carolina, Syracuse, Villanova ED, Tulane ED.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2026 19:14     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
At my private HS, which is top 1 in a different metro, the bottom student my year ended up at Elon.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2026 19:11     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Santa Clara
Bates
Vermont
Wisconsin
Lehigh
NYU
penn St


These are people who graduated with my son from Sidwell in the last four years. without hooks.



agree with these, and I would add Denver U, Tulane (if male), Villanova, U of Santa Clara, and Bard.


No shot at Villanova. Are you joking?


Villanova is harder than Wake and Colgate these days.


You’re dreaming
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2026 19:25     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
I haven't read through the replies, so I am probably repeating others when I say it TOTALLY depends on the private.

For the kids who ED or ED2: Tulane, Oxy, WFU, UMiami, Kenyon

For the kids who ED higher reaches: Syracuse, UVM, Lehigh, Lafayette, GWU, American

This is assuming no donations/connections/athletic recruitment.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2026 16:57     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid….bottom 25% percentile….1420 SAT. Denied at Tulane,Miami, BU, St Andrews,
Accepted at: SMU, TCU, W&M.

Will go to W&M.


Thank you so much for sharing!! Were any of these early decision or early action?


No. His early restricted action was Notre Dame….waitlisted and never got in.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 22:38     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Using the logic of some of these “experts,” any kid with mediocre grades from an elite private high school has a shot at a highly rejective college because they just know it to be so. The numbers don’t matter. Speak to the counselors at your kid’s school for a reality check — you’ll find out these folks are sadly misinformed. When schools reject 9 out of every 10 applicants, they don’t want the bottom of the barrel, no matter how elite.


Do you really believe that Varsity Blue is over? How would you explain the 'miracle' admissions from the bottom of private elite schools?

Varsity Blue kids cheated on the SAT and/or got admitted as athletes. That is a wholly different discussion. Get your facts straight.


Private school kids are notoriously “diagnosed” with ADHD/anxiety at high rates and given testing accommodations on the SAT/ACT. I would call that modern day cheating, especially since ADHD can easily be faked.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 22:35     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Using the logic of some of these “experts,” any kid with mediocre grades from an elite private high school has a shot at a highly rejective college because they just know it to be so. The numbers don’t matter. Speak to the counselors at your kid’s school for a reality check — you’ll find out these folks are sadly misinformed. When schools reject 9 out of every 10 applicants, they don’t want the bottom of the barrel, no matter how elite.


Do you really believe that Varsity Blue is over? How would you explain the 'miracle' admissions from the bottom of private elite schools?

Varsity Blue kids cheated on the SAT and/or got admitted as athletes. That is a wholly different discussion. Get your facts straight.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 21:29     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
Anonymous wrote:Using the logic of some of these “experts,” any kid with mediocre grades from an elite private high school has a shot at a highly rejective college because they just know it to be so. The numbers don’t matter. Speak to the counselors at your kid’s school for a reality check — you’ll find out these folks are sadly misinformed. When schools reject 9 out of every 10 applicants, they don’t want the bottom of the barrel, no matter how elite.


Do you really believe that Varsity Blue is over? How would you explain the 'miracle' admissions from the bottom of private elite schools?
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 10:52     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
It depends on your HS….
And if you ED.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 10:29     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
Anonymous wrote:This is literally why Trinity and Connecticut College continue to exist


This. If you kid is bottom 20%, none of these t50 school are taking him Ed. Trinity college, Connecticut college, SMU, TCU, Denison, Dickinson, providence college, sewanee, big southern schools that aren’t as strong like u of South Carolina. These are where you’re looking.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 10:23     Subject: Top private bottom of the class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:SMU, TCU, and Tulane are perfectly acceptable schools for rich kids that aren't the academic superstars. Also, pretty much every small liberal arts college below the top 30 or so. Plus some SEC schools like Alabama. Tons of wealthy private school kids there.


What about Davidson ED? If truly a top private, and a strong pointy academic interest (all of which can be created), I've seen it work with strong demonstrated interest.

Wesleyan
W&L
Colgate
Richmond
Colby
Bucknell
Denison


None of these is attainable from the bottom 50% of a class without a hook beyond "pointy".