Anonymous wrote:I would certainly say it is a possibility for a student with this profile, if in fact the student is from one of the grade-deflated big 3 schools and has taken rigorous classes. There are plenty of kids who really don't take rigorous classes in these schools, and they get disappointed when their 3.7 averages don't get them into Ivies. All Ivies would rather have an involved contributing student who takes challenging classes over one who takes easy classes and does little more than study. It may be all about GPA from public schools, but definitely not from the top privates.

ITA.

I wish that more public school admins and teachers would realize that GPA is not the end-all-be-all. And that most colleges know which ps systems are known for grade inflation, or pushing AP classes when students get a good grade in the class but aren't prepared for the exam.

I would certainly say it is a possibility for a student with this profile, if in fact the student is from one of the grade-deflated big 3 schools and has taken rigorous classes. There are plenty of kids who really don't take rigorous classes in these schools, and they get disappointed when their 3.7 averages don't get them into Ivies. All Ivies would rather have an involved contributing student who takes challenging classes over one who takes easy classes and does little more than study. It may be all about GPA from public schools, but definitely not from the top privates.

I am curious. What if someone gets a scholarship to a good school but gets accepted to an Ivy. Do parents actually pay for their kids just to say they are in an Ivy?

Anonymous wrote:No shot whatsoever at a top Ivy. Maybe Cornell

If it makes you feel better to say this because of your own personal experience, then go ahead. I personally know of a few students at Dartmouth, Brown and Penn that fit this profile exactly.

No shot whatsoever at a top Ivy. Maybe Cornell

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I have an 3.5 student at a Big 3 with significant sports/activities and generally rigorous classes. Likely merit semifinalist and SAT 2300. Are the Ivies out of range? Even with legacy status? I want to be practical about the admissions process.

You need to ask the college counselor - they will have a much better feel for your DCs chances. Legacy may help if you also do ED/SCEA. Otherwise your kid sounds like all the other Ivy applicants so probably won't stand out. I'd aim for a few Ivies as reaches but a much more realistic set of target schools, particularly those that like high scores like Wash U.

Statistically speaking, Ivies are "reaches" for every candidate. The vast majority of applicants with 4.0 GPAs are rejected by Harvard. The majority of 2400 SATs are rejected by Harvard. Don't believe me, check for yourself. The message should not be to discourage application to these schools, but to improve your odds of ultimate success by applying to some schools that are less of a reach. This statement applies to everyone. Dream big but plan smart.

Anonymous wrote:So, I have an 3.5 student at a Big 3 with significant sports/activities and generally rigorous classes. Likely merit semifinalist and SAT 2300. Are the Ivies out of range? Even with legacy status? I want to be practical about the admissions process.

You need to ask the college counselor - they will have a much better feel for your DCs chances. Legacy may help if you also do ED/SCEA. Otherwise your kid sounds like all the other Ivy applicants so probably won't stand out. I'd aim for a few Ivies as reaches but a much more realistic set of target schools, particularly those that like high scores like Wash U.

IMO privates are more prone to grade deflation that public schools. My kids and their friends (all smart kids) have to work for their grades, and C's are def given out. The work load is heavy, and the schools expect kids to self-advocate and work with the teachers if grades are an issue. I have three kids at three different privates, and I see this across the board.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I have an 3.5 student at a Big 3 with significant sports/activities and generally rigorous classes. Likely merit semifinalist and SAT 2300. Are the Ivies out of range? Even with legacy status? I want to be practical about the admissions process.

Honestly, yes.

What information are you working with? 3.5 GPA with a rigorous class load puts you in the upper third of the class at Sidwell. The SATs that you quote are above median for every college in the country, with the possible exception of Caltech. Well rounded kid with strong support from the school - through teacher recs and college counseling push - will have a decent chance at most Ivies (perhaps not H and Y, possibly P). Legacy status would break the tie. This sounds like most of the kids that Sidwell sends to Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell etc.

Further, many of the top GPA students at Sidwell end up at places like Swarthmore, Berkeley, UChicago, Haverford, Franklin Olin College, Tufts. The Ivy league schools are not everyone's cup of tea. It would be a mistake to think that if a quarter of the class goes to Ivies (roughly correct) that these are by definition the top students in the class as measured by GPA and that if you are not in the top quarter they would be out of reach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I have an 3.5 student at a Big 3 with significant sports/activities and generally rigorous classes. Likely merit semifinalist and SAT 2300. Are the Ivies out of range? Even with legacy status? I want to be practical about the admissions process.

Honestly, yes.

What information are you working with? 3.5 GPA with a rigorous class load puts you in the upper third of the class at Sidwell. The SATs that you quote are above median for every college in the country, with the possible exception of Caltech. Well rounded kid with strong support from the school - through teacher recs and college counseling push - will have a decent chance at most Ivies (perhaps not H and Y, possibly P). Legacy status would break the tie. This sounds like most of the kids that Sidwell sends to Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell etc.

My sense is that if you are in the top half of your class at Sidwell, it is fine to give Ivies a shot. All of those kids are smart and capable, but they could have different levels of appeal to the Ivies. Some more active in school, some more athletic, some with better grades who are not involved. I think the Ivies know that kids from these schools are very prepared, and they look to see who will fit best into the community. Legacy definitely matters. It can definitely launch a B+ student in to a category usually reserved for A- kids. There is no denying it helps, but it won't help a solid B student transform into an A student.

Sidwell definitely sends about 30% to Ivies and equivalents, like MIT and Stanford . . . maybe even a little more than that this year.

No school does. The PP is just making stuff up.

What school sends 40% to ivies = STA doesnt even do that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I have an 3.5 student at a Big 3 with significant sports/activities and generally rigorous classes. Likely merit semifinalist and SAT 2300. Are the Ivies out of range? Even with legacy status? I want to be practical about the admissions process.

Honestly, yes.

This is really surprising to me. I'm not sure where the poster goes to school, but a 3.5 at our school, which sends about 40% to Ivies, is a damn good average, corroborated by great test scores.