<p>To reiterate replies to some of the comments about legacies:</p>
<p>Remember that there are a lot of different types of legacies. Some are extraordinarily rich and make generous donations to prove it. Others are famous and/or well-connected. But many others wound up in the middle class with decent jobs whose kids attended respectable schools and did well. The more educated the parent, the more likely that the kid will also get a good education, maintain an interest in learning, and stay in school. Those kids are the kids who apply to the Ivies. They probably think that the names on their parents’ diplomas will help, but they are also reasonably intelligent people with nice transcripts and resumes to boot.</p>
<p>Thus, not every legacy who comes to Brown is a special-admit case. I have a number of friends here who are legacies, and only a few of them are children of wealthy parents. Heck, my mother went to a different Ivy, and we’re not even close to the fabled 1%.</p>
<p>If you accurately reported the conversation, then Brown did not tell her outright that she would not be considered. You said the admin said “we probably wouldn’t consider her.”</p>
<p>In this case it actually seemed to me that it was NYMomLI who passed on those comments–no one in admissions told it to the kid. No matter how discouraging the comments, I don’t know why you would report to your kid during a college visit. It would have still been worthwhile to have the tour, visit Thayer street and all the usual. Just to compare to other schools and see what the student likes and dislikes for the other school selections. Then put it in context later when choosing the schools to apply to.</p>
<p>Just for the daughter (and the mother) to choose to leave is really telling that Brown wasn’t much of a priority. And to be a Brunonian, tenacious is one of the adjectives that comes to mind quickly.</p>
<p>That was one person/admin, it was not a representation of your regional application readers (was it?, if so, NE is even harder) or the application committee. I am suprised by the frankness, but you must know how very hard the admission numbers are and you didn’t need to ask that question to guess that answer. What I learned from college apps and fin’l aid is that NOTHING is known until you open the envelope.</p>
<p>Don’t jump all over me for saying so…but perhaps it would have been better for D to ask this question herself instead of OP. As I said before, my D got in with 28. She has no hook or legacy or other draw. I will say that she is an advocate for herself and figured out a lot of things by going on this board. If asked, I would say her curiosity got her in. It showed in her essays.</p>
<p>T26E4, I tend to say similar things when I’m not directly representing the university. Unless you happen to go to a very unique school where many, many students are Ivy (or similar) admits (and if you are, you’re probably not asking), then Brown is really only in reach if you are “that kid” in your school. I mean the one in your year that every teacher thinks has a shot because they’re special. Sometimes not just in your year, but these days (harder than in my days), perhaps the one kid across four years.</p>
<p>I just looked it up and 28 on ACT is about a 1860 SAT!
I got in early decision with 1870 SAT; I’m a first-generation college, Asian from CA.
There are more factors to look at than the SAT, but it’s awful to hear such a response from the counselor.</p>
<p>Recently, a senior I know got a letter from a coach that said that she was welcome to apply to that school, but would need a minimum of 700 on each section of the SAT to be considered competitive for admission. It’s one of the lowest admit schools in the country.</p>
<p>If she didn’t have that score, the implication was that she was a longshot, both for the team and the college.</p>
<p>It probably hurt her feelings, but the reality is that this school is a reach - for her, and nearly everyone. Hearing this news from that coach is not stopping her from applying, but having that reality check is not a terrible thing. Knowing you have to cast a wide net is a better thing early in the admissions game, instead of dealing with the fallout in spring, after admissions decisions are released.</p>