<p>I know that fairness is not a requirement of the Ivy League admission office but my child was denied admission to all ivies applied to as well as other top ten schools. SAT is 2350, ranked 1st in his class at a highly competitive specialized HS, full AP curriculum with 5's on all ap's so far, NMS highest award, captain of championship level sport team, was very much into community service, other extracurriculars, and on and on. There was no place for a kid like this at a top 10 college?</p>
<p>Sounds like a great kid with talent and proven accomplishments. But if your son only looked at “top-10” colleges (and not all Ivies rate that high, BTW), those advising him really did him a disservice. Was he given the impression that he was above excellent universities like, for instance, Carnegie Mellon, Tufts, or Wake Forest (not even in the 20 but close)? Did he look at LACs or just universities? How about some of the excellent public schools like Michigan, UVA, or just about any UC? I feel bad for kids who enter their college search with “Top 10 blinders” on for this very reason. </p>
<p>Where was he admitted? </p>
<p>Yes Hunt, hard to comment without knowing the acceptances. There are more than 24,000 high schools in the country so 240,000 kids graduating in the top 10 every year or 24,000 that are graduating as number 1.</p>
<p>Right now, because it’s April and decisions must be made by May 1, the important thing is to focus on the schools that did admit him and the choice he needs to make. What are the possibilities? Or has he already made a decision?</p>
<p>I am sending hugs because both you and your son must be in shock. Unfortunately, every school’s admissions decisions are discrete from all others…so a three per cent chance of getting in for the average really smart, involved student without any special hooks (other than being a fabulous all-around kid) is really just about a three percent chance ----the chance doesn’t multiply by applying to more schools.</p>
<p>I am sorry that your college advising didn’t have you applying to a few of the excellent but less crazy selective schools. What has the response been? Are they helping your son pursue any waitlists or other alternatives?</p>
<p>Also, before making your plan B, see if you can have an unbiased person review essays and also talk to those who wrote his LORs to see if maybe there is a problem somewhere in the application chain.</p>
<p>Please search CC for the threads relating to the poster Andison from a few years back–a student who had a result like yours, but got into top schools the next application cycle.</p>
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<p>Do we know this? All we know is that this poster’s son applied to a lot of reach schools. He may also have applied to some less selective schools that were good choices for him, and he may have some very attractive offers on the table right now.</p>
<p>Agreed. There are no slam dunk resumes for any competitive college. One must always have a true safety. Too bad GCs are not better trained on those types of things.</p>
<p>It’s disappointing but not all that surprising.</p>
<p>I think that it can be surprising and disappointing for parents/students when they find out that not one “elite” school accepted them. At our school it is assumed that the top student will get into an Ivy League school…my son (applied to one) is the top and he was waitlisted. Honestly, we were happy it wasn’t a rejection. That being said, if I had not been on CC for the last year, my expectations would have been different. </p>
<p>My Aunt believes her granddaughter is a shoo-in for Harvard, MIT and Cornell because she has done summer programs there and is “so smart”. There are many misconceptions out there about who gets into these schools. </p>
<p>Once you get onto CC and see the many, many talented students that are not getting into the tippy top schools you realize that your kid may be the local superstar but that nationally there are equally, if not more, talented kids. </p>
<p>I hope that this parent has many other options for their child. Obviously he/she will thrive at any college.</p>
<p>Let’s see: This kid and the Ivy League grand slammer:</p>
<p>This child’s SAT scores are higher.
So is his rank.</p>
<p>
By “full shut out,” are you saying this student applied to all eight Ivies (several of which are not top 10 schools per USNews, of course)? And was rejected by all of them, or was a waitlist involved anywhere? And the student’s other options are …?</p>
<p>I have to admit that I find the timing and circumstances of this thread a little suspicious. A highly controversial thread about an applicant who was accepted at all 8 Ivies was locked last night, then first thing this morning we have a thread from a brand-new poster about a situation that seems likely to ignite many of the same issues. Apologies if my suspicions are misplaced, but I’m not sure the first post can be taken at face value. Again, I do apologize if I’m wrong, and in that case would hope the student and parents can focus on choosing between the schools that must have accepted such a talented applicant. </p>
<p>First post? Isn’t today April SECOND?</p>
<p>Also had a momentary wonder if April fools was a possibility. Then again , getting shut out of the top schools, which have single digit admission rates, is unfortunately quite plausible.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for their comments. Our student applied only to 4 ivies and yes probably the most selective ones. Wait listed at two. also denied @ Stanford & duke. I don’t want to give too much info but wait listed at several other schools in the 20-40 rankings. admitted to Vandy, Emory, unc, uva and he is happy with those choices. Not trying to ignite anything. We have tried to manage our child’s expectation and in fact were very pessimistic about his Ivy League hopes. But he worked hard for what he accomplished academically and was crushed not getting into one of what he defined as his first 5 or 6 choices. I guess I’m just venting. What does it matter? We are moving on. </p>
<p>Congratulations on those great acceptances. Vandy, Emory, UNC and UVA sound a lot better than “full shut out.”</p>
<p>Venting is fine. Glad your student was accepted at so many wonderful choices. For some kids not “getting” what they want or dream about doesn’t occur until college acceptances, but it is a hurdle that almost everyone has to get through over one thing or another - whether it’s a spot on a sports team, or a job or promotion they wan tor “first chair” in an instrument they play. Learning how to vent or be sad or move on is a very healthy thing to learn. I wish all the best moving forward.</p>
<p>That’s all you can do. Other than stay on the wait lists. You could also ask his GC to make inquiries at a few selected places to see if they will reveal any concerns. Mistakes do happen. </p>
<p>My sympathies. He does have some great choices, though.</p>
<p>That’s not a shut out! More of an in-park home run! Congrats to him. Those schools are all on my own D’s wish list.</p>
<p>One thing that I learned from lurking on CC for a while and then starting to post is that there are lots of great schools out there AND lots of great prospective students. The kids I feel bad for are the ones that don’t get into great schools like your son did because they didn’t know to apply to them. </p>
<p>I dislike being critical of anyone but the GC said there was nothing he could do. Frankly I don’t even know what could be done. My student is on the wait list. The schools already know everything there is no know.</p>