<p>Dumb question: why would a kid with a 1450 and high GPA be out of place at UCLA, where the average student matriculating has a 1289 SAT score? </p>
<p>I understand that UCLA is the most heavily sought after uni in the US (lottery school), but it seems that Kluge's son should be strong in the lottery. What am I missing?</p>
<p>I think these things are all relative and have to do with your community to some degree. Your son's stat profile would be considered outstanding in my community. I realize in your excellent public school that it might appear as just "typical" but in the greater scheme of things, it is darn good for most colleges. It is not a guarantee of getting accepted but it is in a realistic/ballpark range. Further, I maintain that participation in a varsity sport is considered as a significant extracurricular involvement, even IF NOT a recruited athlete. I have a daughter who played three varsity sports, was not recruited for college in any of them (though is on a varsity sport at her college, Brown). I think a varsity sport shows many things like commitment and if there have been achievements in the sport, even better. Even the involvement with cars can be written up on an activity resume. A BWRK can clearly show who he is as a person. He does activities out of the joy of the activity, NOT to get into college. There is a LOT to be said for that. I would think he would be in range for most colleges. I am not familiar with the ins and outs of the California colleges, however. Still, he has a darn good profile. I realize it is easy to get "jaded" when you read the high end profiles of kids on this website but in the greater scheme of things, your son's profile is excellent. It may not look like it stands out in your community but it certainly would where I am. He sounds like a great kid.
Susan</p>
<p>What I would give to live in California! We have such a poor state school system here in our Southern state that out of 70 graduating seniors at my kids' private school last year, 2 went to a state school.</p>
<p>The reason I'm pessimistic about the top UCs (UCSD in particular) is that they've been very open about their specific standards for admission. At UCSD academics can supply 3/4 of the "points" needed for their admissions analysis (and UCSD uses an 8 semester "cap" on AP's etc. in their campus-specific analysis.) Other things supply the other 25%. And S2 just doesn't have any of the "other things". "Life challenges" - hey, it's been my job to see that he didn't have those! As for "leadership" - that seems to be pretty specific to things like officer positions in student government and clubs - things of that sort that S2 doesn't have any interest in. There doesn't seem to be a spot on the app for "top poker player in age group" or "earned enough money as summer lifeguard to buy cool car." S2's "stats" are good enough to get within striking distance, but without any help from the "other" 25% he falls a couple hundred points short. UCLA and Berkeley aren't as clear cut (and are worth the $40 roll of the dice) but I would expect them to be, if anything, even more reliant on the intangibles S2 just doesn't have.
But honestly, he (and I) are OK with that. There are a lot of very good schools here in California besides the "top three". Cal Poly SLO. UC Santa Barbara, Irvine, Davis. San Diego State. They generally don't have the "name", but I know several kids who have chosen those schools over the more prestigious ones for a variety of reasons. I also know a lot of very successful people my age who went to --- (drum roll) --- Chico State.
I guess the point is, it's not the end of the world, or even really very important, one way or another. I imagine it'd be different if the only alternatives were UCLA and East Fudd Teacher's College. But that's not the case. There are a lot of BWRK's at all of those schools, lots of good profs, and a few duds everywhere. If I have a point to preach, I guess it's this: let the kids live their lives the way they want to, let the colleges decide who they admit based on whatever criteria they want, pick between the ones who say yes, and move on. Worst case scenario is he ends up somewhere with a lot of other BWRK's just like him, who didn't get into the same schools he didn't get into for the same reasons he didn't!</p>
<p>I completely agree that the other schools you mentioned are wonderful choices. I also bet that he gets into all of them, and has a devil of a time making up his mind! We're in sort of the same boat. We'll try for SD because he likes it, but would be happy at Davis or even Santa Cruz. (Have you been there lately? It's gorgeous!)</p>
<p>It sounds like your boys are set- and happy! :)</p>
<p>
LOL. Thanks, kluge, I needed that today (see Foot in mouth thread):(.</p>
<p>kluge,</p>
<p>Another one to consider is Merced. </p>
<p>I have a friend who just visited with her kid. My friend is a super math brainiac working in high tech; her kid is excellent in math, computer, engineering. (He loves to take apart cars & machines too!) At the Merced visit day they spent hours with the top brass of the school.</p>
<p>She told me she was incredibly impressed with the professors Merced has recruited. They already have significant research $ brought with them from their former schools, and undergrads will get to hop right in on interesting projects. </p>
<p>Another friend of mine is a UC prof who Merced tried to get (and almost got)-- an outstanding teacher.</p>
<p>Re leadership: for sports you need to have 3 'honors' in your sport to get UC leadership points for it. These honors include: being Captain, making 1st team all League, post-season tourney honors for your team, etc.</p>
<p>Merced sounds intriguing. A hop skip and jump away from Yosemite.</p>
<p>SBMom - unfortunately, those things pretty much all go to seniors. Spring team sports - another admissions faux pas!</p>
<p>Kluge, that is definitley a problem!</p>
<p>Kluge:</p>
<p>I can totally relate to your issue! My DDs have very similar stats statistically, but D2 has played her sport at a national level- and we are proud of her- she has gotten 6 acceptances, including UCB & UCSD.</p>
<p>Older D is at UCI, doing great, loving Newport Beach, but she did not have that "hook" to make her more interesting than the rest.</p>
<p>There is so little space on the app to include anything, UC admissions seem so unfair to the BWRKs. Interestingly, D2 only got that recognition the summer before 12th grade (perfect timing, eh!) otherwise she would have been similar in profile to her sister and probably not gotten in the places she did. Yes, she is an amazing kid who has done great things, but that summer's elevation, in my mind, is the tip factor and she would have still been pretty darn amazing in my book without last summer. So, I empathise with your frustration.</p>
<p>Well, since the season has officially begun for the "Little Johhnie would have gotten into Dream U. if it weren't for the unfair preferences being given to minorities, athletes, oboe players, Russian speakers, Rotarians, etc." posts, I thought I'd bring back this blast from the past.</p>
<p>For those of you waiting for an update on S2, as predicted, it's neither UCLA nor East Fudd Teacher's College. Rolled the dice (now $60 dice, I might add) at Berkeley, San Diego and UCLA, and came up, as anticipated, craps. Turns out that by the time admissions decisions came out S2 had decided that Santa Barbara and UCLA were his favorites from the UC stable, so.....</p>
<p>Did you know that more UCSB professors have won the Nobel prize since 1998 than at any other college? Me either. Go Gauchos!</p>
<p>Congrats! Kluge--that's the spirit!!!</p>
<p>As you say...those bupkis boys tend to do well in life because of the invisible intangibles they 've had.</p>
<p>Congrats on SB!</p>
<p>Kluge...he has a great school to go to...it all worked out. Great kid, great school, great future. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Congrats, Kluge. What a great place to spend four years ... or visit. The hardest thing must be to decide between listening to the Nobel laureates or walk down the beach and enjoy the view.</p>
<p>PS I was wondering why this thread got bumped!</p>
<p>Kluge</p>
<p>Nice reminder as the good and bad letters come in. At the end of the day our kids will be fine because of who they are not because of where they go to school.</p>
<p>Beautiful place!</p>
<p>Kluge -- Thanks for your post. And good luck to your S next year. I'm sure he'll find a great school.</p>
<p>Mstee said: "Anyway, my daughter will probably have a very similar profile come application time. And she "wastes" a couple of hours a day swimming, and is never going to be very good."</p>
<p>Mine, too! What grade is your D in? Mine's in 10th and spends 3 hours a day in a pool, not to mention drive-time, meets, etc... Just got her first CIF auto time for Div. I this week though. :) :)</p>
<p>Hey, he's got Y chromosomes. That opens doors these days! He can apply for the Kenyon "you-don't-have-any-merit-but-we-don't-care-'cause you're-male" Merit Scholarship. (Won't work if he wants to go to Mount Holyoke ;))</p>
<p>Make sure he shows off a few pecs and upper arms in the interview.</p>