I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but.............

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>This is a post that was on the parent's forum. I know this is an extremely stressful time for all of you awaiting college decisions wondering whether or not your stats are high enough, whether your EC's are passionate enough or whether, in fact, YOU'RE good enough. These statistics should help put things in perspective. There are many kids that "have it all" and still don't make it into the highly selective schools. Please don't put all of your emotional eggs into the Columbia basket. Look around at other schools (especially you ED'ers) with an open mind. There is more than one perfect school for everybody. Begin working on your applications to those schools now just in case..... If you don't get good news in December and you haven't begun filling out other applications, you're gonna have a horrible Christmas vacation running around trying to give those applications the attention they will need. </p>

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<p>"Just How Hard Admission Can Be </p>

<p>In other threads there have been discussions of how many selective schools have such low admission rates that everyone has to consider them reaches. Also on some of these threads there has been discussion of how easy it is for parents to fall into the trap of assuming that because their child has such high stats, their child will be able to beat these odds.</p>

<p>I know for me, the true nature of selectivity was brought home when I saw one school's brochure that actually gave a breakdown by gpa and sat of the number of applicants and number accepted and rejected -- I found it very enlightening to see that even among those in the top categories, admission at the school in question was far from a sure bet. </p>

<p>I have done some browsing at some of the top schools and have found the following stats. I am sharing these because I think they really underscore the fact that NO ONE can consider themselves a shoe in at some of these schools. Even students in some of the top categories at these schools are getting no better than a 50-50 shot at admission.</p>

<p>At Brown (overall admit rate about 16%), only 26.1% of those with an SAT verbal score over 750 were admitted for the class of 2009. Only 25.7% of those with SAT math scores over 750. <a href="http://www.brown.edu/Administration...andfigures.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.brown.edu/Administration...andfigures.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>At Cornell, the overall admit rate was 27%. Even among those with over 750 verbal sat, only 42% were admitted. Of those with math sats over 750, only 35% were admitted. <a href="http://dpb.cornell.edu/irp/pdf/Fact...ate/profile.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://dpb.cornell.edu/irp/pdf/Fact...ate/profile.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>At Duke, the overall acceptance rate was 22% Even those students who ranked in the top 5% of their class got in only 32% of the time. <a href="http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump...2009profile.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump...2009profile.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>At Northwestern (overall admit rate of 29.9% - class of 2008), only 53% of valedictorians who applied were admitted. Just over 50% of those with verbal sats over 750 were admitted, and only 46% of those with math sats over 750. <a href="http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/counselors/facts/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/counselors/facts/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I think these types of stats can be a much greater "reality check" than just hearing that a school has an overall admit rate of 10%, 25%, etc. I wish all schools made this type of info readily available."</p>

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<p>This is great advice. I have one thing to add--a further Downer.</p>

<p>Applying to a number of uber-selective schools still doesn't guarantee anything, even if you have great numbers. Plenty of kids with great credentals apply to a good number of schools with 10-15% acceptance rates, thinking "each is really tough to get into, but I should manage to get into ONE of them." Striking out across the board isn't that uncommon.</p>

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<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=116204%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=116204&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This is a link to a thread on the parent's forum. It has some very good insights into the college admissions process. The truth of the matter is that nobody should feel confident about their admission to any of the uber-selective schools. </p>

<p>Get on the ball and find some safety/match schools that you'll love. They're definitely out there if you approach the search with an open mind.</p>

<p>Oh, and about Columbia 2002's comment that "striking out across the board isn't that uncommon" -- it's absolutely true. </p>

<p>One final downer -- Last year, one poster on CC who had amazing stats, amazing EC's, well, amazing everything including a hook, didn't get ANY acceptances (applied to ivy's and very selective LACs thinking he was a shoe-in somewhere because of his accomplishments) and had to wind up doing a gap year. This year he's going to expand his search to include more safety/matches that he would love to attend. I can't emphasize enough that you shouldn't just be looking at any safety/match schools, but those that you would be LOVE attend, cause some of you are going to be going to those safety/match schools. Sorry to come off as so pessamistic, but I'm afraid that's the hard reality. Good Luck.</p>

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<p>If there has been one thing that CC has taught me, it's: "love thy safety!" That's why I think California is so very lucky, with two tiers of public schools. So when I needed to research some matches and safties, I didn't even need to look outside of my state.</p>

<p>I often liken the Ivy League/Top Tier admissions process to a rolling of a die. Basically, to be accepted, you have to roll a one. All other numbers will end up in you either getting rejected/deferred/waitlisted. That's why I figure that getting rejected from your "top choice" college is anything but a personal jab at you. You just didn't roll your one when they looked at your application.</p>

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<p>Great thread. After doing the best you can, there is only so much you can do. There is always that last element of chance. </p>

<p>The advice to start refining an RD list is also excellent. I'd only add that the safeties should be colleges you could actually seeing yourself go to. We are, indeed, very lucky that way in California.</p>

<p>I'd suggest that if your safeties are LACs, they need to know from your application, essays, visits, that they represent more to you than a safety. Lots of times, students with great stats stick a college on the list they assume is a shoe-in because of the range of stats they see there. The colleges assume this is a student using them as a safety, who will not choose to go there, and turn them down.</p>

<p>Getting turned down by an early first choice doesn't mean you will not end up somewhere you love.</p>

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<p>Dear Deb,
(um, er ... "Mom")</p>

<p>Thanks for looking out for us.
Nervous and stressed? Yep.
Realistic and prepared with a Plan B, C, and (gulp) D? Definitely. Nonetheless, lest we not forget that if we don't reach for the moon, we'll never get there :-)</p>

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<p>cannedish and phew - you both sound like you're prepared for whatever comes your way. Congrats.</p>