<p>Am eavesdropping here from the prep school/boarding school parents’ group. It seems there is a commonality in that Hooks are looking like they play a large part in acceptance to tier 1 BSs. Also, it looks like SAT/SSAT scores to my view are also being used to select out a group of kids who won’t make the grade in both BSs and colleges. What happened here? I thought the trend in BS and college admissions was away from putting too much weight on scores you get on a test taken one day out of the year. At BSs anyway, they all say standardized test scores are the last thing they look at, but what about colleges? I don’t believe in the case of colleges or BSs that this is the case. They seem to weigh mightily, because there are so many applicants and it’s one way to help narrow the field. Are there still only a handful of colleges who don’t care if you take the SAT? Any ivies? I thought this was a growing number, but maybe the trend is in the other direction afterall. yes or no?</p>
<p>I like the Reed approach; SAT or ACT is required, but GPA + test scores + class rank together count for only 20% of admission criteria.</p>
<p>I’ve finally gotten a feel for what the acceptance trend is this year at the schools that I know. No discernable difference from the last 10 years. A few surprises, but for the most part pretty solid. Some counselors I know, however, said that there was a noticeable spike in acceptances to full pay kids in border line situations in schools that were not super selective. Also, need aware schools, were more noticeably need aware from what I hear. But I don’t have the particulars to make such an observation and from my narrow view, there has not been much change.</p>
<p>The one situation that I was personally interested in following was not a happy one. A full need, gifted music student was accepted to a number of good programs, but was seriously gapped in financial aid, even with loan included in the package. She was also waitlisted at a couple of schools that are need aware. I had hoped for better for her.</p>
<p>I’d admit someone who took really hard classes and doesn’t have a very high GPA (from a prep or very rigorous school, of course) over someone who took the easy way out and did have a high GPA.</p>
<p>Kids at top prep schools are still getting into top colleges just as much as they always have been. My high school is sending 8 to Harvard, 13 to Columbia, 4 to Yale, 6 to Stanford, etc. which is right in line with our yearly average, aside from some fluctuations (last year we had 11 to Brown whereas this year we have only 3, last year we had only 1 to Stanford whereas this year we have 6, etc)</p>
<p>not sure if this question has been asked already, but what if my passion is academics? You can’t blame someone for being passionate with science or math. It may not be creative, but it is absolutely rewarding.</p>
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<p>Participate in the Olympiads? USAMO, USABO, etc… or your country’s equivalents. If you make to the international olympiads - even better.</p>