Parents of the HS Class of 2024

Bottom 25% at Harvard means you probably got a B+.

Harvard Report Shows 79% A-Range Grades Awarded in 2020-21, Sparking Faculty Discussion | News | The Harvard Crimson.

2 Likes

Yeah, the basic background here is my S24 very likely needs to make some cuts if he is actually going to submit thoughtful applications to each college (assuming he gets to that round). Originally I thought we had narrowed it down to a certain still-too-long list, and the final list would be a subset of that. Now it turns out there was a secret-to-me even longer list, and the final list will be a subset of that.

All of which is fine. I did tell him there are certain colleges he seemed to really like that might not be at the top of his list, but that seem like particularly good prospects (softer reaches and targets). So he might want to be cautious about cutting too many of those.

But if he wants to swirl around his reaches a bit? Whatever gets him to write good applications.

3 Likes

I am 100% sure we would lose nothing if only our counselors had this information and we did not. They know what to do with it, in fact they likely know the actual stories behind a lot of these data points, so really I see no use to us playing around with it directly.

But it sure is fun . . . .

5 Likes

Good for them. Some people will say waitlist is similar, but I don’t think so, not in most cases. You can still hold out for a waitlist admit if you choose, but I think the message is usually clearer, including that some of these colleges admit almost no one off the waitlist.

1 Like

I agree. People are more realistic about the WL though I am curious if they will WL larger numbers (that wouldn’t make sense though).

2 Likes

This was absolutely true for S22.

I found the skit above spot-on and hilarious!

My son and his roommate both rented microwave-fridge combos!

4 Likes

Is Vanderbilt still in contention for ED2? (or, did the cowboy hat trick "work?)

1 Like

RD. At first she thought the visit was blah but when they had the entire NMF Snafu, she decided to apply RD.

If they’re that disorganized, maybe she’ll have a better shot at getting in and they’ll accidentally offer her a merit scholarship.

Plus their app fee was only $50 so we’re bargain hunting here!

That is fascinating. I wish we had that data. I would definitely agree with you that I would take chances with RD and not do ED2 after seeing those numbers. Does your son look at the numbers too?

I also agree that I would prefer a rejection from an REA school, since those are so highly competitive . For D’s ED school, I actually wouldn’t mind a deferral (very selfishly, just to see how she does overall the RD round) if I could know she would still have an acceptance in RD! Also, mainly because I agree with @LACLoverParent that these kids are still changing so much - I wouldn’t mind her having all options available in May and see what she is thinking then. But she hates too many options, which is why ED was a good choice for her.

7 Likes

It’s gettin’ real, y’all!

D24 has a meeting after school w/her faculty advisor for her senior project/internship, which she’s hoping to do with a local non-profit organization that trains service dogs. So after 2/9, regular in person instruction ends for our school’s seniors and the senior projects start. They meet in person once a week with their faculty advisor and have to work with the project organization at least 15 hours a week. Plus do a once a week online blog post about what they’ve been learning and experiencing. And then on 5/4, it’s senior project presentation day at school.

And then 2 weeks after that on 5/16, the graduation ceremony!

It was just yesterday that we were bringing this kid home from the hospital. Time flies.

9 Likes

Yep. I remember getting a note from our D’s 5th grade English teacher telling us she will go on to great things because she was the only kid in class who had heard of The New Yorker.

For Christmas, we gave him an electonic Yoda that was on clearance from Toys R Us because he was a big Star Wars fan. I dont know why I remember this but it seemed the right thing to do at the time.

5 Likes

I went to see my gynecologist yesterday (the man who delivered my daughter) and showed him a picture of her performing as the Sugar Plum Fairy! She is near 6 feet tall on pointe. :smile:

10 Likes

Everyone just step back. Because I’m going to be a teary mess here shortly. :kissing_heart:

9 Likes

Happy to report that S24 just received word that he was admitted to Indiana for sports marketing. Now let’s hope he finishes his math homework!!

21 Likes

D24 received an email this morning that her ED will be released early next week. “By December 15” actually meant “by.” Who knew? We had assumed “on” December 15.

Exciting! But nerve-wracking. Husband will be out of country all next week
not sure if I pity or envy him.

We could absolutely see her being accepted — or not. Is this normal?

10 Likes

Is it normal to think the decision could absolutely go either way? Yes.

5 Likes

Absolutely. I keep telling S24 that he is just as qualified as anyone else. If he gets in or not really has nothing to do with him.

16 Likes

I’ve told all my kids that college admission is all about making matches. School A can be terrific and you can be more than qualified to be successful there but if the admission officer doesn’t think the ‘fit’ is there - you can get told “No”.

A ‘No’ doesn’t say anything about your worth or your intellect - its says everything about how well a couple of people thought your application matched what that particular school was looking for that year.

14 Likes

I vacillate wildly between cautious optimism and substantial pessimism. While I’d be genuinely happy for D24 to go to a good number of schools, having this whole process done in December would be such a massive relief and energy saver.

11 Likes

Wow that is impressive. I am pretty sure that decor means that you can see at least some of the floor to my son. And frankly, one of his sisters as well! (although what clutters her floor is somewhat different than what clutters his, and she is forced to be a little neater because she shares a room with tidy siblings who actually care about decor while he has his own room and thus more freedom and space to spread out and be slovenly).