Question about elite schools admissions

Parents Forum
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<p>Yes. Or to summarize what I and NSM said,
The following classes of candidates are being rejected at elites:</p>

<p>Qualified non-URMs
Qualified URMs
Qualified any-race with a hook less important or less impressive to that U than a similar classmate also applying.</p>

<p>As ldmom said, context is important. I've stressed that on previous threads, because I've seen it everywhere. If, for example, one of those admitted URMs that you know of personally was up against a URM quite economically disadvantaged but with an identical academic profile, we don't know whom the U would have picked (if they were eliminating candidates -- which is usually what it's mainly about). For $$ reasons, they might have picked the advantaged URM, but because they really do care about economic diversity (at least as much, maybe more than, racial diversity), they might have picked the less monied URM.</p>

42

<p>Idmom: Notre Dame is very up front about their preference for legacies. It's a hook they openly advertise. I think about 25% of admits are legacy. That's part of the reason for their high yield. It's a family tradition kind of place. But most of them still get rejected. As do hundreds of vals & perfect SATs. They love varsity athletes (regardless of Div1 potential), kids who do tons of community service, and performing artists. And they stress that pretty clearly. They also seek Asians. All in all, a great fit for d's friend. Still a lottery, though.</p>

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<p>The most important three things one can do to increase admissions chances at prestige schools are: Choose your parents well, choose your parents well, and choose your parents well. If you choose your parents well, they will have plenty of money, and a legacy or two, and might even be able to endow a building or two. If you choose your parents well, you will likely attend a school that offers lots of APs, has connected guidance counselors, and your SAT scores will show you are "better qualified". And if you choose your parents well, your genetic material - coupled with not having to work to help support your family after school, and coupled with being able to afford good training - is much more likely to make you a recuited athlete.</p>

<p>Compared with these three, other factors are way down the list. That you might not have figured out how do any of them yet doesn't affect their importance in any way. So keep trying!</p>

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<p>Anecdotal evidence only here to report, but at our local large public hs in So Cal, I've noticed that the URM kids who get into the super-selective schools are economically disadvantaged (one parent, poor). Had one URM applicant who came from a middle-class, two parent family, and it didn't seem like she got any boost at all. All URMs were in top 10% of class and had 1200+ SAT scores.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Does anyone know where I could find information on the admission rates of elite schools (Ives, top LACs) for kids without a hook? (no URM, athletic scholarship, or sliver spoon kids). In other words, what percentage of "regular applicants" get accepted?

[/quote]
I'm feeling cranky this morning so ... what difference does it make? I want my kids to find schools that they believe are a good "fit" for them. If any of these schools are a top 50 type school than the admission odds suck ... 2%, 5%, 10%? ... what does it matter? For low odds good fit schools ... if you are in the hunt of being qualified than apply. The only way I would use the elite school admissions percentage is to apply to more of those schools if they are a fit as the odds at any one of the schools are so bad ... the specifics of the odds do not matter as much as knowing it is one of the low odds schools. The odds don't matter at schools below the "top" 50 or so.</p>