<p>Jmom- your son is VERY accomplished for his age, I am sure you are very proud. I have a child that was accepted to those tippy top schools and his accomplishments are truly remarkable ( nothing I nor Dh could have done). I really think it was just a “lucky” combination of genes. The genes that happen to fit well with the things that these colleges are valuing right now. No guarantees 20 years ago or 20 years in the future.</p>
<p>What did he have? (Not saying this to be arrogant just stating the facts)
Ranked 1 in class of 400 ( no fellow students were even aware until graduation)
Highest GPA in school history ( 4.85) UW (4.0)
9 college classes- all A’s
12 ap courses-- all 4’s and 5’s (except for a 3 in world history)
7 science courses, 8 math courses
Boys state, RYLA
All league MVP
All State team
All State ranked #1
All State Academic
Junior Olympic top 10
Fully sponsored by well known companies
Competes on an International basis( misses at least 60 school days per year)
President NHS
Peer tutor/ in structured setting
Varsity athlete in 3 sports
Intern in Washington DC
Intern for Engineering Firm ( found a $20,000 error in upper level calculations + developed a computer program to streamline billing) got a GREAT letter of rec
community service mentoring youth in his sport and fundraising to support it ( raised over 50,000)</p>
<p>I am sure I missed some stuff! This kid popped out this way, there is NO WAY anything I nor DH could have done (besides support and encourage him) to make this happen. Just a special person–with millions ( guess?) of 17 year olds in the US, these kids are going to show up. I think it is hard to know what the competition is really like when only hard stats are posted (btw-only 2150 SAT).</p>
<p>Again, not trying to brag. Just trying to show some of the “extra’s” many of these kids have. Stats alone can never give the whole picture in holistic admissions.</p>
<p>PS-- his classmates have no idea how much he has accomplished.
PPS-- was NOT a recruited athlete( his sport in not a college sport)</p>
Maybe not.
Like she said, some people don’t have to try. They just pop out that way.</p>
<p>Seriously though, I’m shocked, shocked to discover that occasionally some harmless bragging goes on here at CC.</p>
<p>But I am wondering about the powers of observation at that high school. A kid misses 60 days out of the year and nobody seems to be particularly curious about it.</p>
<p>Sounds like a joke post. Nobody is that oblivious or braggy that they put that kind of post on a thread titled, “Rejections”. Even on cc, there is generally a minimal level of self awareness.</p>
<p>Everyone probably thought Kym00345’s wunderkind had a bad case of mono. Little did they know he was striking fear into the hearts of his rivals on the international pinochle circuit.</p>
<p>Sorry, I know it sounds lie I’m bragging. But seriously I am not my child. I have not been anywhere neer his level of success. DH and Iwold be considered by most of oU to be “riff raff”. I have been reading Cc for a long time and have been amazed by those who think that a 2400 SAT and high GPA are a guarantee for big time schools. I’ve read about racism ( anti Asian) anti hook, anti sport, etc and feel sad. The schools talk about holistic admissions and no one believes them. I tried to post some reality for those that think high SAT/GPA is enough. You think I’m a ■■■■■. I Dont get it?</p>
<p>My son said he is very ordinary at his college. Those of you with kids at HYPMS need to ask your kids if they know kids like this. If your kids don’t go to these schools, then don’t assume you “know” what the kids are like ( you don’t).I can also attest to the fact that kids like my son go to non “top 5 universities”.</p>
<p>In my town, many kids travel for sports (parents are all very athletically inclined–it’s why we live here). Only those that compete in the same sport would know what others are doing (there is no big clique of the hoity toity). Classes are on a 4 x 4 so the “best” kids aren’t all in the same classes during the same term. They don’t really know what everyone is doing.</p>
<p>I am not my son. His success is nice ( I am very proud) but doesn’t boost my self esteem. I still drive a 10 year old car and need to save more for retirement. Sorry if my post came off different than I intended, really thought it would make “real people” feel like they did nothing wrong in the college admissions process when their very bright children do not get into the school of their dreams (when they compare quite favorably with the statistics). </p>
<p>Never said he didn’t try ( you can check!) I said there is nothing us parents could have done to make him the way he was/is (beyond support and encouragement). I can guarantee that other parents know exactly what I am talking about. </p>
<p>Why such a snotty post? Maybe I’m clueless. I’ll try to answer the OP’s post in a more politically correct fashion. Gee sorry OP, I don’t know your kid from Adam but based on his SAT scores and gpa he sounds like a great guy! Those schools obviously made a mistake! Hope you feel better soon.</p>
<p>or I could offer another explanation. One that might make sense. One that would make her see that she did nothing wrong. One that would make her see that her son had really tough competition. AND… That the competition did not come from some other parents who “did a better job”. The competition happened to be somewhat “lucky” in their timing ( not in their effort) and quirky.</p>
<p>You all just jealous Actually, most kids on this forum are so bright and accomplished, it’s hard to brag. OP, your S will be not only fine, but will do very well wherever he goes. That’s coming from a 3.19GPA mom. I like to come here for a reality check every now and then LOL.</p>
<p>I’d also point out to S that by attending a more affordable option, you are in a better position to help him launch. Some of that saved tuition money can pay for graduate school, a summer traveling abroad, a car that helps him get to a job, or enables him to take an unpaid internship instead of working to pay for school over the summer or during the school year. </p>
<p>A few years from now, once he’s met the love of his live, found the prof who mentored him, took the class that changed his life, found his best friends for life, he’ll be wondering what he was so upset about. </p>
<p>Yeah the ego thing is painful. You work hard and hope that someone on the selective school’s admissions committee says ‘attaboy’ - and then they don’t. On Sept 1, the game starts all over again and no one knows that your school wasn’t your first choice, dream school. Play ball!</p>
<p>My co-worker’s son applied to only selective schools, including one at which he is a double legacy and family is a major donor. Kid has 2400 SAT scores (superscore, 2300+ in one sitting), excellent grades, interesting ECs, boldface people recommending him from intimate personal knowledge. He got blown out of the water at decision time. One admission to a super-safety that was tacked on at the end and one admission that he can sort of live with. 9 rejections, including the legacy school. THey are pulling their hair out and totally freaking. Not to brag, but I saw it coming. Why, you ask? Because the essay was so bad that I now refer to the son as “pretentious essay boy.” It was pretentious, snarky, insensitive and all around unpleasant to read. I know he’s a nice kid, but I was thinking that no school would want him there and I was close to right.</p>
<p>So you never know on either the positive or negative end when looking in from the outside at an applicant.</p>
<p>^Ow on that essay. Too bad there wasn’t something you could do. My son stopped reading his friends essays. He said they weren’t terrible, but they were just sort of lifeless and stereotypical. They all got into fine colleges, but despite better grades than he had, they mostly did not get into as highly ranked colleges as they had hoped. It’s the one part of the application he really got - he wasn’t afraid to be self-deprecating and funny, but still let his intellect shine through. Every essay had something that made me chuckle. I suspect the admissions committees felt the same way.</p>
<p>Wow about that essay too. What a shame - no one told him that it needed reworking? A friend of mine offered to ask a friend of his to read S’s essay - a woman who had worked in admissions, and who doesn’t know S or us - I don’t think she even knew S’s name. She came back with really great advice about the tone and such - she also picked up a picky little tense issue with some of the dialog he had written. It was invaluable advice.</p>
He considers himself such a serious writer that he wouldn’t hear anything about tone or substance, only typos. I truly and sincerely believe that it played a role in his less than favorable outcome. It was that bad.</p>
<p>I feel for kids who have disappointing results (although a little less for somebody who fails to listen to good advice).</p>
<p>While it may not be true of every disappointing result, it’s my observation that disappointment often results from having a flawed list. I think often the problem is that the list lacks enough gradation–that is, it has big gaps in selectivity. If you apply to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Local Junior College, you are asking for a disappointing result. Thus, while you should have several safeties, matches, and reaches, they should be spread across a range of selectivity.</p>
Actually, most kids on this forum are so bright and accomplished, it’s hard to brag. OP, your S will be not only fine, but will do very well wherever he goes. That’s coming from a 3.19GPA mom. I like to come here for a reality check every now and then LOL.</p>